United Nations Environment Program

Topic A: Addressing global water quality and reducing pollution by promoting sustainable water management and infrastructure practices. Clean water is essential for human health and economic development, yet water pollution continues to threaten communities across the globe. Leaking sewer systems and insufficient treatment capacity allow untreated sewage and industrial and agricultural waste to pollute rivers, lakes, and groundwater, disproportionately affecting rapidly urbanizing and low-income areas. Historically, governments have targeted this issue by building wastewater treatment facilities, setting limits on industrial pollution, and expanding sanitation systems. Many existing treatment systems, however, are not designed to remove emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), also known as “forever chemicals,” which persist in the environment and threaten drinking water supplies. Many nations also lack the standards to monitor and regulate these pollutants. The goal of this committee is to develop practical international strategies to reduce water pollution by revising wastewater treatment and strengthening sustainable water infrastructure. Delegates should consider improving treatment technologies for contaminants like PFAs, reducing industry and agricultural pollution, expanding investment in resilient water systems, and promoting international cooperation. Solutions should ultimately ensure equitable access to clean water while protecting freshwater resources for future generations. Topic B: Strengthening international response protocols for waterborne diseases in post-disaster and refugee camp scenarios. In the aftermath of crises such as war or devastating earthquakes, severe overcrowding from the development of high density refugee camps creates ideal conditions for rapid outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and more. Historically, International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) responses have relied on static water treatment guidelines that frequently fail to account for the rapid decay of chlorine and the high risk of water recontamination during the transportation and storage process of water. The goal for this committee is to strengthen international response protocols towards an adaptive, resilient-focused approach. Delegates should look into establishing chlorination/other chemical targets, deploying real-time water quality surveillance, or integrating predictive public health modeling. Furthermore, these updated protocols could prioritize the rapid mobilization of vaccination campaigns and community led hygiene education programs alongside physical infrastructure repairs. By modernizing and standardizing these data-driven frameworks across global aid agencies, the international community can reduce deaths, optimize emergency resource allocation, and secure access to safe drinking water for vulnerable communities.