Study Notes for Environmental Conventions and Protocols for UGC NET Exam

By Mohit Choudhary|Updated : October 8th, 2022

Environmental Conventions and Protocols Notes for UGC NET exam. Over the years, Environment is one of the most important topics in UGC NET exams. "Environmental Conventions and Protocols" are important topics of environmental and pollution topics asked in the UGC NET Exam. So, in order to boost up your preparation, we are sharing with you the important notes on Environment conventions and protocols.

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Environmental Conventions and Protocols Notes

Convention

Year of establishment

Purpose

Important Points to Remember

Ramsar Convention

1971

  • For the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
  • Known as Waterfowl convention.
  • India is part of it.
  • There are currently 27 Ramsar sites in India.

Stockholm Declaration

1972

  • For International protection of the environment.
  • UNEP was the result of it.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Flora and fauna (CITES)

1973

  • Control or prevent international commercial trade in endangered species or products derived from them.
  • Known as Washington Convention.
  • Legally binding.

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)

1979

  • Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
  • Also, known as the Bonn Convention.
  • It is under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Nairobi Declaration

1982

  • For achieving sustainable developments.
  • The 10th anniversary of Stockholm.

Vienna convention

1985

  • For the protection of the ozone layer
  • It does not include legally binding reduction goals.

Montreal Protocol

1987

  • To control Ozone-depleting Substances
  • It is a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer.
  • Universal treaty (Ratified by all UN countries).
  • Legally binding.
  • Target only ozone-depleting substances (Not GHG i.e. Hydro Fluorocarbons).

Brundtland Report

1987

  • Sustainable Development
  • To give the concept of "sustainable development".

Earth Summit/ United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)/ Rio Declaration

1992

  • Environment conservation & Development
  • It had 27 principles.
  • Three legally binding agreements were opened for                    signature:

          (i) CBD
          (ii) UNFCC
          (iii) UNCCD

Agenda 21

1992

  • Sustainable Development
  • It is a product of Earth Summit, 1992.
  • Agenda 21 refers to the 21st Century.
  • Non-binding.

UNFCCC

1992

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming.
  • Environmental treaty produced at the Earth Summit,                1992.
  • Secretariat: Bonn, Germany
  • Legally non-binding.
  • Kyoto Protocol was negotiated under this framework.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

1992

Three main goals:

  • Conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity).
  • Sustainable use of its components.
  • Sharing the benefits of genetic resources fairly and equitably.
  • Legally binding.
  • The USA has signed but not ratified.
  • The two protocols to CBD are: 

          (a) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, 2000
          (b) Nagoya Protocol (Biodiversity Accord), 2010

UNCCD

1994

  • Convention to Combat Desertification
  • Headquarter: Bonn, Germany
  • Only convention that came out from direct recommendations of Rio Agenda 21.
  • Legally Binding.
  • Canada withdrew.

Kyoto Protocol (COP 3)

1997

  • To fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
  • Negotiated under UNFCC.
  • Came into force in 2005.
  • Binding targets to Annex I countries.
  • Mechanisms under protocol:
              (a) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
              (b) Emission Trading
              (c) Joint Implementation (JI)
  • This protocol applies to follow GHGs (Annex A):
              (a) Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
              (b) Methane (CH4)
              (c) Nitrous Oxide (NO2)
              (d) Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
              (e) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
              (f) Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • The Protocol is based on the principle of shared (Common) but differentiated responsibilities.
  • It places the obligation on developed countries to reduce current emissions on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  • Annex I countries: industrialized countries and economies in transition.
  • Annex II countries: developed countries which pay for costs of developing countries.
  • Non-Annex I countries: Developing countries.
  • India is Non-Annex party to UNFCC.
  • There are two commitment periods:

          (i) 2008 – 2012
          (ii) 2013 – 2020

Note: The second commitment period was agreed on in 2012, known as the Doha Amendment to the protocol.

Rotterdam Convention

1998

  • Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous chemicals and pesticides in International Trade.
  • UN Treaty

Cartagena Protocol

2000

  • Biosafety
  • Protecting biological diversity from potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

Stockholm Convention

2001

  • Eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants.
  • UN Treaty.
  • The US is not a party to this treaty.
  • Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and the International Programme for Chemical Safety (IPCS) prepared a list, known as the Dirty Dozen.

 REDD & REDD+

2005

  • Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
  • Negotiated under UNFCC since 2005.
  • UN-REDD was launched in 2008. India did not participate in it.
  • REDDD+ (Defined in Bali Action Plan, 2007, CoP13)
  • REDD+ extends to:

         (a) Sustainable Forest Management.
         (b) Conservation of Forests.
         (c) Enhancement of carbon sinks.

Nagoya Protocol

2010

  • Access to genetic resources and a fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • It is a supplementary agreement to the CBD.

Rio+20

2012

  • Conference on Sustainable Development
  • 20th Anniversary of Rio Earth Summit 1992.

Paris Agreement (COP 21)

2015

  • Climate Change
  • It will come into force by 2020.
  • Not legally binding.

Aims:

  • This century, global temperature rises well below 2 degrees Celsius above circa-industrial level.
  • Pursue efforts to limit the temperature upsurge even further to 5 degrees Celsius.

Indian NDCs

  • Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP- by 33 to 35 per cent below 2005 levels by the year 2030.
  • By 2030, 40 per cent of its energy would be generated from non-fossil fuels.
  • Increase its forest cover to create an additional carbon sink equivalent to 2.5 to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2030.

Note: Recently the US has withdrawn from it.

Kigali Amendment

2016

  • Reduce Ozone Layer Depletion
  • It amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
  • Its aims to reduce Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by roughly 80-85 Percent by late 2045.
  • It will be binding on member countries from 2019.

These conventions are really important for the UGC NET exam.

Thank you.

Team BYJU'S Exam Prep.

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