Country: Italy

Committee: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

As Activist Greta Thunberg once stated, “Our house is on fire. I am here to say, our house is
on fire, and we are less than 12 years away from not being able to undo our mistakes.” [1]
Climate change in polar environments isn’t just a global issue, it is a global emergency. From
2007 to 2024, the Arctic sea ice extent are the lowest 18 sea ice extent in satellite record, [2]
and in less than half a century, the Arctic's average annual temperature has risen by 3.1°C
(5.6°F), and warming in the Antarctic caused its temperatures to rise about 3°C (5.4°F). [3] in
the view of significant risks posed by climate change, Italy is resolutely determined to find a
resolution to climate change in the polar ecosystems.

Nationally, Italy recognizes the urgent need to help protect polar ecosystems and is committed
to strengthen its efforts. The EcoClimate project, part of Italy's Arctic Research Programme
(PRA), is a collaboration between the Department of Environmental Biology at Sapienza
University of Rome and CNR-IRSA, CNR-ISP , and with other institutions such as the
Politecnico di Torino and the University of Bari, and it is used to study ecosystems living in
artic lakes, analyzing the impact of climate change on these ecosystems, and Developing
predictive models for future environmental conditions.[4][5][6] Italy has also established the
Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide (PNRA), which since 1985, has been
supporting and promoting research in Antarctica, ensuring the maintenance of research
infrastructure in Italy and Antarctica, and financing related activities. [7]

Italy has also taken international actions, such as participating in six working groups, various
experts, and task forces in the Arctic Council, and coordinating the Antarctic Geospace and
Atmosphere Research program (AGATA) ,under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic
Research (SCAR), Led by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV),
which aims to improve atmospheric modeling and space weather monitoring. [8][9][10] Italy has
also expressed interest in European polar research programs, such as Svalbard Integrated Arctic
Earth Observing System (SIOS), which studies long-term measurements in and around the
Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. [11], and actively engages in the Arctic Circle Assembly,
and wants to host a meeting that focuses on cryosphere-related topics with the Arctic Circle
Forum and Polar Dialogue in 2025, [12]

After stating its stance on the issue, Italy believes that the cure for a rising problem is through
the rising generation, and believes that spreading awareness about the issue through social
media, conferences in classes, or as little as stands in the streets can tremendously help the
problem. Italy favors limiting or even banning some chemicals, such as CFC and HFC, from
being used in the manufacturing industry, and calls on other countries to do the same. Italy also
advises on creating more marine protected areas (MPAs) in polar regions that safeguard unique
species and ecosystems and help preserve carbon-sequestering marine ecosystems. Italy also
urges the use of zero-emission vessels, renewable fuels, and digital solutions for transportation
in the Mediterranean and Arctic Shipping Routes to overcome climate change.
Country: Italy
Committee: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Topic: Developing a Global Strategy for Climate Change Mitigation in Polar
Ecosystems
Delegate ID: 25211303

Refernces:

[1]: Thunberg, Gretta. “Address at World Economic Forum: Our House Is on Fire – Jan
25, 2019.” Archives of Women’s Political Communication, 25 Jan. 2019,
[Link]/2019/12/02/address-at-davos-our-house-is-on-fire-jan-25-
2019/.

[2]: “Arctic Sea Ice Extent Levels off; 2024 Minimum Set.” Arctic Sea Ice Extent Levels
off; 2024 Minimum Set | National Snow and Ice Data Center, 24 Sept. 2024,
[Link]/sea-ice-today/analyses/arctic-sea-ice-extent-levels-2024-minimum-set

[3]: Education, UCAR Center for Science. “Center for Science Education.” Warming of
the Polar Regions | Center for Science Education, 2022, [Link]/learning-
zone/climate-change-impacts/warming-polar-regions.

[4]: Rossi, David, and Edoardo Calizza. “Ecological Research and Technological
Advancement in the Arctic: The Pra ‘Ecoclimate’ Project.” Ecological Research and
Technological Advancement in the Arctic: The PRA “EcoClimate” Project | Consiglio
Nazionale Delle Ricerche, 10 Aug. 2023, [Link]/it/nota-stampa/n-12131/ecological-
research-and-technological-advancement-in-the-arctic-the-pra-ecoclimate-project.

[5]: “Ecoclimate.” CNR, [Link], 2 Apr. 2024,

[6]: ScientifiCult. “Ricerca Ecologica E Avanzamento Tecnologico in Artico: Il Progetto

[7]: “Chi Siamo.” PNRA, [Link]/it/chi-siamo.

[8]: Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale. “Italy and the
Arctic.” Ministero Degli Affari Esteri e Della Cooperazione
Internazionale,[Link]/en/politica-estera-e-cooperazione-allo-
sviluppo/aree_geografiche/europa/artico/litalia-e-lartico.

[9]: “Agata.” SCAR, 11 Feb. 2025, [Link]/science/research-programmes/agata.

[10]: Rocchetti, Enrico. “Environment: Italy Leads International Polar Research with
Agata.” Istituto Nazionale Di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 6 Feb. 2025,
[Link]/en/press-and-urp/Press/Press-releases/5691-environment-italy-leads-
international-polar-research-with-agate.

[11]: Melchiorre, Dr. Tiziana. “Italy’s Growing Interest in the Arctic.” High North News,
12 Apr. 2023, [Link]/en/italys-growing-interest-arctic.

[12]: ANSA. “Italy at the Arctic Circle 2024 Assembly in Iceland - News from
Embassies.” Agenzia ANSA, 18 Oct. 2024,
[Link]/english/news/news_from_embassies/2024/10/18/italy-at-the-arctic-circle-
2024-assembly-in-iceland_965facc4-[Link].