The United Nations Environment Programme
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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972 as a response to the growing recognition of environmental issues. The first UNEP committee meeting was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in June 1972, and was attended by representatives from 113 countries. The meeting resulted in the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration, which established the principles of environmental protection and sustainable development. Over the years, the UNEP committee has played a crucial role in promoting global environmental cooperation and addressing environmental challenges.
Today, the UNEP is a decision making body which consists of representatives from all 193 member states of the UN. They meet once a year to review the work of the agency, set its priorities and make policy decisions. It is responsible for providing guidance on the development and implementation of environmental policies and programs. Through its work, the committee aims to create a more sustainable and equitable world for all people.
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As the world confronts the intensifying impacts of climate change, the deployment of large-scale sustainable infrastructure becomes more and more crucial. Projects such as wind farms, solar fields, energy efficient waste management facilities, and public transportation upgrades are necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support global sustainability goals. However, these projects often encounter significant public resistance at the local level, due to a phenomenon recognized as NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard-ism).
NIMBYism (in the case of sustainable infrastructure) can be explained as the phenomenon that arises when individuals or communities support an environmental initiative in principle but oppose its implementation near their own homes or neighbourhoods. These concerns may stem from valid anxieties, such as fear of property devaluation, noise, environmental degradation, or health impacts. While it is vital to consider the concerns of citizens when planning infrastructure projects, NIMBYism can have detrimental effects on the environment and hinder the implementation of much-needed sustainable infrastructure.
For example, several wind energy projects in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe have been delayed or cancelled due to local opposition, despite public opinion polls showing strong support for renewables. Waste-to-energy plants, though environmentally sound alternatives to landfills, also frequently face backlash. In developing countries, NIMBYism manifests in the rejection of sanitation and waste infrastructure projects in urbanizing areas, limiting progress in environmental health. Moreover, a global dimension of NIMBYism emerges when wealthier nations who are unwilling to deal with the pollution and hazards of their own waste, export it to other developing countries (often under the guise of economic trade deals or ‘partnerships’). This practice shifts environmental burdens away from wealthier nations while imposing long-term health and pollution costs onto other countries. It is important to note that when NIMBYism leads to the rejection of these projects, it not only hinders progress towards environmental sustainability but also perpetuates reliance on fossil fuels and other environmentally harmful practices.
Sustainable infrastructure projects, such as renewable energy facilities, public transportation systems, and green buildings, are absolutely essential for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change. Thus, from a UNEP perspective, it is vital to frame NIMBYism not merely as local resistance, but as a policy and governance challenge requiring inclusive, transparent, and equitable approaches to environmental planning. This agenda will explore the role of community engagement and education, building social trust, and participatory design in overcoming local resistance to sustainable infrastructure. Delegates are encouraged to propose frameworks for balancing local concerns with the urgency of environmental progress.
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How can governments design fair infrastructure processes?
What policies or frameworks exist (or should exist) to ensure equitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits?
How should UNEP support member states in developing regulatory, financial, and educational tools to reduce the negative impacts of NIMBYism?
How can the global community propagate and support research on the best practices to mitigate NIMBYism?
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The global community faces an urgent imperative to transition its energy systems in order to mitigate the most severe impacts of climate change. Currently, fossil fuels account for over 75% of global energy consumption and contribute to nearly 90% of CO₂ emissions from the energy sector. Without a bold and sustained shift toward cleaner alternatives, the world will fall significantly short of the climate objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
This UNEP agenda centers on the expansion and global adoption of nuclear and alternative energy sources including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and bioenergy as part of a comprehensive strategy to phase out fossil fuels and promote environmentally sustainable development. The primary objective is to explore how nations can accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies in ways that are not only environmentally sound, but also economically viable and socially equitable.
Among the available low-carbon options, nuclear energy stands out for its ability to deliver consistent, large-scale electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Countries such as France, Canada, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates have integrated nuclear power into their national energy strategies to meet emissions targets. However, the broader adoption of nuclear power faces substantial obstacles including high upfront costs, long development timelines, complex regulatory frameworks, and persistent public concerns following incidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima. The unresolved issue of radioactive waste disposal further complicates the discourse around nuclear expansion.
At the same time, renewable energy technologies particularly solar and wind have experienced rapid technological advancement and significant cost reductions. These sources are increasingly viable, even in low- and middle-income countries, where innovations such as solar mini-grids and distributed wind systems are helping bridge energy access gaps. Nevertheless, renewables face their own challenges, including intermittency, insufficient energy storage infrastructure, and resource-intensive supply chains that depend heavily on critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.
A truly sustainable energy transition cannot rely on technological innovation alone. It must also be grounded in international cooperation, climate finance, research and development, and capacity-building for both governments and local communities. Many developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia and Latin America, lack the infrastructure, investment, and institutional support needed to adopt clean energy technologies at scale. Therefore, energy equity , i.e. , ensuring fair access to clean and reliable energy must remain a central pillar of UNEP's mission.
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What are the main environmental, economic, and political barriers to the global adoption of nuclear and renewable energy technologies?
How can developing countries be supported in adopting clean energy solutions without replicating the fossil-fuel-heavy growth of industrialized nations?
What mechanisms are necessary to ensure environmental sustainability across the full life cycle of renewable and nuclear energy from raw material extraction to waste disposal?
What policies can ensure that the expansion of nuclear and renewable energy respects land-use constraints?
What are the risks of technology dependency and geopolitical tensions that may arise from unequal access to clean energy innovations?
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Position papers are due on February 16, 2025 in order to be considered eligible for an award.
contact: hsmun.unep@gmail.com.