Asia-Pacific Model UN Conference

The University of Queensland

12 – 17 July 2009

Newsletter 6 – Friday 3 July

In this issue…
Sustainability at AMUNC 1
Message Board 2
Greenheart CitySmart 2
Feature Committee 3
UNFCCC COP-15
Delegate Training Session 3
Tips on Going Green 4
Meet the Secretariat 4
Sustainability
Brisbane Transport 5
Sponsors 5

Sustainability at AMUNC
Integral to the conference’s
commitment to global citizenship, the
Host Team has developed a holistic
approach to sustainability that aims to
incorporate the best practices based
on internationally recognised
agreements such as the Earth Charter
and Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
The Sustainability strategy for AMUNC
2009 targets a few key areas where the
conference has a notable
environmental footprint. We are
working on making electronic resources
available during committee sessions to
reduce our dependence on raw
materials. In addition, all the chartered
buses are run on efficient natural gas.
Moreover, we have given thought to
catering – with a supply of locally
brewed beer a feature at the finale
ball. Likewise at the welcome BBQ we
are putting Kangaroo sausages on the
BBQ and serving a vegetarian
alternative, as meat (beef in particular)
is environmentally taxing, due to the
water input and carbon dioxide
emitted from belching bovines.
Stationary supplies such as handbooks,
pens, pencils and delegate lanyards
will be procured from companies
producing products main from high
recycled content material with a
preference for reuse where possible.
We’re also undertaking a carbon audit
and offset of emissions produced
Stay in touch
directly from the conference – from the
electricity used in committee sessions,
Flick us an email!
emissions from the gas used to cook for
info@amunc.net
the welcome BBQ, through to the
exhaust from chartered buses that will
Find us on Facebook
move you around Brisbane. Once we
Search Groups: ‘AMUNC
know our carbon footprint we’ll have
2009 Brisbane’ or add us
enough native trees planted to take
as a friend: ‘Amunc
out of the atmosphere more CO2 than
Secretariat’
we are responsible for.
Follow us on Twitter:
Delegates will also get to engage with
amunc2009
this theme of sustainability at the COP-
15, which will be dealing with real-time
Skype me!
climate change negotiations. Being run
amunc2009
for the first time at AMUNC, this
committee precludes the upcoming
Check out our Blog!
Copenhagen debate, and sets a
http://blog.amunc.net/
precedent for future AMUNC
committees.

Page 1 AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 6 – Friday 3 July 2009

Message Board
Laptop Tips
If you’re planning to use a
laptop during committee
sessions, please bring a power
board if possible so more
delegates can share power
points. International
delegates, remember to bring
adaptors for your electrical
appliances if necessary!
AMUNC Airport Shuttle Bus!
We will be arranging a shuttle
bus to take delegates directly
from the airport to UQ on the
Saturday and Sunday.
Please complete the form by
Saturday 4 July
http://link.amunc.net/airportsh
uttleform
Details of bus times will be
published online on
Wednesday 15 July.
Accommodation Update
All delegates staying at the colleges will be receiving a
comprehensive email update on Monday 6 July regarding their
accommodation booking, including check-in/check-out times,
baggage, arrangements for delegations, meals and key contacts.
Council Strategies
• Using carbon-free energy
• Reducing energy use
through a sustainable
built environment
• Reducing the impact of
infrastructure
• Reducing the impact of
travel
• Offsetting emissions
• Planting 2 million trees
across Brisbane by 2012
Page 2
Attire Checklist
Attire during the week is
business wear; that means a
suit for men and business shirt
and skirt/pant for ladies.
Please check the Social Event
pages for dress codes for the Upload your position statements
relevant nights. Don’t forget to your committee’s file sharing
the dress up theme for the site: http://files.amunc.net/
Q150 global village cruise! by Sunday 5 July.
Fill out the airport shuttle bus
Swine Flu Update form by Saturday 4 July.
1. We will not be canceling
the conference Keep checking back on the website over the
next few days for more updates!
2. We strongly recommend
that all delegates take out
medical and travel
insurance (incl interstate New Committee File Sharing Sites!
Aus and NZ delegates).
Due to difficulties experienced by some
More detailed advice has delegates in accessing the Gsites committee
been posted on the website
portals administered by Google, we have
launched new file-sharing sites for all of the
committees.
These are available at http://files.amunc.net.
Your committee log-in details have been
emailed to you.
Green Heart CitySmart is Brisbane City Council’s program to make
Brisbane Australia’s most sustainable city.
Brisbane residents have already shown the world that we lead the
way in water saving, by meeting our water target of 140 litres per
person per day.
Now, we are aiming to be a carbon neutral city by 2026.
Currently, each Brisbane household emits 16 tonnes of greenhouse
gas each year.
Brisbane is currently aiming to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions
to 10 tonnes per household per year, by the year 2012.
But research has shown that to stop climate change, each person on
the planet should be emitting no more than one tonne per year.
This is our final carbon footprint target – one tonne for everyone.
For more information on Green Heart CitySmart and how you can get
involved, visit
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:CITY_SMART::pc=PC_2796
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 6 – Friday 3 July 2009
Feature Committee UNFCCC COP-15
Almost every scenario concerning
world energy consumption over
the coming decades predicts a
massive increase in the amount of
energy the world will demand. In
contrast, the international
consensus regarding action
towards climate change is that
the world will have to drastically
reduce its present use of energy if
adequate reductions in
greenhouse gases (especially
carbon dioxide emissions which
are produced by current energy
consumption) are to occur. The
difficulties in bringing renewable
energy technology to developing
countries are vast, but the
economic, political, and
environmental costs will be far
greater if the international
community fails to take
appropriate and effective steps
now in order to ensure a secure
energy future.
Director and Assistant
Director training
Saturday 11th July: 11am – 5pm
Delegate training
Sunday 12th July: 2.30pm – 5pm
NGO Orientation
Sunday 13th July, 4.00pm, OR
Wednesday 15th July, 8.30am
The delegate training session will
begin with an overview of the
Rules of Procedure in the
Conference Hub. After this,
delegates will go to their
committee rooms to run through
the rules with their fellow
delegates and directors.
Page 3
Background on UNFCCC
In December 2009, under the In 1979 the first World Climate
auspices of the UNFCCC, nations Conference was held, leading
will come together for Cop 15 in countries to begin to consider
Copenhagen and determine the what actions can be taken to
successor to the Kyoto reduce the effects of global
Protocol. Building on the warming. Since then a number
groundwork laid at Cop14, of documents, treaties and
delegates are invited to organisations have been
participate in this simulation of one created in furtherance of this
the most seminal moments in the aim. In 1995 the first Conference
history of addressing Climate of the Parties (COP) to the UN
Change. Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
While the majority of nations agree was held in Berlin, setting the
on the need for action, precedent for the annual
disagreement is greatest over who meeting of state signatories. The
should bear the brunt of UNFCCC is an overall
responsibility. Eventually however, framework for inter-
developing nations will have to governmental efforts to tackle
play a role in preventing severe climate change, ratified by 192
climate change – how effectively countries. All parties to the
they can meet this demand will Convention are subject to
depend on the successful general commitments to tackle
negotiation of bringing and climate change, such as
implementing successful mitigation measures, provisions
renewable technology into for developing and transferring
countries that lack sufficient environmentally friendly
capacity, mostly in terms of technologies, and plans for
capital, to address climate climate research amongst
change in a timely manner. other measures.
Delegate Training Session
Training will be a compulsory
element of participation in this
year’s AMUNC.
All delegates are expected to
undertake this "conference
induction", which includes
committee training, cultural
awareness and delegate support
information, and safety and
emergency procedure training. These sessions will also cover
Committee training is designed to communications skills and inter-
furnish delegates with an cultural understanding.
understanding of the committee
procedures from day one and will This multi-faceted training will
be interactive so as to ensure that enable delegates to be well-
delegates are able to give the prepared and confident in
rules of procedure a test run undertaking their tasks
before they are called upon to throughout the week.
use them in committee sessions.
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 6 – Friday 3 July 2009
Your Planet Needs You! Tips on Going Green

AT HOME OUT AND ABOUT AT WORK/ UNI

• Turn off the tap while • Don’t go anywhere without • Use a washable mug
shaving or brushing teeth a cloth bag so you can just as an alternative to non- Information from
• Bundle up in warm say no to plastic whenever biodegradable the United Nations
clothing instead of using you shop Styrofoam or plastic Environment
electrical heaters in • Reduce your carbon cups. 80% of plastic Program World
winter footprint by avoiding driving bottles are recyclable Environment Day
• Use towels for drying your altogether – try biking, but only 20% are 2009 website
face and hands instead walking, carpooling or actually recycled.
of tissues public transport • Default your printer
• Make sure you recycle • If you have to drive, look for option to use both sides
your newspapers after the most fuel-efficient car • Set computers and
reading model and keep your tyres other business
• When packing food, opt inflated to the correct equipment to energy
for reusable containers pressure saving mode and turn
instead of aluminum foil • If you spend your mornings them off at the end of
or plastic wrap stuck in traffic, consider the day
• Don’t forget to switch off turning your engine off if you • Houseplants are good
all lights and appliances; will be idling for long periods for personalising
saving energy helps of time workspaces, and also
reduce air pollution • Aggressive driving lowers for the environment
• Plant a tree! Help your mileage – so if you because they remove
achieve UNEP’s Billion want to save on fuel and quantities of pollutants
Tree Campaign target of save the planet while you’re present in the air
planting seven billion at it, accelerate gradually
trees by the end of 2009!

Meet the Team Sustainability
(Clockwise from top left)
Noah Bergel (USG), India Green,
Ira Warner, Natalija Simic
Why did you get involved with
AMUNC?
Noah: The main reason was that
class just isn't enough – I wanted to
engage with a group at uni who
were intelligent and fun and
wanted to engage with world
affairs, and through MUN culture I
got to experience all of this!
Ira: To become part of an active
student organisation and work with
other focused and motivated
individuals in creating a positive
impact for our future.
How are we making the conference
sustainable?
Natalija: We’re having locally
produced organic wine for the
finale ball, food connect display to
educate delegates exactly how our
eating effects the earth, tips on how
to be a green delegate – for
instance plate what you can eat,
procurement of green recyclable
supplies, adjusting rooms
temperatures to minimise energy
usage, offsetting the conference by
investing in planting trees.
India: By using Green supplies and
incorporating sustainable initiatives
in any way that we can during the
conference, we can help to
significantly reduce carbon
emissions. By determining our
carbon footprint for the conference
through a carbon audit we can
provide next year’s conference
hosts with the ability to set targets
for reducing their carbon emissions.
What’s your favourite food?
India: Vege and tofu stirfry!
Ira: Seafood!
Noah: Fresh, locally grown figs,
sweetened with organic honey with
walnuts.
What are you most looking forward
to at AMUNC 2009?
Noah: The promise of meeting new
people. And the exciting vibe that
lasts all week long- at AMUNC
everyone's on an IR (international
relations) high!
Natalija: The cultural diversity,
making lifelong friends so I have
somewhere to stay when I travel!

Page 4 AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 6 – Friday 3 July 2009

Logistics Transportation
Brisbane’s public transport
system integrates bus, train and
ferry services all on the one
ticket – no need to purchase
numerous tickets for the one trip!
Most AMUNC events will take
place either at the University of
Queensland St Lucia campus, or
in the Brisbane City Centre, and
there are numerous ways to
travel between these two
destinations. There are two bus
stops on campus at UQ, from
which numerous routes can be
taken to the city centre. There is
also a CityCat (ferry) stop on
campus at UQ, which will take
you to the city centre (North
Thank you to our generous sponsors
Host Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsor
Page 5
Getting to UQ from the airport
Quay Ferry Terminal). The closest
The cheapest way to get from the
train station to the University of
airport to Brisbane City, and on to
Queensland is Toowong Station,
UQ, is by public transport.
on the Ipswich line, which is a
10min bus ride away from the
We will be running shuttle buses
campus. A taxi from UQ St Lucia
from the Airport on Sat 11 and Sun
to the Brisbane CBD will cost
12 July. Please fill out the form by
approximately $20.
Saturday 4 July
At various times during the
• At the airport, get the Airtrain to
conference, chartered transport
Central Station
is provided for delegates. These
• Change trains, and get on an
times will be clearly listed in the
Ipswich line train going west
conference handbook.
• Get off the train at Toowong Station
• Exit the station and cross the
Visit www.transinfo.com.au or
pedestrian overpass to the University
call 13 12 30 for more
of Queensland bus stop
information.
• Get on any bus going to UQ
Gold Sponsor
Special Event Sponsor
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 6 – Friday 3 July 2009