Dead Polar Bears!

By: Jasmine Jacobs

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) started debating Arctic Exclusive Economic Zones in 2020 but their inability to work together and come up with a solution has caused a great tragedy. Five years have passed since they started debating in 2020. It is now  2025 and the polar ice caps have melted, the entire coast is submerged in water, and all the polar bears have died. Many delegates are deeply distraught over the extinction of the polar bears. France expressed her sorrow and anger towards this loss of polar bears at UNCLOS and claims that “it’s all their fault we lost a species.”

Russia’s greed for money and power has caused environmental ruins. Russia violates the national sovereignty of Norway and continues to drill for oil in Antarctica. Even with most of their coast underwater, Russia is still determined to drill for oil and states that it is “not my problem I’m making money off this...I will not back down.” The United States of America worked with Russia before it was discovered that Russia’s oil industry was the main contributor to the polar ice caps melting. However, during an interview, the US stated that she was still willing to work with Russia despite this newfound knowledge. The US did also mentioned that some changes would have to be made to her and Russia’s Working Paper due to the severity of the crisis. U.S and Russia both expressed a desire to work together, but the tension is increasing between the dream team as, according to the US,  Russia reflects no concern towards them as they mentioned in a conversation with Russia that “if we work together you have to care about my problems.”

The committee is divided by those who want to protect the environment from Russia, countries who want to continue to drill for oil, and those who want to fix the environmental crisis. 

Delegates have brought up the idea of using renewable energy like hydropower and solar power instead of oil to help reduce the profits from Russia and to help create a more sustainable environment. One of the working papers details a  recommendation in regard to WWIII to the Security Council and the deployment of peacekeepers, which would place sanctions on Russia and encourage military action if Russia does not comply with these new implementations. 

Russia is one of the main countries that control the oil industry which took a large part in the melting of the polar ice caps. However, the one true cause of this melting was the lack of action and compliance from the committee as a whole. Now, the committee must work together to fix a problem that could have prevented. As the delegate of Belgium stated, “stop using Russia as a scapegoat.” These powers all took part in the problem, and now they must collectively take part in the solution.

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Proposes New Plastic Removal Technology

By: Quinn Riordan

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) furthered the discussion on the reduction of plastic, and eventually the eradication of plastic materials in the oceans and seas. According to the delegate of Malaysia, a new technology was proposed that would “completely eliminate” microplastics and plastic in the oceans using algae. 

In the past decade, microplastics and plastic have outnumbered fish in the ocean,  indefinitely altering Earth’s ecosystem. According to a study led by biological oceanographer Jennifer Brandon of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, “the abundance of microplastics is closer to 8.3 million pieces per cubic meter.” 

The new technology proposed by the delegate of Malaysia claims that algae can breakdown and absorb plastic, transforming it into biofuel that can then be sold for profit. This technology is a spring-shaped nitrogen-coated carbon nanotube that functions to crumple microplastics and allows magnets to be used to attract and then eliminate plastics in the oceans. 

“Being able to turn the plastic into a profit can be beneficial to nations around the world and provide an incentive to fund the reduction of plastic,” the delegate of Malaysia said. 

This new technology is proposed in a Working Paper article, Plastic to Profit, but has raised questions over the ability to apply the technology worldwide, as well as the effects of it on the preexisting ecosystem, the delegate of Ecuador said. 

These questions have lead to different approaches, with hopes to provide a comprehensive and multi-faceted perspective in eliminating plastic in the seas. The delegates have proposed solutions ranging from research, new technology, plastic bans, private sector certifications, social media campaigns, and national holidays, the delegate of Kenya said. 

“Providing a comprehensive solution is key through private sector certification, campaigns, research, and new technology. If we can cover all the areas of society, we can reduce and end plastic in the ocean, creating a better world for the marine life and humans,” the delegate of Ecuador said.