TACKLING
ECOLOGICAL CRISES
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) serves as the world’s foremost authority on environmental issues, championing global efforts to address ecological challenges and promote sustainable development. UNEP offers delegates a unique opportunity to engage with global decision-making at the intersection of science, policy, and long-term strategy. Unlike traditional General Assembly committees, UNEP challenges delegates to think beyond immediate political interests and instead focus on shaping frameworks that influence global behavior over decades. The committee rewards foresight, systems thinking, and an understanding of how international cooperation can guide sustainable outcomes in an increasingly interconnected world.
Delegates are expected to move beyond short-term fixes and instead design solutions that anticipate future risks and opportunities. At HarvardMUN Canada 2026, UNEP will push delegates to engage with environmental governance as a complex and dynamic system and grapple between growth and sustainability, responsibility and capacity, urgency and feasibility. UNEP at HarvardMUN Canada will not only debate environmental ideals, but practice the kind of decision-making required to govern sustainably in a world of finite resources. This committee is ideal for delegates seeking a rigorous yet accessible introduction to international cooperation and global policy design.
TOPIC A: Expanding Developing Countries’ Access to Clean Energy
TOPIC B: Minimizing the Environmental Impacts of AI
COMMITTEE DAIS
HONORARY CHAIR
Dr. Martin Karsten
Dr. Martin Karsten is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo for over 20 years. Among other academic responsibilities he currently serves as the Associate Director of the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. His teaching and research interests are in the area of systems software. His current work is primarily concerned with resource efficiency, which is different from traditional computer systems performance.
His research has been published in the most-reputable conferences and journals in his field. His most recent work has led to a real-world contribution to the Linux kernel, which has the potential to improve the efficiency of important networking services in data centres by up to 30%. Dr. Karsten holds a first university degree from Universtät Mannheim and a PhD from Technische Universität Darmstadt, both in Germany.
Thea Silver
Kenith Taukolo
Scott Vaughan
SENIOR AD
Jereme Niu
JUNIOR AD
Sukaina Syed
HONORARY CHAIR
Scott Vaughan is a Senior Fellow with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). He is also the International Chief Advisor of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). Previously, he was the President and CEO of IISD, and the first Chair of the IISD Experimental Lakes Area. Previously, he was Canada’s Federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development at the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). He has also been the Director of the Sustainable Development Department of the Organization of American States, Visiting Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Head of the NAFTA Environment Commission’s work on trade and environment, and Counsellor at the World Trade Organization. At UNEP, Scot initiated the UNEP Financial Initiative, and helped initiate RBC’s first environmental policy while working in the Economic and Corporate Affairs branch of the RBC Head Office.
DIRECTOR
Kenith Taukolo is a rising senior in Lowell House studying Environmental Science and Engineering. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, he first got involved in Model UN his sophomore year of high school, and is so excited to serve as the chair of the DISEC committee at HarvardMUN Canada 2026!
Kenith previously served as one of the Head Delegates for the Harvard Intercollegiate Model United Nations travel team, and loves competing in the double delegate GAs. He also served as a director for HNMUN Boston 2025, HMUN Boston 2025, and HMUN India 2025. This year, Kenith was the Under-Secretary-General for the General Assemblies at HNMUN 2026. Outside of Model UN, Kenith is often seen sipping matcha lattes, struggling to code in R, or playing Spikeball in Lowell courtyard. Kenith cannot wait to meet everyone at HarvardMUN Canada 2026!
JUNIOR AD
Emmett Yu
HONORARY CHAIR
Thea Silver is a respected leader in the environmental philanthropic and not-for-profit sector, who has spent more than 25 years working to address environmental issues across Canada.
As Senior Director, Environmental Impact with RBC, Thea leads the environmental community investment portfolio at an enterprise level for RBC and the RBC Foundation, fostering partnerships with the not-for-profit and charitable sector, driving alignment with enterprise objectives and acting as a subject matter expert to support regional, national and global efforts. Prior to joining RBC, Thea was Managing Director with Environment Funders Canada and Strategy Lead, Environment, with the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Thea also spent many years working in the ENGO sector, including holding senior roles at Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.
Thea holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and a Master of Science from the University of Guelph. She is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contribution to environmental stewardship in Canada.