Aditi Sinha
July 31, 2023 09:28
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List of Environment Conventions and Protocols: Environmental Conventions and Protocols serve as vital tools and safeguards for the protection of the environment. These international agreements aim to address and combat global environmental issues, requiring cooperation and coordination among sovereign states with diverse interests. Over the years, these agreements have multiplied to tackle international environmental challenges at both global and regional levels.
The significance of International Environmental Conventions and Protocols is highlighted in the context of the UPSC IAS exam. These conventions form a significant part of the Environment subject in the General Studies Paper-3 syllabus and are also relevant to current events of national and international importance in UPSC prelims.
Environmental issues are a major concern for various organizations worldwide, and addressing them demands global cooperation. The United Nations, established in 1945 after World War II, has played a crucial role in overseeing and directing numerous international initiatives that necessitated transnational coordination and cooperation. The United Nations Environment Protocol (UNEP) serves as the designated organization for handling environmental concerns and policies within the UN.
The difference between Environmental Conferences, conventions, and protocols lies in their nature and implementation. An environmental convention is an official agreement between governments, usually resulting from negotiations facilitated by an international organization. On the other hand, a protocol is a tool used to amend or modify a convention. Not all states that ratified the original convention are obligated to abide by the changes made through protocols. To ensure comprehensive protection of various environmental components, numerous norms and agreements are in place. These conventions and protocols act as essential mechanisms for addressing environmental challenges at the global level.
The table includes both Environmental Conventions and Protocols, along with their respective years of establishment and the organizations responsible for them.
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List of Important Environment Conventions and Protocols |
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| Name | Year of Establishment | Organization |
| Ramsar Convention | 1971 | International Convention |
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) | 1973 | International Agreement |
| Bonn Convention | 1979 | United Nations Environment Programme |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 | Multilateral Environment Agreement |
| Vienna Convention | 1988 | Multilateral Environment Agreement |
| Basel Convention | 1989 | Multilateral Environmental Agreement |
| Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) | 1992 | Multilateral Treaty |
| United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) | 1992 | Inter-Governmental Treaty |
| Rio Summit | 1992 | United Nations |
| United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) | 1994 | United Nations |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 | UNFCCC |
| Rotterdam Convention | 1998 | UN treaty |
| Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety | 2000 | First Protocol on CBD |
| Stockholm Convention | 2001 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| UN-REDD | 2008 | United Nations Programme |
| Nagoya Protocol | 2010 | Second Protocol on CBD |
| Minamata Convention | 2013 | International treaty |
| Paris Agreement | 2015 | UNFCCC |
| Kigali Amendment | 2016 | International Agreement |
| COP24 | 2018 | United Nations |
| COP21 | 2016 | United Nations |
| COP25 | 2019 | United Nations |
Environmental Conventions and Protocols are international agreements that play a crucial role in safeguarding the environment and addressing global environmental challenges. These agreements bring together nations from around the world to cooperate and take joint action in tackling pressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, ozone layer protection, hazardous waste management, and more. Through these conventions and protocols, countries commit to specific goals, regulations, and measures aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and protecting the planet for future generations. They serve as essential tools and safeguards, facilitating international cooperation and coordination in addressing complex environmental problems that require collective action.
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Brief Description about the Environment Conventions and Protocolos |
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| Name | Establishment Year | Adopted in | Came into force in | Description |
| Ramsar Convention | 1971 | 1971 | 1975 | Known as the Convention on Wetlands.
Adopted in the city of Iran, Ramsar. |
| Stockholm Convention | 2001 | 2001 | 2004 | Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Adopted in Geneva, Switzerland. |
| CITES | 1963 | 1963 | 1975 | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. |
| Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) | 1992 | 1992 | 1993 | Convention for the conservation of biological diversity. |
| Bonn Convention | 1979 | 1979 | 1983 | Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. |
| Vienna Convention | 1985 | 1985 | 1988 | Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer. |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 | 1987 | 1989 | International protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer. |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 | 1997 | 2005 | International protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
| United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) | 1992 | 1992 | 1994 | Treaty to combat climate change through adaptation and mitigation efforts directed at the control of emission of GreenHouse Gases (GHGs) that cause global warming. |
| Rio Summit | 1992 | – | – | United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
Held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
| UNCCD | 1994 | 1994 | 1996 | United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. |
| Basel Convention | 1989 | 1989 | 1992 | Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. |
| Cartagena Protocol | 2000 | 2000 | 2003 | International protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. |
| UN-REDD | 2008 | – | – | United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. |
| Nagoya Protocol | 2010 | 2010 | 2014 | International Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). |
| COP24 | 2018 | – | – | 24th meeting of the conference of parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
| COP21 | 2016 | – | – | 21st meeting of the conference of parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
| Kigali Amendment | 2016 | 2016 | 2019 | Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. |
| Minamata Convention | 2013 | 2013 | 2017 | International environmental treaty intended to protect health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. |
| Rotterdam Convention | 1998 | 1998 | 2004 | International Environmental Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. |
| COP25 | 2019 | – | – | 25th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). |
Environment Conventions and Protocols is an important topic of the UPSC Mains GS Paper III. To read more about the topic, read the article below.
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