Futuristic General Assembly

Topic A: Global Shortages

Topic B: Mass Migration

It’s 2075. The world has failed to keep global warming below the 1.5°C threshold. A UN Global Council for Future Generations (UNGCFC) has been created to address the new existential threats while advocating for the rights of the next generation. At their inaugural summit, the UNGCFC has identified two pressing issues: global food shortages and mass climate-induced migration.

The climate crisis has upended the global food system. Extreme heat, floods, droughts and other severe weather disruptions have reduced the agricultural productivity of staple crops like wheat, rice, and maize that feed billions around the world. Moreover, the expansion of desertification has left once-arable land rendered barren. Fisheries do not seem to offer any relief, as ocean acidification has wiped out entire marine ecosystems, particularly in tropical waters. With the population reaching 10 billion, the planet faces a historic food shortage — leading to a brewing geopolitical conflict over dwindling resources. 

At the same time, the deadly heat waves in South Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa have prompted hundreds of millions to flee their homes in search of more habitable regions. Low-lying nations have fared no better, as countries like Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Pacific Island states are completely submerged from rising sea levels. Due to this mass migration, there is a refugee crisis at the borders of Western nations — especially in Europe — comprising global stability. Public opinion is heavily divided. Some political commentators believe that Western states are obligated to take on the surge of migrants, while others urge leaders to consider limited housing, strained infrastructure, and overwhelmed health care systems before opening borders. 

The UNGCFC must navigate the dual crises with urgency, equity, and innovative thinking to prevent irrebuttable harms from falling upon all citizens. Can a solution be found quickly without sacrificing diplomatic cooperation or international unity?