position papers germany

MODEL UNITED NATIONS
POSITION PAPER
Committee: Economic and Social Council
Topic: Global warming and the World Economy
Country: Germany
Delegate: Sharvi Dublish, St. Stephen’s college, Delhi

Global warming today in an undeniable reality and the fourth assessment report by the IPCC has found that, “Most of the observed increase in the temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations”. Thus, with the growing world population and the fact that the global economy and industrialization is reaching every corner of the world, the world demand for energy will only increase. Policies to make sure that these energy needs are met by more energy efficient and environmentally friendly technology are a must.

Responsibility of the problem of global warming lies primarily in the hands of the developed nations. German parliament therefore ratified the Kyoto protocol unanimously in 2002 and has reduced its GHG emission to 17% below the 1990 levels already, and plans to reduce them to 40% below the 1990 level by 2012. Germany considers it unfortunate that the US, one of the largest producers of green house gases, did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol and is unwilling to succumb to any legally binding restrictions on its GHG emissions.

Germany believes that the key to fighting global warming is investment and innovation in new environment friendly technology. Thus, the German government has invested heavily in the modernization of energy systems in buildings and plans to increase the share of renewable energies in the fuel market to 17 percent by 2020. However, the utilization of fossil fuels cannot be stopped entirely as some sectors of the economy are heavily dependent on energy produced from coal based power plants. Thus, test runs of a new technology aimed at capturing carbon-di-oxide at power plants have begun at Vattenfall as a first step towards CO2 emission free power generation based on coal.
The developing countries too have a responsibility towards curbing the effects of global warming, yet they are not equipped with the resources and/or the technology to carry out the same. Thus, it is the responsibility of the developed world to aid the developing nations through the transfer of green technology, emissions trading and clean development programs. Germany has shown its support for carbon trading, a cost effective method of reducing green house gases, by actively participating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
Germany also believes that, in view of the drastically rising oil and gas prices, investment in programs to reduce the dependence on non-renewable and CO2 emitting sources of energy will eventually pay off. The developed nations should act as a role model to the newly industrializing countries to show that, in the long run, environmentally sustainable technology will not hinder economic growth and development. This might induce them to voluntarily make substantial contributions to the effort against global warming.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS
POSITION PAPER
Committee: Economic and Social Council
Topic: Labour Migration
Country: Germany
Delegate: Sharvi Dublish, St. Stephen’s college, Delhi

With an increasing aging population and low fertility rates, Germany has been dependent on immigrant population since the 1990’s to support economic development and maintain a dynamic workforce.

Initially in the 19th century, Germany was an emigrant country. However, after the division of Germany into the German Democratic Republic( East) and the Federal Republic of Germany(West) and extensive industrialization in West Germany, the country soon became a very important destination for immigrants. These immigrants can be divided into two separate groups; those of German origin and those with no German ancestors. Inflows of immigrants with non-German ancestry began in a serious way in the second half of the 1950s. In response to a Labour shortage prompted by economic recovery, Germany signed a series of bilateral recruitment agreements, first with Italy in 1955, then with Spain (1960), Greece (1960), Turkey (1961), Portugal (1964), and Yugoslavia (1968). These workers, who were recruited mainly in the industrial sector for jobs that required few qualifications, came to Germany for a period of one or two years and were then required to go back to their respective countries. This policy prevented settlement and exposed the largest possible number of workers from sending countries to the industrial work of the more developed Germany. Germany also imported workers from Poland, Czech, and several other East European countries after the German reunification. However, in the 1990’s the need for skilled labour had also arisen.

Today 8.8 percent of the German population is made up of foreign nationals. The main problem that these immigrants face is the inability to easily integrate themselves in the German cultural and economic scenario. Some reasons for this can be found in the German population itself wherein several people suffer from Xenophobia that can lead to widespread violence. Some are also related to the immigrants themselves who do not recognize women’s equality and have ideals that are quite different from those of developed Germany.

On the one hand, the government needs to reduce the barriers that the immigrants face and make integration and naturalization easier. Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that the recent Labour Immigration Law with programs that allow for better integration through education is a major milestone towards a better integrated German population. However, further steps must be taken to prevent any possible exploitation of the foreigners and to make it possible for even the poor to take advantage of programs being offered by the government. On the other hand however, the government also needs to make sure that the screening process for immigrants is well monitored in order to prevent “criminal young foreigners” from entering the country.

Another problem that the world as a whole faces is unsafe migration practices such as human trafficking. A global organization aimed at ensuring the safe migration of young men, women and children is required to prevent their exploitation under the pretence of a better future.

People leave their own countries in the hope for better living standards abroad. Their rights should be preserved and the government of Germany is trying its best to ensure that they are respected and at the same time also making sure that everything on the political, economic and social front within the country itself is in harmony.