Polar Governance Council, 2048
Agenda: Reviewing and Formulating Frameworks for the Polar Regions
(Double Delegate Committee)
The poles are no longer frozen frontiers of silence–they are battlegrounds of ambition.
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The polar regions no longer remain remote, frozen boundaries of the Earth. They are progressively becoming the nucleus of geopolitical stress. Due to climate change, the polar ice caps are melting at an accelerated rate. With the use of modern technologies in transport and infrastructure, human activity is rapidly increasing in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
By 2048, the foundational frameworks governing the world's polar regions: the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Arctic Council stand as relics of a more cooperative, less urgent era. Originally forged to promote peace, scientific collaboration, and environmental protection, these regimes are now increasingly outpaced by geopolitical, technological, and economic realities.
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The Antarctic Treaty, once lauded for its demilitarization and ban on resource exploitation, has frayed under the pressure of climate-induced accessibility and resource scarcity. The so-called “2048 clause,” allowing for review of its mining ban, coupled with recent scientific investigations revealing numerous new reserves of rare Earth minerals in Antarctica, has triggered a scramble for influence masked by scientific expansion. As the ice recedes, so too does the resolve to keep the continent untouched.
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In the Arctic, melting sea ice has transformed previously inaccessible zones into hotspots for navigation, military buildup, and hydrocarbon extraction. UNCLOS, though comprehensive in theory, has failed to adequately arbitrate the surge in territorial claims and overlapping economic interests, especially as states pursue extended continental shelves with increasing aggression. Meanwhile, the Arctic Council, lacking enforcement power and riddled with tensions among its members, has seen its role diminish to that of a ceremonial forum. As global warming dissolves the icy barriers in the Arctic, previously inaccessible resources, and strategic shipping routes, such as the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage, are now within reach. Additionally, the emergence of new Arctic Islands caused by a series of underground volcanic eruptions has led to a race for territorial acquisition, with many countries ready to claim them.
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As climate change accelerates, the delegates must discuss the future of the Arctic trade routes and Antarctic resources. Will the Poles be made into a war zone due to geopolitical rivalries, or will the nations cooperate to make sustainable governance reforms?
The race for resources could reshape the governance of the poles, leading to questions over sovereignty and the balance between exploitation and conservation. As superpowers attempt to increase their influence, there will be a scramble for Polar territory, with each country ready to tap into the Poles’ immense wealth. This committee recognizes that the polar regions are now no longer frontiers of exploration, but arenas of high-stakes competition. The question is no longer whether the old systems are failing, but what will replace them. The time for passive stewardship has passed. A new era of governance rooted in realism, equity, and enforceability must begin.
The ice is melting and the clock is ticking.
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Will you be able to guard the future of the Poles? Will you be able to continue the international cooperation that has kept the Poles safe for years? Will you be able to make judicious use of the abundant resources that we have been gifted?
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Or will it all melt away, just like the ice?
Letter from the Director
Dear Delegates,
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It is with great excitement that I welcome you to the Polar Governance Council, 2048, a futuristic and intellectually stimulating simulation at CMUN. I am Vihaan Gupta, and I will have the honour of serving as your Director for this unique committee.
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Set nearly three decades ahead of our current world, this council will delve into the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Lands that were once symbols of pristine isolation are now the epicenters of global contention. With ice caps melting at an accelerated rate due to climate change, the governance of polar regions has become more than just an environmental issue. It has evolved into a legal, economic, and strategic dilemma, attracting the attention of not just neighboring nations but also powerful states and corporations across the globe seeking to assert influence, extract resources, and reshape the global order.
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Our discussions will revolve around existing legal frameworks like the Antarctic Treaty System and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and how they may need to be reformed or reimagined in response to new challenges. Questions of sovereignty, indigenous rights, climate displacement, militarization, and environmental ethics will be at the forefront. Delegates, I urge you to come prepared not just with knowledge of the status quo, but also the foresight to anticipate the emerging dilemmas of 2048.
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On a more personal note, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of geopolitics, economics, and the mathematical structures that underpin global strategy. I find joy in the details - whether it’s statistical modeling, analyzing geopolitical shifts, or understanding the frameworks that shape our world. My academic passions lie in mathematics, economics, statistics, and general knowledge, and I hope to see this committee reflect those same analytical strengths.
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I expect our sessions to be dynamic and realistic. While creativity and futuristic thinking is encouraged, I believe the strongest delegates are those who will ground their vision in political mechanisms and legal realities. This is a futuristic committee, but it must be rooted in the present with clarity and substance.
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As you prepare to step into committee, I wanted to take a moment to share what MUNs have meant to me (considering this will be my last MUN) and what I hope this conference will mean to you.
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I’ve never been the loudest voice in the room, nor the most aggressive lobbyer. I probably wouldn't win "Best Delegate" in most of the committees I have attended. But what I always strive to be is an Honourable Delegate - and not just the kind that earns an Honourable Mention.
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To me, being an Honourable Delegate means showing up with integrity, being well-researched, and being grounded in your country’s stance. It’s not about dominating debate or speaking the most - it’s about thinking holistically, expressing your ideas with clarity, and contributing meaningfully to a diverse and respectful discourse.
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When I first started MUNs, I was under the illusion that they truly replicated the workings of the UN. Delegates are tasked with solving global issues that have stumped the real UN, yet we pass resolutions after a few hours of debate that gloss over complexity. That used to frustrate me. But over time, I’ve come to see MUN not as a perfect simulation, but as a powerful training ground for learning how to collaborate effectively and engage with the world beyond ourselves. And that, to me, still makes it deeply worthwhile.
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You might walk out of this committee with an award, or you might not. But regardless of what label you leave with, I promise I’ll remember the policy proposals you worked on, the communiqués you helped shape, and the speeches - big or small- that reflected your hard work. And beyond the committee, I’ll always be open to you - whether you have a doubt, need feedback, or just want to chat about anything MUN-related.
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This committee will be defined by your contributions.I’m excited to see the ideas you bring, the debates you drive, and the impact you leave behind.
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Until August,
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Warm regards,
Vihaan Gupta
Director, Polar Governance Council, 2048
Cathedral MUN, 2025
Vihaan Gupta
Director