RC Trebucq's Remarks at the 2023 Plenary Session of Rotary Clubs of Barbados' Model United Nations

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

• Dr. The Hon William Duguid, Acting Prime Minister of Barbados
• Senator The Honourable Lisa Cummins, Minister of Energy and Business, Government of Barbados
• Hugh Callender, President, Rotary Barbados West
• Carole Eluethere-Jean Marie, Director of Youth, Rotary Barbados
• Rotarians
• Principals
• Teacher Advisors
• Parents 
• Distinguished Model Delegates, Permanent Representatives of Member States and the future of our development

Good morning, it’s so good to see all of you again!

You’ve heard from me before as UN Resident Coordinator, but today I return as your proud Secretary General over these honourable proceedings. You’re going to hear many speeches, but I want you to remember this one. Welcome to the end of this year’s Model United Nations, or should I say, welcome to the beginning of your future as we know it, and the future of development.

I want to thank the Rotary Clubs of Barbados, Rotarians and Rotaracters for the consistency in leading this excellent initiative every year and continuing strong partnership with us as the United Nations. Together, we continue to prepare these young, intelligent minds for the challenges we share on the planet today, and this year – the fight on climate. I believe our efforts will continue to impact the Sustainable Development Goals in the country and the region, but I believe the strongest impact is on you – our delegates. 

Though you might have felt lost at first, you found your way, growing in knowledge of your countries’ issues, negotiating, communicating and collaborating with your partners, and working towards this resolution with skills that will last you for a lifetime. 

In many ways, you’ve made history, and I see almost no better place to make history now than right here, inside the walls of one of the oldest parliaments in the Western Hemisphere. 

This year, the focus of your model resolution is on Climate – not only extremely relevant for Barbados, but the Caribbean region and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and large coastal countries all over the planet. Climate change is the defining crisis of our time. As we all know, the Caribbean region stands on the frontlines of the current climate crisis, ranking among countries with the highest vulnerability, being seven times more likely to experience a natural hazard than larger states, with potential to incur six times more damage.

The rate of temperature rise in the last half century is the highest in 2,000 years, and concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest in at least 2 million years. 

In your respective member states, the temperature is rising, leading to more extreme weather. With the ocean absorbing the excess heat and energy from the greenhouse gases trapped in the air, as the largest carbon sink, Coral reef temperatures are rising, threatening marine biodiversity as we know it. Sea levels continue to rise and will rise by 30-60 cm by the year 2100.

Ice is melting. The ocean becomes more acidic. This means something for the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities in every fishing village, and everyone who depends on fish globally. Worse yet, drought is estimated to displace 700 million people by 2030, and medium to large scale disasters will increase 40% from 2015-2030. Yet still, Climate finance falls short of the 100-billion-dollar yearly commitment. 

But Honourable Delegates, the 1.5-degree limit to stay alive is achievable. With every yield, point of order, caucus and vote, every country has to be part of the solution. 

Just earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change launched the ‘Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report’, and UN Secretary General Guterres said “In short our world needs climate action on all fronts – everything, everywhere, all at once,”. 

That’s why we need more plans like the Bridgetown Initiative, redefining the world of development finance, especially how the more resourced member states help the lesser to cope with and adapt to climate change.

Strengthening how you manage disaster risk, along with improving how adaptive safety nets are key to prevent, mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate-related shocks and disasters.

This is in essence why we’re here today – action for people and for planet. As you debate your respective country positions, our only way out is a resolution towards targets for SDG 13 on Climate Action. That looks like commitment to stronger resilience, the ability to adapt to climate related disasters, integrating climate change measures into all your policies and planning. It also looks like building knowledge and capacity to meet climate change, implementing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and promoting the ways to raise your ability to plan and manage the climate crisis and the change that comes with it. 

Before the final motion to close, as you represent your varying member states, I want you all to bear in mind the journey that it’s taken you to get here and imagine what a better world for all of us looks like, because you have what it takes to get there. When you feel nervous, remember to stop, breathe, believe in yourself, and speak out. 

I trust that you all will represent the best of the present and the future of development and the UN system, remembering always to do one thing - put people at the centre of all you do. 

The energy, creativity and intellect you bring to issues that we face as humanity, make me proud to stand before you today, wishing you the best of luck in everything you do. All around the world, young people like you are scaling up their efforts and using their skills to accelerate climate action.

Never forget that you are capable, and that we are better for having each of your voices as Climate Champions and global citizens for this country, this region and this planet that we call home. I wish you all the greatest success today and beyond. 

Thank you.