• The question of addressing public health impacts of air pollution through strengthened global emissions reduction commitments.

• The question of addressing vaccine hesitancy to maintain immunisation coverage and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases

• The question of enhancing global commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement

As the deputy chair of the Conference of the Parties, I have had the opportunity to interview Mr. Schofield, a substitute teacher at UNIS Hanoi. He said that he knew UNISMUN was a popular activity for UNIS students, and explained what MUN was about: students representing countries collaborating and discussing global issues. Although his MUN knowledge was limited, he gave great advice on collaborating, cooperating, and making everyone feel welcome.

The first question I asked him was about team building. Mr. Schofield talked about understanding different cultures and how they are an important part of building team relationships. Since he also attended an international school, he went to spaces where many different cultures coexisted in one area. Through these experiences, he learned that understanding cultures is important when working with different people across borders. He also advised that “creating a goal in that community can make people work towards that goal”, which suggests that people will be more engaged if there is a common goal between the community. Mr. Schofield also noted that staying positive is an important part when working with other individuals.

The second question was about making delegates feel comfortable in the committee and recommendations for icebreaker activities. Mr. Schofield emphasized including and involving people in the committee room. He recommended that we should be inclusive, so delegates do not feel left out of conversations. We can easily show this to delegates through simple actions, such as passing a casual ‘hello’ to everyone when they step inside the room. He also stated that before conducting the icebreaker activities with different groups of people of different ages, we should “try to find out as much as we can about the people”, since this will make the environment feel safe for the delegates. He also recommended the icebreaker activities to be question-based, which can then help us learn about each other and give everyone a chance to speak.

The last question I asked Mr. Schofield was regarding how the delegates could answer the topics of our committee, specifically the topic of “The question of addressing vaccine hesitancy to maintain immunisation coverage and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.” Mr. Schofield stated that this topic is very controversial and various countries can have different thoughts about it. Although he did not have detailed knowledge about the topic, he explained that vaccine hesitancy divides people since there are many conflicting opinions about the issue. “Understanding different sides of the argument is extremely important when getting into an agreement”, he accounted. He also suggested doing detailed research so that “delegates can fully understand the different sides of the argument.”

Overall, the meeting with Mr. Schofield was very insightful. I got excellent advice on how to effectively collaborate with my co-chairs and delegates, and how to make them feel safe and comfortable in the committee. Due to Mr. Schofield’s efforts, the meeting progressed smoothly. I look forward to collaborating with him in the future!

Thank you for your time and support, Mr. Schofield!

As the deputy chair of the Conference of the Parties, I got a chance to meet Mr. Cannell, a DP teacher at UNIS Hanoi. He teaches the subject of Environmental Systems and Societies, which is an IB Diploma Programme course that explores global environmental issues and encourages students to think about the causes and the consequences for human societies and natural ecosystems. He said that two of the committee's topics fit very well with what he teaches, but claimed that he had limited comprehension of the second topic, which was related to vaccine hesitancy, as he does not possess excellent medical knowledge.

Mr. Cannell first explained the topic of “The question of addressing public health impacts of air pollution through strengthened global emissions reduction commitments.” He stated that air pollution is a term for multiple environmental issues that involve the atmosphere, meaning that when facilities say ‘bad air quality,’ they are measuring various factors such as photochemical smog, ozone depletion, and acid rain. Mr. Cannell also remarked that AQI is local. This means that when, for instance, Hanoi’s AQI is high, it means that citizens are breathing in pollution produced in their own country. “Pollution doesn’t come from outside; it’s largely caused by vehicles driving around Hanoi, people burning trash in Hanoi, and there might be a contribution by factories in the surrounding area of Hanoi,” he mentioned. Due to this, solutions mostly have to be local as well. Only the nation itself can fix its own problems. To expand into a global context, international agreements can be signed to navigate solutions to this topic. Ultimately, the best way to resolve the issue would be commitment, Mr. Cannell stated.

Moving on to the second topic, Mr. Cannell mentioned a recent article in The Guardian that handled the issue of the spread of a species of mosquitoes that expanded across Europe. Because of climate change, Europe now has mosquito species that have never been there before, since they were not able to adapt to the continent’s environment in the past. These mosquitoes also carried the chikungunya virus, a species that had never existed in Europe before. This article is a very clear example of how climate issues contribute to the spread of various diseases across the globe. This issue, therefore, connects quite closely with the purpose of the Conference of the Parties and is a significant issue that should be addressed quickly. Mr. Cannell also mentioned his personal experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020. He had taken many vaccinations, but he still got infected with the coronavirus. Vaccines were believed to protect people, but this was proven wrong with the covid vaccine that failed to protect us from the disease. “This issue might be one of those sad issues where it could take a disaster to change perceptions,” he remarked. These factors could also increase confusion about the true effects of vaccines and, therefore, raise vaccine hesitancy rates among people.

Welcome honourable chairs, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Jeongwon Choi, currently a sophomore at British International School Hanoi. This conference marks my 7th MUN experience, and by serving as the Head Chair of the Conference of Parties (COP), it will be my third time chairing. I am truly excited to guide meaningful discussions and ensure that every delegate has a productive and engaging experience throughout the committee.

The theme of the UNISMUN March is “Is our rules based international system able to adapt to contemporary challenges to security and sovereignty?.” COP provides a crucial platform to examine how international cooperation must evolve in response to global environmental pressures. Thus, I encourage all delegates to question existing frameworks and propose solutions that promote adaptability and responsibility. As the highest decision making body of major international environmental agreements, COP brings together all member states to review progress and negotiate new commitments. It plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability and advancing global action on a more sustainable future.

For this UNISMUN conference, our committee will examine 3 key topics. First is ‘the question of addressing public health impacts of air pollution through strengthened global emissions reduction commitments,’ emphasising the link between environmental policy and human health. Stronger emissions commitments are essential to reducing respiratory illness and safeguarding vulnerable populations worldwide.

Our second topic, ‘the questions of addressing vaccine hesitancy to maintain immunisation coverage and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases’ highlights the importance of trust in global health systems. Vaccine hesitancy poses a serious risk to decades of progress in disease prevention, making coordinated international strategies vital to maintaining effective and resilient immunisation programmes.

The last topic is ‘the question of enhancing global commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement,’ aligns closely with COP’s core mission. Strengthening global commitments is necessary to ensure meaningful progress toward global temperature goals and to limit long term climate risks through collective ambition and cooperation.

As I finish this introduction, I encourage all delegates to approach debates with openness, cooperation, and a willingness to think beyond traditional boundaries. I am confident that together we can create a constructive and inspiring committee experience. Thank you and see you in the committee!

Greetings honorable chairs, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Claire Yoon, a freshman at the United Nations International School of Hanoi. This conference marks my sixth MUN experience, and my second time as a chair. I am very honored to serve as the deputy chair of the Conference of Parties (COP) and lead fruitful discussions for the upcoming UNISMUN March 2026 Conference.

The theme of this year’s March 2026 conference is “Is our rules based international system able to adapt to contemporary challenges to security and sovereignty?” This theme talks about questioning existing international frameworks, laws, and treaties and investigating how they are applied to solving problems regarding security and supreme authority. COP provides an opportunity for countries to cooperate and resolve global environmental issues, connecting to the theme. Moreover, COP’s decisions also strongly influence international rules, with treaties such as the Paris Agreement signed in past conferences.

Our first topic is “The question of addressing public health impacts of air pollution through strengthened global emissions reduction commitments.” This topic emphasizes the importance of international cooperation to reduce the global carbon footprint. The topic also demonstrates how environmental policies can affect public health.

Our second topic is “The question of addressing vaccine hesitancy to maintain immunisation coverage and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases”. Vaccine hesitancy is increasing in the present, with much misinformation about vaccines spread online. This may cause fear or distrust in vaccines in the future, slowing down immunization activities and impacting the prevention efforts of diseases. Trust between nations regarding vaccination is important in lowering the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Our third and last topic is “The question of enhancing global commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement”. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 at COP21, is an international treaty on climate change. It brings nations together to perform ambiguous actions to combat and adapt to climate change. Through this topic, delegates can explore how countries work together to strengthen global commitment efforts that plan to achieve a common goal.

As a chair, I hope that this conference becomes a memorable and fun experience for everyone who participates. I believe the most important value of MUN is having fun and experiencing new opportunities to grow. I am also looking forward to strong research and fruitful debates throughout the committee sessions. I strongly encourage delegates to speak in the sessions, even though it might be difficult at first.

Thank you, and see you at the March conference!

Jiyoon (Claire) Yoon

Greetings honorable directors, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Iris Song, a senior at QSI Haiphong, and I am honored to serve as the Procedural Chair of the Conference of Parties (COP) for the upcoming UNISMUN March 2026 Conference. This will be my fifth MUN Conference, following participation across multiple international settings including conferences in China and Vietnam. As this will be my first time chairing, I am genuinely excited and deeply honored to guide, support, and work alongside delegates throughout the sessions to ensure a fair, structured, and meaningful debate experience.

The theme of the March 2026 Conference, “The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility?” It connects directly to COP because our committee deals with how countries make climate decisions while still protecting their national interests. COP often needs to balance each country’s right to develop and make its own policies with the global need to act together on climate change. This committee is a space where nations negotiate, share responsibilities, and work toward climate agreements in a way that respects different national situations. 

Our first topic, “The question of addressing public health impacts of air pollution through strengthened global emissions reduction commitments,” focuses on domestic industrial policy, and urban development. The delegates will discuss the ways in which member states may retain control over their economies while being required to make emissions reductions that are beneficial to the health of the entire world. Specifically will focus on the regions that are seeing increased rates of respiratory disease associated with air pollution..

Our second topic, “The question of addressing vaccine hesitancy to maintain immunisation coverage and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases,” examines how misinformation, distrust, and unequal access weaken immunisation systems. Although public health remains a sovereign responsibility, declining vaccination rates have regional and international consequences for disease containment. Delegates must navigate the balance between community autonomy, state authority, and global health security.

Our final topic, “ The question of enhancing global commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement,” reinforces long standing debates around climate equity, differentiated responsibilities, and global accountability. While nationally determined contributions remain state directed, failure to deliver on emission goals impacts planetary stability. Delegates will be challenged to consider how international expectations can coexist with national economic and development priorities.

As your procedural chair, I look forward to ensuring structured debate, measured diplomacy, and respectful collaboration throughout committee sessions. My goal is to support all delegates in navigating procedure clearly and confidently while encouraging constructive and informed negotiation.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you at the March conference!

Myeonghui (Iris) Song