By Eleanor Randall

The Afternoon of 25 November 2024, Draft Resolution 1-1, formerly EE, brought the first topic to the floor to attempt passing the first resolution of this committee: the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Speeches were given for and against on the motion to pass 1-1, though the resolution ended up failing 17/40/31.

The United States presented an argument against this resolution due to Articles 1-3 which addressed implementation of the Global Climate Equity Committee (GCEC) under the purview of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Through the committees, Representatives advocate for increasing public outreach and education regarding the climate emergency. Article 3 recommends the establishment of a committee called the Green Machine Committee (GMC) to research and cultivate knowledge on renewable energy. The Representative for the United States claims that the Articles 1-3 only acknowledge the need to make changes. Representative Mohamed Mohamed of the United States said 1-1 is “all bark and no bite.” 

The Representatives of Ghana defended 1-1 and said the resolution is short and to the point, and to not complicate matters by allowing countries to keep their own regulations and laws on environmental issues, and assist less developed countries. Representative Dakota Atkinson of Ghana concluded with “We hope other other resolutions are more comprehensive and better addressed than ours.”

The draft resolution 1-1 has yet to be revisited by the body. In response, Ghana and other Representatives delivered a press conference on amendments and other resolutions that have been added. There have been no further discussions on Resolution 1-1, but Resolution 1-2 later passed 65/8/14.