MUN Topics based on 17 SDG’s

SDG GOAL 1: No Poverty

Committee: United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF
Topic: Removing Tangible Barriers for Children to Escape Poverty
In a few words: UNICEF is dedicated to making sure that no child is left
behind in the fight to make our world more equal and better for all. In this,
focusing on lifting children out of poverty is one of the most important tasks
of UNICEF and through the framework of the SDGs more can now be done to
tackle the issue resolutely and comprehensively. Already systems of
indicators and progress tracking have been deployed worldwide, and the
focus is now to look at the tangible barriers for children, education,
development, growth, and more, in order to lift them to a better life. The
delegates of UNICEF must think of ideas that are sure to be sustainable and
maintain the better lives of these children whilst not disenfranchising any
others in the process. They must answer tough questions of cross-boundary
competition and struggle and think of the long-term with every debate.
SDG GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
Committee: World Food Program
Topic: Food Security in Conflict Zones
In a few words: Conflict zones are unpredictable in the best of cases, and
dangerous to civilians and aid workers alike at their worst. Issues include now
knowing where the recipients are, knowing how many, lack of protection and
overworking, all of which puts access to food in jeopardy. The delegates of
the World Food Program must think of policies that ensure non-combatants
receive food. They should decide which types of food are most relevant (food
supplies, cash, a mix), transport mechanisms and other UN bodies to
collaborate with. Delegates will need to answer questions on which types of
food provide the most nutritional value, delivery methods, continuous access
to food as well as long term distribution methods and mechanisms that can
support eventual self-resilience.
SDG GOAL 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
Committee: World Health Organization WHO
Topic: Establishing Preparedness Protocols for Epidemics and Pandemics
In a few words: There remains no doubt that better protocols and planning
could have prevented or at least hindered the current outbreak we were
suffering. However, we must already begin to think of the lessons we can
learn for future outbreaks. In this, delegates must consider some of the key
collective protocols and efforts that can be made in order to reduce the
possibility of a spread like this again. Mechanisms to monitor viruses,
improve research, and widely prepare the world again will be useful not only
for future crises, but also in current ones too.
SDG GOAL 4: Quality Education
Committee: United Nations Educations, Scientific, and Cultural
Organizations UNESCO
Topic: Integration of Affordable Technology to Improve Education in the
Developing World
In a few words: A good education is the key to a bright future, therefore a
good educational system is instrumental to a prosperous society. The
application of technology to national educational systems provides more
tools to help improve literacy rates, make education more accessible and
more affordable on a large scale. However, because of the challenges
reducing the quality of life in the developing world, education suffers as a
result.
SDG GOAL 5: Gender Equality
Committee: UN Women
Topic: Improving female access to education worldwide
In a few words: Despite making up a majority of the world’s population,
girls are still not more likely to enter primary school than boys, and less than
40% of countries still manage to provide girls and boys equal access to
education. It is important for the future of our societies worldwide that this
inequality in access is rectified as quickly as possible, in all stages of
education. This includes not just primary, but secondary, tertiary, and adult
education. Delegates will be expected to lay a critical eye on the world’s
attempts to improve education access to women, and look for new, diverse
and effective ways to bring this dangerous inequality down, whilst
simultaneously improving access to education in general for all.
SDG GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Committee: UN Water
Topic: Water Security in Transnational Desert Climates
In a few words: Water Security is quickly becoming a dangerous threat to
many societies living in or near desert climates. With Global warming often
exacerbating these areas, new areas are also becoming more at risk of
desertification. The transnational aspect to this security threat makes the
resolution of it especially difficult. What delegates must do is engage with
how societies can be protected in these precarious situations whilst also
managing to grow. It is not enough just to remain survivable but the world
must work together to allow people living in these climates the ability to
thrive too.
SDG GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Committee: United Nations Environment Program UNEP
Topic: Economic and Environmental Maximization of Winds & Solar Energy
In a few words: Green energy, especially that from the wind and the sun, is
vital to reducing our carbon footprint and fulfilling many of the Sustainable
development goals. As the technology to make such energy becomes easier
to make and more efficient, we should now look to maximising the use of
these energy producing methods and making them more accessible
worldwide. Whilst countries with more developed technological fields might
be able to include them in their energy grids more easily, it is up to those
with more basic methods of energy generation to use these new technologies
as it can speed up their overall industrialisation and productiveness. Without
this, a dangerous new inequality could occur, and delegates need to grapple
with both the economic drives of these green methods of energy production
as well as the environmental benefits they bring.
SDG GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Committee: Economic and Social Council ECOSOC
Topic: Reduction of Brain Drain
In a few words: Brain Drain is the unfortunate situation many countries are
facing where huge swathes of the often younger population move and stay
abroad owing to a lack of educative or productive capacities within their
home country. Whilst migration is a huge net positive, the lack of
opportunities within a country can be devastating for societies, and the need
to improve sovereign education and employment capabilities will be needed
to tackle this. Delegates here should start to understand the societal and
transboundary nature of opportunity generation, and look at new
international ways to improve these possibilities for future generations.
SDG GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Committee: United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO
Topic: Accelerating the creation of inclusive and sustainable industrial
development
In a few words: Industry keeps our world running. The creation,
manufacturing, delivery, and recycling of the objects we all use in life is a
literal lifeline for our societies. However, for decades and centuries the
development of industry has been a dirty and often dangerous business. With
new technologies and opportunities we must look at how sustainable industry
can proliferate across the world, helping especially those countries who lack
such an inclusive industry so far. For this delegates will need to look at how
industry works, and the unique situations many countries find themselves in
through labour and work.
SDG GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
Committee: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTaD
Topic: Improving growth in least developed countries
In a few words: For many centuries, growth has been a concept states have
treated unequally. However, it is imperative that to reduce global inequality
that growth be focused on those with the most need for it to lift people out of
poverty and inequality within their own societies. To this end, delegates must
take a look at the current trade and development system and understand the
inequalities within them and how they can be best tackled, whilst not
discriminating or hindering growth elsewhere. It is a delicate topic to deal
with and an important one for the future of billions who are losing out.
SDG GOAL11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Committee: United Nations Human Settlements Programme UNHSP
Topic: Improving the sustainability and living standards of our cities
In a few words: Urbanisation is progressing at a rapid pace in our modern
world. The rate of people moving from the countryside to new or old cities is
becoming an issue of growing proportion. Already over half of the world’s
population live in cities, and this is only going to grow in the future.
Furthermore, the rapid, often uncontrolled, growth of cities directly
endangers the living standards of those in these cities, as well as often lacks
sustainable mechanisms to keep the population safe. Delegates here must
look at how this uncontrolled growth can be managed and how the living
standards of those within cities can keep growing, building on the lessons of
millenia of urbanisation.
SDG GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Committee: Food and Agriculture Organization FAO
Topic: Reduction of Factory Farming
In a few words: In order to produce enough food for our burgeoning global
population, factories have often been used in order to create enough food to
sustain big populations. However, this factory farming is problematic for
several reasons. The quality of the food it produces is often low, and the
sustainability of the food, not to mention the horrible conditions of the
animals, are all too poor. It is time now for delegates to look at some of the
overreliance of factory farming, especially that of meat, and see how our
reliance on it can be reduced, and conditions improved, moving to higher
quality sources of food for all our populations, whilst managing our ever
growing population.
SDG GOAL 13: Climate Action
Committee: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFCCC
Topic: Evaluating the Progress of the Paris Climate Agreement
In a few words: The Paris Agreement climate change mitigation,
adaptation, and finance is a seminal agreement in our fight against global
warming and climate change. Amounting to key commitments in limiting
CO2, financing of sustainable development initiatives and most important
nationally determined contributions for each member state. It is important
that this document and its contributions remain salient and evaluated at
every opportunity for improvements, and to make sure that member states
are keeping their commitments to the agreement. It is the cornerstone of
global efforts to stem climate change and it is important that delegates
address this in their debates.
SDG GOAL 14: Life Below Water
Committee: UN Oceans
Topic: Protection of Coral Reefs
In a few words: Coral reefs are some of the most beautiful and important
ecosystems on our planet, and also some of the most vulnerable. Hosting a
huge amount of life, and essential in many ways to our survival, coral reefs
have faced a devastating amount of destruction owing to the warming of the
seas. Through regulation and good environmental practice, many of these
reefs can be protected and brought back, but for some it might already be
too late. Delegates must look to enshrine this protection solidly and robustly
in order to protect these reefs and the life that they protect.
SDG GOAL15: Life on Land
Committee: UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Topic: Protection of endangered animals and threatened wildlife
In a few words: There are over 40’000 different animals and wildlife on the
endangered list. Over 10’000 of them are at a further risk of extinction,
meaning that their species and life may never be found again. It is a key
responsibility for the world to protect these species and encourage their
growth to bring them out of endangerment. The UN Convention on Biological
Diversity is a key forum for this protection, and at this conference of the
parties delegates must find ways to protect these unique animals and
encourage their continued growth, whilst also protecting humankind at the
same time.
SDG GOAL 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Committee: United Nations Development Program UNDP
Topic: Improving Democratic Governance and Democratic Institutions
In a few words: Democracy and the rule of the people is one of the
founding principles of the United Nations and of the international order we
protect and enshrine. However, in times of difficulty, the democratic
institutions that uphold this principle wain, and continual investment and
improvement of these institutions and practices of governance is necessary
to keep democracy alive. In tackling this, delegates must look at how
institutions can be widely supported and improved to bring back and bring
forward new democratic ideals and participation from the citizens of the
world that the UN serves.
SDG GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Committee: United Nations Educations, Scientific, and Cultural
Organizations UNESCO
Topic: Increasing Financial incentivizes for Future Local Partnerships
In a few words: Civil society and local initiatives are essential ways to
anchor the SDGs and the United Nations to citizens of the world. However,
many of these initiatives and partnerships face issues of funding and support,
and with the myriad of work they do, it is important that delegates find
sustainable and robust ways to support the financing of these institutions
either though national or international means. Here delegates must also look
to the good running and governance of these partners, and find ways to
improve win-win scenarios for both the partnerships, and the local people
they work with.
8 Other MUN Topics
Global Security
Committee: Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)
Topic: Impact of Private Military Security Contractors on Global Security
In a few words: Security is a vital part of all nations work, and the military
that often protects its security is kept under keen supervision in order to
minimise loss of life and the dangers of war on civilians. However, when this
security is taken by private persons, oversight and potential breaches of
human rights becomes all too likely. Nevertheless, private military security
can also be a way to safeguard security in areas where it is all too dangerous
otherwise. Delegates here must take a nuanced and important look at global
security, and the role that private contractors can take within it. The grey
zone that they exist in is too dangerous to civilians and human rights to
ignore.
Nuclear Proliferation
Committee: International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA
Topic: Revaluating Non-Proliferation Mechanisms which have lead to
breaches in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
In a few words: The NPT remains an important document for global safety
and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. However, it still remains an
incomplete document, with several important nations of the UN having not
signed it, and worrying developments for those who have previously signed,
or pulled out of, the treaty. Delegates here must look at the mechanisms
enshrined in the NPT and identify how they can be improved and made more
efficient and robust if the treaty is to survive a potentially catastrophic
proliferation of nuclear weapons and associated weaponry.
Drug Trafficking
Committee: United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime UNODC
Topic: Examining the Relationship between Legalization of Marijuana and
Drug Related Crime
In a few words: Some members of the international community have taken
steps towards the legalization of marijuana, bringing forth a key debate
between this legalization and the crime that often accompanies it when it is
illegal. With drug related crimes decimating populations and state legitimacy
across the world, any actions that could improve or alleviate the damaging
effects on society are welcome. Through this, delegates must look at how
legalization affects crime through key studies and sources, and take a
nuanced and respectful look at changing global positions towards this.
Prostitution
Committee: United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Topic: Rethinking the Legalization of Prostitution
In a few words: Prostitution has often been called one of the oldest trades
in humanity, and it has doubtless played an important role in society since
the dawn of civilisation. However, in our modern society what role should it
play? This is a key question that delegates on the UNCSW should be
addressing, understanding the complex role of labour it plays in many
communities, cultural relations between men and women, and evolving
understanding of the regulation of women’s bodies worldwide. Already
debates on the legalization of prostitution has evolved in regional and
national debates, therefore a global debate should be ushered in to look
further into this important topic.
Global Commerce
Committee: World Trade Organization WTO
Topic: Impact of Industrial Capacity 3D Printing on Free Trade
In a few words: 3D printing threatens to revolutionise industry in ways few
technologies have before. Through programming, printers with different
materials and capabilities are already reaching science-fiction levels of
productivity and capacity, and could have rapid effects on a free trading
system by which specialization is key. How would selling the designs of a 3D
printed industrial tool affect the free trade of said tools? What would 3D
printing do in the medium-skilled industrial sector which is so vital for
millions? These are just some questions that delegates in the WTO must look
at, as well as a robust understanding of the modern ways in which global
commerce operates, and is likely to change.
Cyber Security
Committee: United Nations Security Council UNSC
Topic: Differentiating from Cyber War from Cyber Terrorism and Cyber Crime
In a few words: Cyber is a new domain by which devastating impact can be
had on societies and entire nations. With the internet and otherwise digitally
connected devices proliferating across the world, the nature between cyber
crimes, terrorism, and all out war continue to confuse and delay appropriate
responses from those protecting our society. The UNSC, as the key body
defining breaches of peace in the international system, must evaluate these
scenarios and set globally defining guidelines on malicious intent in the cyber
domain. Delegates in the UNSC here must be able to delve in depth into both
the political, and technological understanding of these different actions, and
how the international community should seek to respond to them.
Climate Change
Committee: United Nations HLPF on Sustainable Development
Topic: Decarbonization of Energy Production
In a few words: At the High-level political forum on sustainable
development, important political decisions and consensus must be made over
one of the hardest issues facing our society and its approach to tackling
climate change. Energy, vital to so much of our world, is one of the key
contributors towards the high standard of living for many, yet also constitutes
one of the most polluting, and dangerous sources of carbon. In order to reach
many of the SDGs and generally improve the quality of life of people across
the world, delegates at the HLPF must look at how we can decarbonize
energy production worldwide, and set targets, goals, and put forward new
initiatives to improve our worldwide efforts.
Conflict Resolution
Committee: International Court of Justice ICJ
Topic: Reforming Mediation Efforts to Make a Fairer and More Efficient
Conflict resolution Apparatus
In a few words: Mediation has always been and remains a key way to help
bring conflict resolution. Both at the UN, other international bodies, and
through private individuals, mediation has saved lives through the important
neutral and trustworthy process it can be. However, both legally and
politically mediation efforts are difficult to set up, and can sometimes lead to
problematic situations of unfairness, strongarming, and inefficient use of
resources. The ICJ, as a legal body for the United Nations to seek direction
from, is able to push for some reform to the mediation process, and
delegates within the ICJ here should seek to engage with important real-world
examples of mediation, both successful and unsuccessful, to try and improve
these efforts and save more lives in the future.
Coming Up With Your Own Unique MUN Topics
As a chair or educator, knowing which topic to choose is essential to the
success of the committee. While there is no shortage of topics, certain topics
don’t create the same level of competition and excitement as others. Before
a topic can be considered a vital question should be asked, does the topic
invite competition or collaboration? Since states within a committee interact
in a number of ways between competing interests, coalitions, and more, the
topic frames how the committee will operate. A committee can be successful
as a collaborative problem-solving session or a competitive debate, but
certain topics fit each style better. For instance, topics that lack strategic
interest, such as topics relating to improving healthcare, will be better suited
for the collaborative model because states won’t have a position against
proving their national health, they’ll have different ways of how that’s
accomplished. Whereas topics that include serious stakeholders, such as
topics relating to security or vital economic matters, the competitive debate-
style works better to fit that model. Therefore, once you find a topic, see if it
fits one of those two models and the committee can be successful. Next,
there are two primary variables that break down which type of topic it is and
how the type impacts the preparation and execution of the topic.