- Opening Speech
- Suggested Components
- Sample Opening Speech
- Resolution
- Sample Resolution
- Additional Resources
Opening Speech
All delegates must deliver opening speeches after the roll call for each agenda. Therefore, a total of two opening speeches on each of the agendas should be prepared by the delegates before the conference for most delegates. Opening speeches are limited to 90-second per speech. Delegates should:
- Print out opening speeches prior to the conference.
- Refrain from first-person or second-person pronouns. (i.e. I, we, you).
- Speak for a minimum of 30-40 seconds.
Opening speeches should contain your country’s status quo, policy position, and ideas for solutions. Focus on the aspects of major concern and deliver a clear and concise message of the actions you will be supporting. Remember to strategically utilize your voice: the way you use your voice can shape your narrative and persuade others of the solutions proposed.
Suggested Components
- Thank the presiding official.
- Provide a brief history on the issue as it relates to your country. Speak about how the issue is currently affecting your country.
- Provide your country’s initiatives, policies, and position on the issue.
- Explain how your country’s position relates to the position of other Member States.
- Discuss some of the past actions taken by the United Nations, Member States, and non-governmental organizations to address the issue.
- Suggest possible solutions.
Sample Opening Speech
Honourable president, fellow delegates, and members of the house,
Germany has for many years been toiled by the rising human and economic toll amid increasing occurrences of extreme climate events, including extreme heat, droughts, and floods. Our BMWK (Economy and climate action ministry) study has found that for the past two decades, these extreme events have cost our nation at least 6.6 billion EUR annually in damages. In 2022 alone, mortality of 4500 citizens and 4300 hectares of damages have been reported.
Germany has been the world pioneer in environment and climate policy, achieving a 35.7% decrease in carbon emissions since 1990, and working to achieve 55% by 2030. Climate Action Act (Klimaschutzgesetz), Climate Action Programme 2030, CO2 Pricing system are already in place, and has implemented a 4 Billion EUR Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity in early 2023. Germany for many years has been cooperating with and transferring climate technologies to other foreign states through programs such as German Climate Technology Initiative (DKTI I) and Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change. Germany would like to expand these initiatives, and take initiative to work with other countries to support ecosystems and communities worldwide.
There are two parts to Nature Based Solutions: (1) Creating a proper program and (2) Efficiently executing the plan. To tackle the first part, this delegate would like to propose joint research programs and knowledge transfer programs. These include collaborative research efforts, workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms. To tackle the second, private-public partnerships (PPP). PPPs bring together the strengths of both sectors – the innovation and efficiency of the private sector and the government’s regulatory and public service capacities.
Germany hopes for fruitful discussion and optimal resolution for three days of conference. If any delegate wishes to work on the resolution with Germany, please feel free to pass a note to him/her. Germany is ready to cooperate together. Thank you.
Resolution
A Resolution refers to the set of solutions that delegates have come up with to solve the agenda. A resolution should:
- Be written on a shared Google Doc during the conference.
- Finish writing and submitting the resolutions to the chairs before the lobbying session closes.
- Consist of a preamble and an operative section.
- Have 1 main-submitter and at least 5 co-submitters.
Resolutions should not:
- Contain unrealistic solutions or solutions that have already been executed.
- Be pre-written or plagiarized: Pre-written clauses and resolutions are not allowed, and delegates should only be writing clauses during committee sessions
The preamble section explains the background to the conflicts inherited in the agendas set. It should serve as an argumentation and reasoning behind the actions in the operative clauses. The operative section contains the calls of action delegates in the committee to resolve the problem mentioned in the agenda. Operative clauses should only deal with the powers the body has clear authority to.
CSIAMUN 