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FORUM: 4th SIMUN Conference

SUBMITTER: Malaysia
COMMITTEE: ECOSOC Committee

THE QUESTION ABOUT GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF

DISEASES CAUSED BY CLIMATE STRESS

The General Assembly,

Deeply concerned by climatologists’ estimate an unprecedented rise of 2.0 degrees Celsius

in global temperatures by the year 2100,

Fully aware these changes can affect the introduction and dissemination of many seriously
infectious diseases and cause an increase in incidences of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria,
dengue, chikungunya and viral encephalitides which are most sensitive to climate change,

Noting with deep concern that this would also directly affect disease transmission by
shifting the vector's geographic range and increasing reproductive and biting rates and by
shortening the pathogen incubation period,

Deeply concerned by the fact that increases in sea surface temperature and sea level caused
by climate stress can lead to higher incidence of water-borne infectious and toxin-related
illnesses, such as cholera and shellfish poisoning,

Alarmed by the possibility that human susceptibility to infections might also be further
compounded by malnutrition due to the effects of climate stress on agricultural output and
potential alterations in the human immune system caused by increased influx of ultraviolet
radiation,

Convinced that regional and global attention and co-operation is necessary to devise
measures to make us less vulnerable and more resilient towards such diseases,

1. Calls upon member nations to fully recognise the threat posed by such diseases caused
by climate stress and the various socio-economic impacts and implications if they
become epidemics or even pandemics like the Avian Flu;

2. Strongly urges all member nations to allocate necessary funds and resources to form
national taskforces which will not only formulate preventative measures to combat the
challenge posed by the breeding and spread of such vectors but also devise contingency
plans in case such epidemics do break out;

3. Asks for greater international intervention and aid to encourage at risk countries to
educate their citizens about the threat posed by climate stress and the rampant breeding
of such vectors;
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4. Requests the World Health Organisation (WHO) to give priority to the investigation of
new outbreaks of diseases such as the Chikungunya virus and aid the development of its
treatment by allocating adequate funds to conduct research for newer and more effective
treatment;

5. Encourages greater cooperation among regional countries facing similar threats and
challenges;

6. Recommends greater transparency during incidences of such epidemics so that it can be

nipped in the bud with concerted international effort before it becomes a pandemic like
the Avian Flu;

7. Invites member countries, especially countries in our close geographical proximity, to

join efforts with Malaysia to discuss detailed plans during a proposed regional
convention in April, at Kuala Lumpur, about ways and means to combat the spread of
such diseases in the region.