8:30 – 9 a.m.

Check-in and reception in the lobby of Neville

9 – 10 a.m.

Opening ceremony with a keynote speech by Dr. Lance in Kuhne Auditorium

10 a.m. – Noon

First session

Noon – 1 p.m.

Lunch in the Greenville Dining Hall (GDH)

1 – 3 p.m.

Second session

3 – 3:30 p.m.

Reception in the Cornelson Center

3:30 – 4 p.m.

Awards and closing ceremony

Dr. David Z. Liu is Associate Professor of Political Science at Presbyterian College (PC), who received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his B.A. in International Relations from Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, China. He offers courses on East Asian Politics, International Relations and Political Economy.

Dr. Liu has been serving as the faculty advisor of the Model United Nations Club since its inception in spring 2017. Along with a group of PC students who share the passion for global learning and the desire to engage the global community for the betterment of the humanity, he endeavors to bring the global education to the larger community through the PCMUN and to encourage students at all levels to think about a world beyond their own and to become a responsible and contributive member of the global community.

Topic: Expanding youth involvement in combating climate change

Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, the Member States have attempted to keep climate change in check through intergovernmental collaborations such as the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. Nevertheless, these efforts have failed to yield meaningful results and we are increasingly witnessing the dire consequences on our environment as a result of our actions and inactions. The burden to reverse or mitigate the effects of climate change will undoubtedly fall on the shoulders of future generations, who stand to inherit an earth that might be barely recognizable from today. For this reason, UN Secretary-General Guterres convened the first Youth Climate Summit last year to hear their concerns and solicit their suggestions. In the upcoming session at the PCMUN conference, we invite young delegates from around the world to share their country’s experiences, discuss strategies to elevate the voice of the youth, and offer solutions to combat climate change.

Topic: Increasing the Use of Renewable Energy Sources

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) helps promote and aid in the transition to renewable and sustainable energy amongst countries. According to the Renewable Capacity Statistics report by IRENA in 2019, the renewable energy capacity reached 2,351 gigawatts by the end of 2018, which accounted for a third of the global power capacity. While half of this came from hydropower, solar and wind installations accounted for 84% of the recent annual growth. Notably, Asia alone accounted for 61% of total new renewable energy installations in 2018. In the upcoming session at the PCMUN conference, we invite delegates to examine the viability of different types of renewable energy sources, share each country’s experiences on expanding the use of renewable energies, and devise a global strategy to further increase the renewable energy capacity.

Topic: Re-evaluating the Role of Freedom of Expression and Information in the New Era

As expressed in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings should be able to express their opinions without interference and to receive and impart information and ideas through any media without hindrance. This right is important as it serves as the best defense against tyranny and safeguard for human freedom. In recent years, however, the rise of incivility in public discourses, the use of social media for hate speeches and terrorist propaganda, and the spread of disinformation to interfere in electoral processes, have raised concerns regarding the limits of free speech and information. In June, 2019, UN Secretary-General Guterres delivered remarks at the launch of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which prompted concerns from human rights organizations such as the Freedom House that governments might take advantage of this campaign to curtail the civil liberties of their citizens. In the upcoming session at the PCMUN conference, we invite delegates to share their country’s experiences with regard to the freedom of expression and information especially in the era of online social media and suggestions on how to sustain this basic human right in the face of new challenges.