In a couple of weeks time, we will be finishing up the course with a UN simulation. Each of the participants will be required to give a 1-minute (maximum!) opening presentation to the conference. Here is the opening statement of Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, to the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Warsaw, Poland in 2013. Your opening statements should follow a similar structure (but not length!).
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Clouds, Clocks, and Sitting at Tables 
I found this video interesting for a number of reasons. In particular regard to our upcoming model UN summit, it was very helpful to hear an address of this nature and thus better understand the tone and structure that our own should be seeking to emulate. Similarly, I found the examples of how Canada is helping to lessen the effects of climate change worldwide, by contributing to initiatives in countries of interest both positive and negative. While I approve of aiding in the development of these means, I wonder what this means in regards to Canada’s recognition of climate change refugees. Will Canada be unwilling to acknowledge this issue and continue to rely upon these external initiatives? Relatedly, is this focus abroad simply another way of brushing over our limited success of entering into discourse on climate change and enacting mitigation acts in the domestic sphere. In relation to the subject matter itself, I must admit that I was previously naive to the fact that Canada continued to be a major user of coal until our cutbacks. Growing up in British Columbia and never traveling further east than Calgary, I suppose that this is just another example of the regional differences in regards to energy consumption and climate change politics. Lastly I found the identity of the speaker herself to be of interest. As a member of Canada’s indigenous peoples, this was for me another example of how indigenous groups worldwide are continuing to lead the discourse on issues of climate change, enshrining the well being of mother nature as integral as well as, understanding the environment’s importance to everyone. The fact that she is a member of the Arctic Council, the ecosystem most at risk from climate change in this country as also of note.