MajorConferences,Conventions,ProtocolsinEnvironmentandEcologyimportantfor

PRELIMS2017
currentaffairs,EnvironmentandBiodiversity,IASMains2017,IASPrelims2017 8March2017

Introduction
Does the plethora of conventions, conferences, protocols that appear in the Environment and
Ecologysyllabusconfuseandputyouoff?Thisarticleisdevelopedinordertomakethemsimple
toyou.Beforeweprobeintotheactualone,itisimperativetolearnthebackgroundandprocess.
Letusunderstandsomedefinitions.
AConferenceisconsultingtogetherformallyatypeofnegotiations,thereisonlybroadtheme.In
a conference the principle bodies are established for further deliberations if any required on the
broadthemeforwhichtheconferenceiscalledfor.
A Conventionis a meeting or gathering to formulate or deliberate on a generally accepted
principle,aframeworkinwhichthepartiesdecidethebasicguidelines.
(Note:Sometimes,thelinebetweenconferenceandaconventionisverythinandsometimesthey
are interchangeably used because the outcome document of convention is arrived at the
conference)
AProtocoltotheconventionisanagreementthatdiplomaticnegotiatorsformulateandsignasthe
basisforafinalconventionwherethepartiessetspecificaimsorlegalobligations.Usually,whena
majorprovisionistobeincorporatedonregulationsoftheconvention,aprotocoliscalledamong
thecountries,whoaresignatoryoftheoriginalconventionwhenitwassignedandapproved.
Process
The international laws or conventions on environment related issues arise under the two
international organizations viz., IUCN and the UN. Though sometimes they work together, it is
important differentiate which treaty arises from which organization and who handles the
administrativeandthefinancialaspects.
UndertheUNO
TheUNCharterdoesnotspecificallymentiontheenvironmentorsustainabledevelopment.Both
theGeneralAssembly(UNGA)andtheEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOCwhichisone
ofthe6mainorgansoftheUnitedNations)considerenvironmentalquestions.
TheleadorganizationundertheUnitedNationscharterthatdeliberatesontheenvironmentrelated
issuesistheUNEnvironmentProgramme(UNEPisundertheUNGeneralAssemblyorganof
theUN)andtheCommissiononSustainableDevelopmentisanotherforumforthecountriesto
discusstheissues.
Economic and Social Council adopts a resolution to recommend the UN General Assembly to
consider convening a UN conference on problems of the environment or UNGA may on its own
passaresolutiontoconveneaconferenceontheissue.
Sosimplyput,
Resolution(byECOSOC/UNGA)ConferenceConventionProtocolTreaty
Example:
SwedenfirstsuggestedtoECOSOCin1968theideaofhavingaUNconferencetofocuson
humaninteractionswiththeenvironment.
ECOSOC passed resolution supporting the idea and recommended the General Assembly
considerconveningaUNconference.
General Assembly Resolution in 1969 decided to convene a conference in 1972 and
suggesting that the conference focus on stimulating and providing guidelines for action by
nationalgovernmentandinternationalorganizationsfacingenvironmentalissues.
TheUNConferenceontheHumanEnvironment(1972)atStockholmwasheld.
 This led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)
the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda,
promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable
development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for
theglobalenvironment.
IUCN
TheInternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN)isaninternationalorganizationworking
inthefieldofnatureconservationandsustainableuseofnaturalresources.
In1947,theSwissLeaguefortheProtectionofNatureorganisedaninternationalconference
ontheprotectionofnatureinBrunnen(Switzerland).
Afterwards,theIUCNwasestablishedon5October1948,inFontainebleau,France
TheinitiativetosetuptheneworganisationcamefromUNESCO
ItsheadquartersareinGland,Switzerland
It was previously called the International Union for Protection of Nature IUPN (1948
1956)andtheWorldConservationUnion(19902008).
IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations, and plays a role in the
implementationofseveralinternationalconventionsonnatureconservationandbiodiversity.
(Note:ItisnotamemberorpartoftheUN)
It is best known for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List, which assesses the
conservationstatusofspeciesworldwide.
IUCNwasestablishedin1948.
IUCN was one of the few NGOs formally involved in the preparations of the United Nations
ConferenceontheHumanEnvironment(Stockholm,1972).TheStockholmConferenceeventually
ledtothreenewinternationalconventions,withIUCNinvolvedintheirdraftingandimplementation:
To establish a stable financial basis for its work, IUCN participated in setting up the World
WildlifeFund(1961)nowcalledtheWorldWideFundforNatureWWF.
Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). IUCN
providestechnicalevaluationsandmonitoring
CITES the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora(1974)IUCNisasignatorypartyandtheCITESsecretariatwasoriginallylodgedwith
IUCN
Ramsar Convention Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (1975). The
secretariatisstilladministeredfromIUCNsheadquarters.
In1975IUCNstartedworkontheWorldConservationStrategy.
TheStrategywasfollowedin1982bytheWorld Charter for Nature, whichwasadopted by the
UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,afterpreparationbyIUCN.

TIMELINE

ConventionName Year

RAMSARConventiononWetlands 1971

StockholmConference 1972

ConventionConcerningtheProtectionofWorld 1972
CulturalandNaturalHeritage

CITES 1973
 ConventiononMigratorySpeciesofWild 1979
Animals

WorldConservationStrategy 1980

NairobiDeclaration 1982

WorldCharterofNature 1982

ViennaConventionforOzoneLayer 1985

MontrealProtocolforODS 1987

HelsinkiDeclaration 1989

BaselConventiononHazardouswastes 1989

EarthSummit 1992

UNFCCC 1992

CBD 1992

UNConventiononDesertification 1994

KyotoProtocol 1997

StockholmConventiononPOPs 2000

JohannesbergDeclaration 2002

UNWorldSummit 2005

BaliSummitonClimateChange 2007

RAMSARCONVENTION,1971

TheConventiononWetlands,calledtheRamsarConvention,isanintergovernmentaltreaty
that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the
conservationandwiseuseofwetlandsandtheirresources.
The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in
1975 after UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization),
theConventionsdepositaryreceivedtheinstrumentsofaccessionfromthecountries.
The RAMSAR Secretariat is based at the headquarters of the International Union for the
ConservationofNature(IUCN)inGland,Switzerland.
nd
 WorldWetlandsDayiscelebratedonFebruary2nd.

CriteriaforSelectingaRAMSARsite:

Criterion1:Ifthesiteisrepresentative,rare,oruniqueexampleofanaturalornearnatural
wetlandtypefoundwithintheappropriatebiogeographicregion.
Criterion 2: if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or
threatenedecologicalcommunities.
Criterion3:ifitsupportspopulationsofplantand/oranimalspeciesimportantformaintaining
thebiologicaldiversityofaparticularbiogeographicregion.
Criterion4:ifitsupportsplantand/oranimalspeciesatacriticalstageintheirlifecycles,or
providesrefugeduringadverseconditions.
Criterion5:ifitregularlysupports20,000ormorewaterbirds.
Criterion 6: if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or
subspeciesofwaterbird.
Criterion 7: if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or
families,lifehistorystages,speciesinteractionsand/orpopulationsthatarerepresentativeof
wetlandbenefitsand/orvaluesandtherebycontributestoglobalbiologicaldiversity.
Criterion8: if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or
migrationpathonwhichfishstocks,eitherwithinthewetlandorelsewhere,depend.
Criterion 9: if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or
subspeciesofwetlanddependentnonaviananimalspecies.

TheMontreuxRecord

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International
Importancewherechangesinecologicalcharacterhaveoccurred,areoccurring,orarelikely
tooccurasaresultoftechnologicaldevelopments,pollutionorotherhumaninterference.Itis
maintainedaspartoftheRamsarList.

RAMSARSITESinIndia

TheconventionenteredintoforceinIndiaon1February1982.
India currently has 26 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites),
withasurfaceareaof689,131hectares.SeeAppendix1.
Keoladeo National Park, Loktak Lake, are designated in Montreux record, and Chilka lake was
designatedbutremovedsince2002.

TheWorldHeritageConvention,1972

The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental
needtopreservethebalancebetweenthetwo.
TheConventiondefinesthekindofnaturalorculturalsiteswhichcanbeconsideredforinscription
ontheWorldHeritageListunderUNESCO
Established in 1992, the World Heritage Centre ensures the daytoday management of the
Convention.
Thereare35(27cultural,7naturaland1mixed)WorldHeritageSitesinIndiathatarerecognised
bytheUNESCOasofJuly2016.SeeAppendix2

TheUnitedNationsConferenceontheHumanEnvironmentheldatStockholmJune1972

GenerallycalledastheStockholmConference.
Itwasthefirstdeclarationofinternationalprotectionoftheenvironment.Intheconference
Stockholm Declaration contains 26 principles. These principles provide the basis of
anInternationalPolicyfortheProtectionandimprovementoftheenvironment.
The UnitedNations Environment Programme has been established by the UNGA in
pursuanceoftheStockholmConference.
TheEnvironmentalProgrammewassetupinGenevainJune1972.

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

1973

It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the

InternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN)
The Conference aims to control or prevent international commercial trade inendangered
speciesorproductsderivedfromthem.
TheConventiondoesnotseektodirectlyprotectendangeredspecies,ratheritseeksto
reduce the economic incentive topoach endangered species and destroy their habitat by
closingofftheinternationalmarket.
Indiabecameapartytotheconventionin1976.Internationaltradeinallwildfloraandfauna
in general and species covered under convention is regulatedthrough the provisions of the
Wildlife(protection)Act1972.

CONVENTIONONMIGRATORYSPECIES,1979(BONNCONVENTION)

TheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals(alsoknownasthe
BonnConvention) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avianmigratory species
throughouttheirrange.
TheConventionfacilitatestheadoptionofstrictprotectionmeasuresforendangeredmigratory
species, the conclusionof multilateral agreements for the conservation andmanagement of
migratoryspecies,andcooperativeresearchactivities.
TheConventionhastwoappendices:
Appendix I lists migratory species that are classified asendangered and where urgent
internationalcooperationisnecessarytoaddresstheissue.
AppendixIIlistsotherspeciesthatrequireorwouldbenefitsignificantlyfrominternational
agreementsundertheConvention.
TheConventionenteredintoforcein1983.
Marine Turtles, Siberian and Dugong are a part of the conservation under this convention
whicharerelatedtoIndia.

WORLDCONSERVATIONSTRATEGY,1980
 In1975IUCNstartedworkontheWorldConservationStrategy.
StoppingillegaltradeofwildlifeisoneofIUCNspriorities
The drafting process and the discussions with the UN agencies involved led to an
evolution in thinking within IUCN and growing acceptance of the fact that conservation of
naturebybanninghumanpresencenolongerworked.
The World Conservation Strategy was launched in 35 countries simultaneously on 5 March
1980.
It set out fundamental principles and objectives for conservation worldwide, and identified
prioritiesfornationalandinternationalaction.
Itisconsideredoneofthemostinfluentialdocumentsin20thcenturynatureconservationand
oneofthefirstofficialdocumentstointroducetheconceptofsustainabledevelopment.
TheStrategywas followed in 1982by the World Charter for Nature, whichwasadoptedby
theUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,afterpreparationbyIUCN.

WORLDCHARTERFORNATURE,1982

WorldCharterforNaturewasadoptedbyUnitedNationsmembernationstatesonOctober
28, 1982. It proclaims five principles of conservation by which all human conduct affecting
natureistobeguidedandjudged.
Natureshallberespectedanditsessentialprocessesshallnotbeimpaired.
Thegeneticviabilityontheearthshallnotbecompromisedthepopulationlevelsofall
lifeforms,wildanddomesticated,mustbeatleastsufficientfortheirsurvival,andtothis
endnecessaryhabitatsshallbesafeguarded.
All areas of the earth, both land and sea, shall be subject to these principles of
conservation special protection shall be given to unique areas, to representative
samples of all the different types of ecosystems and to the habitats of rare or
endangeredspecies.
Ecosystemsandorganisms,aswellastheland,marineandatmosphericresourcesthat
are utilized by man, shall be managed to achieve and maintain optimum sustainable
productivity, but not in such a way as to endanger the integrity of those other
ecosystemsorspecieswithwhichtheycoexist.
Nature shall be secured against degradation caused by warfare or other hostile
activities.

NairobiDeclaration1982toStockholmConference

The Nairobi Declaration was adopted at Nairobi for celebrating the 10thAnniversary of the
StockholmconferenceonhumanEnvironmentin1972.
The Declaration envisaged thecreation of a special commission to frame long term
environment strategies for achievingsustainable developments upto the year 2000 and
beyond.

Viennaconventionfortheprotectionofozonelayer(1985)

The convention was adopted on 22nd March, 1985 by the conference ofThe Vienna
ConventionfortheProtectionoftheOzoneLayerisaMultilateralEnvironmentalAgreement.
Itisunderthe
TheViennaconventionof1985wasthestartingpointoftheglobalcooperationforprotection
ofozonelayer.Later,adoptionofMontrealprotocolonsubstancesthatdepleteozonelayeron
1987,theamendmentinMontrealprotocolinLondon(1990)andVienna(1995).
Montrealprotocolonsubstancesthatdepleteozonelayer,1987totheViennaConvention

TheProtocolcameintoforcein1989.
The protocol settargets for reducing the consumption and production of a range of ozone
depletingsubstances.
In a major innovation the protocol recognized that all nations should not betreated
equally.Theagreementacknowledgesthatcertaincountrieshavecontributedtoozone
depletionmorethanothers.
Italsorecognizesthatanationsobligationtoreducecurrentemissionsshouldreflect
itstechnologicalandfinancialabilitytodoso.Becauseofthis,theagreementsetsmore
stringent standards and accelerated phaseout timetablesto countries that have contributed
mosttoozonedepletion.
IndiaacceptedthisprotocolalongwithitsLondonAmendmentinSeptember1992.
The Ministry of Environmentand Forest has established an ozone cell and a steering
committee on the protocol tofacilitate implementation of the India country program, for
phasing out ozone depletingsubstances production by 2010 to meet the commitments India
hasalsotakenpolicydecisions.
The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 weredrafted under
Environment(protection)Act,1986.

AmendmenttoMontrealProtocol,2017

170 countries have reached a historic deal to phase out Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) after
years of protracted and at times seemingly intractable negotiations in Kigali, Rwanda
accepted an amendment to the Montreal Protocol that will see developed countries reduce
theiruseofHFCsfrom2019.
HFCsarepotentgreenhousegaseswithasignificantlyhigherglobalwarmingpotentialthan
carbon dioxide and are widely used as refrigerants, aerosol sprays and in solvents. HFCs
have been widely used as an alternative to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) since the Montreal
Protocolcameintoeffecttopreventozonedepletion.
Developed countries must reduce HFCs use by 10% by 2019 from 20112013 levels, and
85%by2036.
Asecondgroupofdevelopingcountries,includingChinaandAfricannations,arecommitted
to launching the transition in 2024. A reduction of 10% compared with 20202022 levels
shouldbeachievedby2029,and80%by2045.
A third group of developing countries, including India, Pakistan and Arab Gulf states, must
begintheprocessin2028andreduceemissionsby10%by2032from20242026levels,and
thenby85%by2047.

WorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment(1987)

ItwasstartedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyresolutionin1983andbasedonafouryearstudy
entitledOurCommonFuture,alsoknownastheBrundtlandreportin1987wasputout.
It developed the theme of sustainable development. It was the first time Sustainable
Developmentwasofficiallydefined
ThiscommissionisalsocalledastheBrundtlandcommission.

Baselconventionontransboundarymovementofhazardouswastes,1989
 Theindustrializedworldinthe1980shadledtoincreasingpublicresistancetothedisposalof
hazardouswastesinaccordancewithwhatbecameknownastheNIMBY(NotinMyBack
Yard)syndromeandtoanincreaseofdisposalcosts.Thisinturnledsomeoperatorsto
seek cheap disposal options for hazardous wastes in the developing countries, where
environmental awareness was much less developed and regulations and enforcement
mechanismswerelacking
TheConventioncameintoforcein1992.
The objectives of the convention are toreduce transboundary movements of hazardous
wastes,tominimizethecreationofsuchwastesandtoprohibittheirshipmentfromDeveloped
countriestotheLDCs
India ratified the convention andenacted Hazardous Wastes Management Rules Act 1989,
encompassessomeoftheBasalprovisionsrelatedtothenotificationofimportandexportof
hazardouswastes,illegaltrafficandliability.

UnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment(EarthSummit),1992

In continuation of Stockholm Declaration, 1972 and the Nairobi Declaration,1982 the third
majorDeclarationwasheldinRiodeJaneiroinBrazilintheyear1992.
Hence it is termed as RioDeclaration and attended by over 150 countries. Hence, it isalso
wellknownasEarthSummit.
Itdiscussedglobalandenvironmentalproblemsverywidely.
ItwasthebiggestInternationalConferenceinthehistoryofInternationalrelationswas
alsocalledastheParliamentoftheplanetthen.
TheformalprocessofUNCEDculminatedintheadoptionoffivedocuments,namely
RioDeclarationastatementofbroadprinciplestoguidenational
conductonenvironmentalprotectionanddevelopment.
Agenda21, a massive documentcontaining a detailed actionplan for sustainable
development.
LegallyNonBindingPrinciplesofForestry.
ConventiononClimateChangeand
ConventiononBiodiversity.

TheRioDeclaration

The Rio Declaration was adopted in the conference recognizing the universal and integral
natureofEarthandbyestablishingaglobalpartnershipamongstatesandenlistinggeneral
rightsandobligationsonenvironmentalprotection.
The RioDeclaration is a statement of 27 principles for the guidance of national
environmentalbehaviour and enlisting general rights and obligations on environmental
protection.
Rio principles placed human beings at the centre of sustainable development concerns by
statingthathumansareentitledtoahealthyandproductivelifeinharmonywithnature
The gist of those principles are happy and healthy life to all people in the world in order to
achievethisgoal,conceptofsustainabledevelopmenthasbeenestablished.
To achieve sustainable development, states shall reduce and eliminate unsustainable
patternsofproductionandconsumption,exchangeofscientificandtechnologicalknowledge,
compensationforadverseeffectsofenvironmentaldamagecausedbyactivitieswithintheir
jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction, precautionary approach shall be
widely applied by states polluter should bear the cost of pollution, Environmental impact
assessmentasaninstrumenttomonitorthelikelyenvironmentaleffects.
Agenda21
 Itisacomprehensiveactionplanwhichgivesafutureplaninrelationto
environmentanddevelopment.
The Agenda emphasizes on issues like poverty, health consumption patterns, natural
resourceuse,financialresourceshumansettlementsandtechnological
Italsoincludesenergy,climateandotherwiderangeofissuesconcerning
environmentanddevelopment.
Agenda21isnotabindingdocumentbutitconstitutesthekeydocumentoftheRio

U.N.FrameWorkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC),1992

In 1992, countries joined an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention
onClimateChange,asaframeworkforinternationalcooperationtocombatclimatechange
by limiting average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and
copingwithimpactsthatwere,bythen,inevitable.
TheprimarygoalsoftheUNFCCCweretostabilizegreenhousegasemissionsatlevelsthat
wouldpreventdangerousanthropogenicinterferencewiththeglobalclimate.
The convention embraced the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilitieswhichhasguidedtheadoptionofaregulatorystructure.
India signed the agreement inJune 1992 which was ratified in November 1993. As per the
conventionthereduction/limitationrequirementsapplyonlytodevelopedcountries.Theonly
reportingobligationfordevelopingcountriesrelatestotheconstructionofaGHGinventory.
KyotoProtocol,ParisAgreementareapartoftheUNFCCC

Kyotoprotocol,1997

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations
FrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)thatcommitsStatePartiestoreduce
greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that (a) global warming exists and (b)
humanmadeCO2emissionshavecausedit.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into
forceon16February2005.
Therearecurrently192partiestotheProtocol.

SomeoftheprincipalconceptsoftheKyotoProtocolare:

ThemainfeatureoftheProtocolisthatitestablishedlegallybindingcommitmentstoreduce
emissionsofgreenhousegasesforpartiesthatratifiedtheProtocol.Thecommitmentswere
based on the Berlin Mandate, which was a part of UNFCCC negotiations leading up to the
Protocol.
Implementation. In order to meet the objectives of the Protocol, Parties are required to
prepare policies and measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases in their respective
countries.Inaddition,theyarerequiredtoincreasetheabsorptionofthesegasesandutilize
allmechanismsavailable,suchas
jointimplementation
Cleandevelopmentmechanismand
Emissions trading, in order to be rewarded with credits that would allow more
greenhousegasemissionsathome.
MinimizingImpactsonDevelopingCountriesbyestablishinganadaptationfundforclimate
change.
Accounting,ReportingandReviewinordertoensuretheintegrityoftheProtocol.
 Compliance. Establishing a Compliance Committee to enforce compliance with the
commitmentsundertheProtocol.

PARISAGREEMENT,2016

The Paris Agreement (French: Accord de Paris) is an agreement within the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gases
emissionsmitigation,adaptationandfinancestartingintheyear2020.
Itwasopenedforsignatureon22April2016(EarthDay)ataceremonyinNewYork.Asof
December2016,194UNFCCCmembershavesignedthetreaty,131ofwhichhaveratifiedit.
TheIntendedNationallyDeterminedContributionspledgedduringthe2015ClimateChange
Conference serveunless provided otherwiseas the initial nationally determined
contribution.
The emission reduction efforts will be made in order to hold the increase in the global
averagetemperaturetobelow2Cbyreducingemissionsto40gigatonnesorto1.5
The implementation of the agreement by all member countries together will be evaluated
every5years,withthefirstevaluationin2023.
The Paris Agreement has a bottom up structure in contrast to most international
environmentallawtreatieswhicharetopdown,characterisedbystandardsandtargetsset
internationally,forstatestoimplement.
Unlike, the Kyoto Protocol, which sets commitment targets that have legal force, the Paris
Agreement, with its emphasis on consensusbuilding, allows for voluntary and nationally
determinedtargets.
The Paris Agreement still emphasizes the principle of Common but Differentiated
Responsibilitythe acknowledgement that different nations have different capacities and
dutiestoclimateactionitdoesnotprovideaspecificdivisionbetweendevelopedand
developingnations.
TheSDMisconsideredtobethesuccessortotheCleanDevelopmentMechanism,aflexible
mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, by which parties could collaboratively pursue
emissions reductions for their INDCs. The Sustainable Development Mechanism lays the
frameworkforthefutureoftheCleanDevelopmentMechanismpostKyoto(in2020).
NotpartoftheParisAgreement(andnotlegallybinding)isaplantoprovideUS$100billion
a year in aid to developing countries for implementing new procedures to minimize climate
change with additional amounts to be provided in subsequent years (The Green Climate
Fund(GCF)isafundwithintheframeworkoftheUNFCCC)
Theagreementstatedthatitwouldenterintoforce(andthusbecomefullyeffective)onlyif55
countriesthatproduceatleast55%oftheworldsgreenhousegasemissions.(USandChina
togethercontribute40%oftheemissions.)

ConventiononBiologicalDiversity,1992

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993. It has 3
mainobjectives:
Theconservationofbiologicaldiversity
Thesustainableuseofthecomponentsofbiologicaldiversity.
Thefairandequitablesharingofthebenefitsarisingoutoftheutilizationofgeneticresources
TheConventionwasopenedforsignatureon5June1992attheUnitedNationsConference
onEnvironmentandDevelopment(theRioEarthSummit).
Thisconventionisalegallybindingframeworktreatythathasbeenratifiedby180countries.
Theareasthataredealtbyconventionareconservationofbiodiversity,sustainableuseof
biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising fromtheir sustainable
 use.
The convention came into force in 1993. Many biodiversity issuesare addressed including
habitatpreservation,intellectualpropertyrights,biosafetyandindigenouspeoplesrights.

TheCartagenaProtocolonBiosafetytoCBD

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an

international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living
modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse
effectsonbiologicaldiversity,takingalsointoaccountriskstohumanhealth.Itwasadopted
on29January2000andenteredintoforceon11September2003.

TheNagoyaProtocolonAccessandBenefitsharing

TheNagoyaProtocolonAccesstoGeneticResourcesandtheFairandEquitableSharingof
Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an
international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of
genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. It entered into force on 12 October 2014, 90
daysafterthedateofdepositofthefiftiethinstrumentofratification.

U.N.ConventiononDesertification,1994

Anintergovernmentalnegotiatingcommitteefortheelaborationofaninternationalconvention
tocombatdesertificationincountriesexperiencingseriousdroughtand/ordesertificationwas
recommendedin1992U.N.ConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment.
TheU.N.GeneralAssemblyestablishedacommitteein1992whichhelpedformulationofthe
conventionondesertification.
The convention endorses and employs a bottomup approach to internationalenvironmental
cooperation.
Theconvention aims at tackling desertification through national, regional and sub
regionalactionprogrammes.Indiahoststhenetworkonagroforestryandsoilconservation.
2006wasdeclaredInternationalYearofDesertsandDesertification

WorldSummitonSustainableDevelopment(2002)

ItisalsoknownasRio+10,heldatJohannesburgin2002
ReviewedprogressintheimplementationofAgenda21sinceitsadoptionin1992
JohannesburgDeclarationonSustainableDevelopment

ROTTERDAMCONVENTION,1998

TheRotterdamConvention(formally,theRotterdamConventiononthePriorInformed
Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International
Trade)signedin1998isamultilateraltreatytopromotesharedresponsibilitiesinrelationto
importationofhazardouschemicals,effectivefrom2004.
 Theconventionpromotesopenexchangeofinformationandcallsonexportersofhazardous
chemicalstouseproperlabelling,includedirectionsonsafehandling,andinformpurchasers
ofanyknownrestrictionsorbans.
Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in
the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their
jurisdictioncomply.
In2012,theSecretariatsoftheBaselandStockholmconventions,aswellastheUNEPpart
of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, merged to a single Secretariat with a matrix
structureservingthethreeconventions.
ThethreeconventionsnowholdbacktobackConferencesofthePartiesaspartoftheirjoint
synergiesdecisions.

StockholmConventiononPOPs,2004

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international

environmentaltreaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or
restricttheproductionanduseofpersistentorganicpollutants(POPs).
In1995,theGoverningCounciloftheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)called
forglobalactiontobetakenonPOPs,whichitdefinedaschemicalsubstancesthatpersist
intheenvironment,bioaccumulatethroughthefoodweb,andposeariskofcausingadverse
effectstohumanhealthandtheenvironment.

UNConferenceonSustainableDevelopment(2012)

Itwasthethirdinternationalconferenceonsustainabledevelopmentaimedatreconcilingthe
economicandenvironmentalgoalsoftheglobalcommunity.
ItisalsoknownasRio2012/Rio+20/heldinRiodeJaneiro,Brazil20thanniversaryofEarth
Summit
10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in
Johannesburg.
ThereportwasthemedThefuturewewant.