HSMUN 2020

Security Council 2027: The of 2027

Definitions:

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME):

A release of and magnetic fields from the ’s surface, expelled at high speeds and with great energy. Upon contact with the , the CME can generate huge electromagnetic currents, causing atmospheric expansion, as well as power grid issues due to ground conduction.

The (1859):

A large CME event in September of 1859 that resulted in damage to telegraph infrastructure worldwide, as well as observation of far amplified -borealis type events, as central as the equator. Disruption of telegraph communication and destruction of telegraph infrastructure were the most noticeable effects, due to the abundance of telegraph communication at the time.

Technical Failure:

An umbrella term for the wide ranging effects on infrastructure as a result of the CME event. Although the exact nature of each nation or regions complications may differ, the basic chain of events remains the same.

Conduction through the atmosphere results in large amounts of energy entering the grid, something the infrastructure is not set up for. The large current influx results in heat, and massive damage to transformers -- assuming they remain running. Moreover, the current influx causes massive damage to any electrical systems that remain connected to the grid and/or running. In addition, the atmospheric expansion, coupled with the direct effects of the CME, brings down , and the International Space Station. Grids that were shut down before the CME Impact

1 HSMUN 2020 remain functional, after the electromagnetic dissipates within the atmosphere, but all infrastructure is destroyed.

While the effects on individual grids differ, the most notable universal effects come as a result of the loss of satellite infrastructure. Internet, GPS, and satellite imaging are all unavailable following the event, and can only be reestablished by launching new satellite networks.

Major Concerns and Considerations:

Historically, international fallouts are complex for a variety of reasons that are far different from those initially expected. Viral infections, world wars, and geopolitical crises show that organizing recovery from said crises can be more devastating than the events themselves. When it comes to responding to an event like the massive Coronal Mass Ejection of July 4th, 2027, the international community has much more to consider than the electrical grids of their locales. One of the main issues to consider is transportation, and its heavy reliance on electrified technologies, especially considering air travel. There are currently no airplanes that are in service for civilian travel, with a restriction that only government representatives may fly, under absolute necessity, to work on resolving the issues with fellow nations. This current limitation leads to a serious disruption in trade infrastructure, as well as logistical concerns around providing food and resources to nations that rely on foreign provision.

In addition to those concerns, the committee is also considering the economic and social effects this recovery will have on citizens of effectively any country, let alone those that are experiencing hardships and will have to endure turbulent times long after this CME. Projections to full recovery stretch beyond a 10-year timeline, and it is imperative that the committee reaches a resolution that not only addresses the short term distress experienced globally, but the extended effects of unstable international political economies, environmental damage, and communication and travel restrictions.

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Adding another layer of complications would be the internal divides between urban and rural communities within nations, given that their levels of electrification can be starkly different, pointing to the need for unique solutions that address the issues they face. For example, urban and modern centers like New York City or Brasilia would struggle in reorganizing their transit, commerce, sales, and mass media production while rural areas like the extremities of France or the still-developing regions of Congo. DR would be more concerned on managing exports and acquiring necessary resources for sustenance.

Members of Note:

5 Permanent Members of the Security Council as of 2027: ● United States of America ● United Kingdom ● France ● China ● Russia

Member States facing highest levels of electrical failure: ● Cuba ● Iran ● Japan ● Kenya

Member States with more advanced recovery infrastructure: ● United States of America ● United Kingdom ● France ● China ● Russia

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Timeline:

● Andrew Yang electected president of the United States #YangGang 2020 ​ 2021 ● Malik Obama is elected president of Kenya, endorsed by former US President Donald Trump under the slogan “Obama was there, now Obama is here”

● June 16: Japan is hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.4 on the 2023 ​ Richter scale, followed shortly after by record breaking Tsunamis along Japan’s East coast ● July 23: Repeated ongoing generator failures, caused by the natural ​ disaster aftermath, force non-ideal longterm fallback onto backup systems ● August: Malik takes Iranian aid to help him fight Al-Shabaab ​ somewhat souring relations with the US, further souring relations between the US and Iran due to US perceiving increased Iranian influence in the region ● September: In a historic first, Ireland and Scotland vote out of the ​ United Kingdom following the successful “Brexit” implementation in 2021

2024 ● Donald Trump Jr becomes US president #MakeAmericaGreatAgainAgain

2025 ● Tensions increase -- culminating in heated verbal exchanges -- between Donald Trump Jr and Cuban President Raul Castro following increased Sino-Cuban trade relations

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● June: Concerns raised about Japan’s power system, as in many areas 2026 ​ infrastructure is still reliant on backups and emergency protocols put in place three years prior ● Serbia becomes a member of the EU

● May: Queen Elizabeth II dies of old age. International mourning in 2027 ​ Commonwealth countries follows as millions around the world express their sadness. A national time of reflection begins for the British public. ● June: Increased US military presence in the Gulf of Mexico, coupled ​ with a marked increase in cybersecurity issues in Cuba sparks more tension. President Trump takes the opportunity to taunt President Castro. ○ A notable excerpt from one of Trump's publicized responses to Cuban criticism: What, are you scared? Go run back to China ​ then! ● July 3: NASA records massive solar storms on the sun’s surface ​ ● July 4: ○ 2:00 am in Houston (GMT-5) ■ NASA picks up a signal that a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) will hit in 3 hours (5 am in Houston) ○ 2-5 am Houston time ■ The international community is warned of the approaching CME and advises for power grids to be shut off around the world ■ Iran and Cuba believe NASA’s announcement to be a hoax in order to weaken their countries cyber/security systems temporarily

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■ Many governments take steps to shut off power grids so they are not fried once the CME hits ■ Major metropolitan cities in developed countries globally shut down. However, many rural areas in developed nations and smaller cities and rural areas in developing nations do not have the means and personnel to shut down grids in enough time ■ State of emergency declared in many nations ○ 5 am (GMT-5), the CME hits ​ ■ Satellites are destroyed either from not being shut down before the CME hit or brought down by atmospheric drag as the atmosphere becomes heated from ionized radiation and expands ■ Power grids that were shut down preemptively remain off for 24 hours due to continued disruption ■ Power grids that were running have their transformers fried, breaking down ○ 24 hour global blackout ensues ■ Mass rioting and looting ■ Air travel ceases ■ International Space Station comes down due to the same atmospheric drag on the solar panels, however, all astronauts survive ● One week later, July 11: ​ ○ Air travel is restricted to government-only ○ Large cities globally and smaller developed cities have power grids up and running, everywhere else is still in dire need of repair

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○ Food distribution between rural areas into metropolitan cities has slowed ○ Food shortages globally result in mass starvation ○ Basic communication satellites have launched, used for governmental purposes ○ Cuba power grids are completely down ■ The government has backup generators for necessary purposes ■ Rural Cuban life is not hugely disrupted and food distribution is difficult but not as dire as in other countries ■ Cuba is in desperate need of new transformers in order to get power running again ■ There has been no air travel in or out of Cuba ○ Iran’s power grids are completely down ■ Major cities have emergency generators for grocery stores, hospitals, and government centres. Schools are closed and the country is in a State of Emergency. ■ Starvation and civil unrest are rampant ■ Iran is in desperate need of new transformers in order to get power running again

When You Begin Your Research: We highly recommend that you consider the following questions to give you direction for your research: 1. At the time period of this simulation, considering the timeline highlighted above, what do envision the ideological, political, economic, environmental, and relational realities of your Member State to be? How do these realities relate to the recovery from the CME?

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2. At the time period of this simulation, did your country prepare for the CME? If so, what areas are most affected? Which areas are still functional? If not, what does your country need most immediately to recover and prevent unrest? 3. What resource necessities does your country have domestic access to? What aid can your country provide? 4. At the time period of this simulation, what fellow Member States are you politically or economically aligned with or reliant on? Will these Member States share your approach to the question of CME recovery? If not, how will you be able to forward your own interests without damaging these relationships? 5. Given the nature of the recovery process, what things would your country like to see going forward? I.e., what does your country believe the United Nations should change, or keep, about the status quo moving past the event?

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