Practice: Write a Paper on Climate Change

Your Assignment

Committee: General Assembly Second Committee (Economic and Financial) Topic: Addressing Climate Change and Its Impacts on Sustainable Development Country: The Maldives

The Maldives is one of the most climate-vulnerable nations on Earth — the lowest-lying country, with an average ground level of just 1.5 meters above sea level. Over 80% of its land area sits less than one meter above current sea level. The nation of approximately 520,000 people across 1,192 coral islands faces an existential threat from sea level rise, ocean warming, and coral bleaching.

This assignment is designed to test your ability to write a complete, high-quality position paper using everything covered in this course. You will write each section as a separate exercise, then have the opportunity to assemble and refine the full paper.

Research Briefing: The Maldives and Climate Change

Key facts for your research:

Country Profile:

• Population: ~520,000 | GDP: ~$6 billion | Economy: Tourism (28% GDP) and fisheries (6% GDP)
• Member of AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States), the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and the V20 (Vulnerable Twenty)
• Former President Mohamed Nasheed held an underwater cabinet meeting in 2009 to dramatize climate urgency
• Currently investing in the Hulhumale reclamation project — an artificial island designed to house 130,000 climate-displaced citizens

Key International Frameworks:

• Paris Agreement (2015) — Maldives ratified; advocates for 1.5°C target as essential, not aspirational
• Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27 (2022) — Maldives was a key advocate
• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report projects 0.3-1.0m sea level rise by 2100 under various scenarios
• Green Climate Fund — Maldives has received adaptation funding but argues total allocations to SIDS are insufficient
• SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) are core priorities

Diplomatic Positioning:

• Maldives leads from moral authority: contributing virtually nothing to emissions while facing existential consequences
• Key alliances: AOSIS, Climate Vulnerable Forum, Like-Minded Group of Developing Countries
• Tension: dependence on tourism (which generates aviation emissions) while advocating for emissions reductions