EUROPEAN UNION

Topic Summary

Climate change and environmental issues have been escalating and are anticipated to become a global problem that will affect ocean levels, landscapes, biodiversity, human health, the economy, access to housing, and even more. This crisis is difficult to ignore, most especially among nations with high wealth and resources. The European Union calls to contribute more in creating a sustainable future. Carbon emissions and pollutants must be reduced to be able to reach a point of stability in the environment and its relationship with humanity. 

In order to be able to approach solutions to this crisis efficiently, sufficiently, and prioritize regions or specific issues that are the most harmful, the EU plans to establish a series of “tipping points”. These tipping points will be specific number ranges or events that signal to the EU that a country’s sector must take action to become sustainable as soon as possible. The EU will not only aid in identifying these countries and the specific issue at hand, but it will also aid the country in undergoing a productive process to reach sustainability goals. Because each issue is dependent and varies in accordance to the specific region, these sustainability solution aids will act as a basic standing point that eventually works with governments and citizens to create a solution that does not result in inadvertent effects that become more harmful than the climate crisis itself. This legislation within the EU will aid countries to jumpstart taking action focusing on environmentalism. A component of this initiative that will ensure the effectiveness is the function of the EU itself, with certain requirements and compliances being necessary to a country’s membership within the EU.

Director’s Letter

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the European Union for the 2024 session of Harvard National Model United Nations! My name is Lucyanna Glenn and I am so excited to serve as your Director!

I am a sophomore at Harvard studying Environmental Science and Public Policy with a secondary in Film (or Music). Before coming to college, I had no experience in MUN but was passionate about politics and international policy. Once I took a comparative government class in my senior year of highschool, I knew I needed to become involved as soon as possible. Last year, I was assistant director of the International Organization for Migration Comittee in General Assembly. This year, I look forward to further engaging with my passion for policy and international relations with you all!

Outside of HNMUN, I am a part of Harvard Model Congress and the Havard Undergraduate Law Review. I also work for the Harvard Crimson Blog– the Flyby, and WHRB– the Harvard Radio Station. In my free time, I love reading, hiking in the mountains, listening to music, baking, and running long-distance. This summer, I am interning with the Assembly of First Nations of Canada, helping research historical treaties for Indigenous land rights. 

Being from Colorado, I knew I would be interested in discussing environmentalism within the EU. With climate disasters increasing and issues of climate justice arising, environmentalist policy and sustainability is very important to discuss. Recently, the EU has resolved to start researching and establishing “tipping points” concerning environmentalism and climate change. Once a European country reaches a tipping point, the EU aims to respond quickly to aid that country in a process to eventually come out of the climate crisis. These tipping points act as a legislative guide to transform European Union participating countries into a sustainable and environmentalist future. An important aspect of these tipping points is that they help to allocate resources efficiently and understand specific prioritized approaches when it comes to environmentalist policy, an issue that does not yet have a routine mechanism within government. 

In our committee, we will be establishing those tipping points, coming up with specific legislation, and voting on that legislation with a well-researched understanding of possible climate-related issues that are anticipated to arise. The second part of committee will be addressing each tipping point and ideating potential solutions that the EU will eventually aid in. 

I so look forward to reading research, seeing solutions that will be created during committee, and discussing the very important, complex, and multi-faceted topic of sustainable policies and environmentalism. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. I will be here for you throughout your HNMUN 2024 journey and I cannot wait to meet you all!

Sincerely,

Lucyanna Glenn