Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - Upper School

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1960 at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. OPEC largely focuses on the coordination of petroleum policies to maintain a stable oil market with regular supply to consumers. In recent years, the oil market has faced global pressure to shift to renewable forms of energy, which has caused spikes in the price of oil across the market. Right now, the committee of OPEC has begun to approach the integration of sustainable oil practices, at a time when both the global oil supply is experiencing a significant surplus, as well as renewable energy options becoming increasingly common. In this committee, delegates will work together to balance the need for affordable, accessible oil with climate consciousness at this pivotal time.

Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - Middle School

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, was established in 1960 by countries Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela at the Baghdad Conference. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, OPEC’s goal is to “unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers.” OPEC’s current 13 member countries span all over the world and together, those countries make up over 40% of the world's oil exports. These member countries have the power to shift the oil market all over the world, for better or worse. In an increasingly pivotal time for the global energy market as eyes increasingly start to shift to renewable forms of energy, OPEC has begun to focus on incorporating sustainable oil practices into current oil markets. There has been some skepticism in the past about OPECs influence, with some experts calling them a cartel as allegations have arisen about oil prices being intentionally shifted for a single party gain, whether that be for a member county or an external organization.