UNEP
The issue of ensuring widespread adoption of green energy sources, with particular attention to wind and solar sources.
Renewable energy capacity has more than tripled in the past decade, yet fossil fuels still account for over 80% of global energy use. Expanding access to clean energy is central to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7: affordable and clean energy for all. However, challenges remain in scaling up wind and solar power, from high upfront investment costs and supply chain issues to concerns over land use and energy storage. Delegates in UNEP must consider how to accelerate global adoption of green energy, particularly in developing countries, while ensuring affordability, reliability and minimal environmental disruption in the transition to a low emissions future.
Further Reading: https://www.cif.org/topics/energy-access
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7
The question of water resource depletion due to the cooling demands of large-scale data centres.
The exponential growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence has driven a surge in the construction of data centres worldwide. These facilities, while critical to the global economy, require vast amounts of water for cooling, sometimes millions of litres per day, putting additional strain on already scarce freshwater resources. In regions facing drought and climate change-induced water stress, this competition between digital infrastructure and local communities poses serious human and environmental challenges. Delegates in UNEP must therefore assess how to balance technological development with sustainable water management, considering alternatives or regulatory frameworks that prioritise community needs.
Further Reading:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cindygordon/2024/02/25/ai-is-accelerating-the-loss-of-our-scarcest-natural-resource-water/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-15/eu-will-work-on-setting-water-use-caps-for-thirsty-data-centers?embedded-checkout=true