United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)

Topic A- Environmental Governance for AI Sustainability:

With artificial intelligence rapidly expanding across the globe in various industries, its environmental footprint has become an increasingly blatant global issue. These large AI models require massive amounts of electricity and water to continue teaching and operating, contributing to rising carbon emissions and water consumption for many developing nations. Furthermore, the growing demand for semiconductors and data centers has exacerbated the extraction of rare earth minerals such as lithium and cobalt, creating environmental degradation and geopolitical tensions in its wake. The UNEA committee will examine how the powers of the globe can balance fast-moving technological innovation with environmental sustainability through regulation and a “greener” investment in AI while still addressing the stark inequalities between developing and developed countries

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Topic B- Examining the Global Plastic Crisis:

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Plastic pollution has recently emerged as one of the most pressing environmental crises facing the globe, with millions of tons of plastic waste entering every inch of water through rivers and oceans each year. Even though plastics remain essential to many industries and economies, their large-scale production still contributes to pollution and public health concerns through microplastics and other toxic chemicals. Although recent United Nations negotiations have sought to create a legally binding global treaty addressing the full lifecycle of plastics, no final global treaty has managed to pass. The UNEA committee will examine how nations can coordinate international action against plastic pollution while balancing environmental protection and development, corporate accountability, and the differing capacities of developed and developing countries.

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CHAIR: Anurup Bhakt

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