Climate Change and Emerging Technologies are the final choices for the 2022-2023 national debate topic

The National Federation of State High School Associations recently tabulated debate ballots from 34 states, Washington D.C., the National Speech and Debate Association, the National Debate Coaches Association, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, and the National Catholic Forensic League. The returned ballots narrowed the five proposed topics to two for placement on the final ballot to select the 2022-2023 national high school debate topic. The five topic areas were ranked 1-5 with the two topic areas receiving the lowest totals – Climate Change and Emerging Technologies – placed on the final ballot. On January 10, 2022, the NFHS will announce the preferred topic area and resolution after states and national organizations are able to place a final vote. The 2022-2023 national high school debate topic and resolution will be posted on the NFHS Speech and Debate webpage and sent to state associations and affiliate members.

The following states returned ballots:

In addition to the 35 State Associations, the NDCA, NSDA, NAUDL, and NCFL returned the ballot.

Within each of the five topic areas appears one resolution.  The resolutions within the two final topic areas are:

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

• Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its support of multilateral greenhouse gas emission reduction regimes.

GLOBAL GEO-POLITICAL CRISIS: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

• Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity.

The following chart summarizes the balloting on the topic areas and their respective resolutions. Areas ranked 1-2-3-4-5 with low combined total indicative of top ranking.

National Policy Debate Topic Area Balloting:

104      Emerging Technologies

111      Climate Change

113      Russia

115      Health Security

142      Treaties

See how we got to 5 topics

Check out FREE resources on the Water Resources Topic (Debated in 2021-2022)

Visit the NFHS Speech, Debate, Theatre Page