And again, developed and less developed countries are confronted

UNDP committee in the second day of URJCmun 2019 (Julia Arija). 

The second day at UNDP has started with a debate on the Zero Hunger challenge for 2030. The morning sessions were smooth. General ideas have been settled down. Food waste is still a main concern for the United Nations, although there has been a disagreement about its importance. After all, countries have reached a consensus: in order to reduce food waste they must cooperate and get involved in the problem. However, developed countries and less developed countries strategies differ from each other. The first ones focus their attention in making taxes stricter and, for them, it is particularly important to reduce consumption and production. Meanwhile, less developed countries think the base of the problem is the distribution of land. It will only be overcome with a redistribution of land; as the food produced is actually enough to feed the entire world, but the distribution is not fair.

Just about to finish the morning session, breaking news interrupted Senegal’s speech. Press announced that an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the Ritcher Scale had hit the North of Venezuela on Wednesday. The consequences affected not only to Venezuela but also to the rest of countries given that Venezuela is the main worldwide distributor of oil. Moreover, there are more than 200 deaths and the country sources have been completely destroyed. Venezuela is in a critical situation, and wants and needs an urgent solution. European countries such as France and Germany doubted about the request of funds Venezuela had asked for. France asked if the funds would be given to its actually destination as Venezuela’s government is corrupted. Germany stated that Venezuela is not the centre of the world and every country should keep in mind to end up hunger in the entire world. Finally, a moment of silent was dedicated to the earthquake victims and every country voted the recommendations to the crisis. All countries said yes unless Germany. The recommendations were also heard by Security Council and they were approved; nevertheless, USA was abstained declaring that Venezuela’s crisis is not an issue for them.

Coming back to the Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030, in the afternoon two different blocks have been outlined. On one hand we have the developed countries group, headed by France and UK. Australia, Hungary, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia and China, among others, are working with them. Their main ideas for the resolution are to invest in new technology but respecting traditional agriculture methods; the only use of renewable energy; to find new ways of producing food, for example from insects; to promote consumption and production of 100% reusable, recyclable and compostable containers and to face obesity. On the other hand, the opposite block is leaded by Senegal and Venezuela. This last country aims less developed countries to cooperate given that hunger is a more crucial issue in those countries. South Africa, Nepal, Cyprus, etc., take part in this block. This block is willing to give more attention to woman, end up with child hunger and redistribute land.

​There may be differences between the necessities of each block, but all countries agree on promoting green and circular economy to achieve the Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030 and lead to a sustainable world.