Background and Terms
Convention v/s Protocol
Principles v/s Implementation
Encourage v/s Commit
EG: Vienna Convention → Montreal Protocol
PIC - Prior Informed Consent
Precautionary Principle
EG: GMOs w.r.t. Food Crops
EG: Climate Change
Signatory v/s Party
Signed (not enforced) v/s Enforced (legislation)
Act in good faith v/s Legally Bound
1971 RAMSAR - Wetlands
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
PARTIES: 169
Signed: 1971-Feb-02
Effect: 1975-Dec-21
Areas of Marine water, low-tide depth ≤ 6m
2000+ Major Wetlands
Threats
Salinization
Water PollutionExcessive Inundation
Invasive Species
Anthropogenic Factors
Major Wetlands in India
Chilika Lake - OD
Loktak Lake - MN
Sambhar Lake - RJ
Wular Lake - JK
Ashtamudi: KL
Vembanad: KL
Keoladeo: RJ
1979 CLTRAP - Long Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution
Convention on Long Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution
PARTIES: 51
India is non-signatory
1983 BONN - Migratory Species
Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
PARTIES: 121
Intergovernmental Treaty
Under UN Environment Programme
Includes
Terrestrial Species
Avian Species
Marine Species
Habitats
Appendix I: Threatened Species (within nation)
Appendix II: Threatened Species (requiring Int'l Cooperation)
1988 VIENNA - Ozone Depletion
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
SIGNATO: 28
PARTIES: 197
Signed: 1985-Mar-22
Effect: 1988-Sep-22
Declining Ozone Thickness (DOBSON Units) noticed 1980
1989 MONTREAL Protocol - Implements VIENNA Convention on Ozone Depletion
Reduction of CFCs, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, HCFCs
Excludes HFCs (greenhouse agents, but no effect on Ozone, covered in KYOTO)
Will Reach 1980 Levels by 2070
1989 BASEL - Hazardous Waste Disposal
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
SIGNATO: 53
PARTIES: 184
Signed: 1989-Mar-22
Effect: 1992-May-05
TOXIC COLONIALISM w.r.t. developing nations
Also Includes Electronic Waste
Excludes Radioactive Waste
1992 CBD - Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
SIGNATO: 168
PARTIES: 196
Objectives
Conservation + Sustainable Use + Fair & Equitable Sharing
Multi Level: Eco System + Species + Genetic Resources
Secretariat on CBD - Montreal
Measures
Access to information + Prior Informed Consent
Equitable sharing of benefits of R&D, Commercial Uses
Access to & Transfer of Technology
Cooperation in Science & Technology
Conference of Parties
1994-COP-01-Nassau, Bahamas
1995-COP-02-Jakarta, Indonesia
1996-COP-03-Buenos Aires, Argentina
1998-COP-04-Bratislava, Slovakia
1999-COP-05-Cartagena, Columbia
2000-COP-06-Nairobi, Kenya
2002-COP-07-The Hague, Netherlands
2004-COP-08-Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
2006-COP-09-Curitiba, Brazil
2008-COP-10-Bonn, Germany
2010-COP-11-Hyderabad, India
2012-COP-12-Pyeongchang, Korea
2014-COP-13-Cancun, Mexico
Agenda 21
21 → 21st Century
w.r.t. Sustainable Development
By-product of UN Conference on Environment & Development, 1992, Rio
Non-binding, voluntary Action Plan
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
Understand
Document & Recognize
Conserve
Sustainable & Equitable
Education & Awareness
AICHI Targets
Mainstreaming
Direct Pressure ↑
Status of Bio-Diversity ++
Enhance Benefits
Enhance Implementation
2000 Cartagena Protocol - Biosafety LMOs
Protect Biodiversity from risks from Living Modified Organisms
AIA - Advanced Informed Agreement procedure
BCH - Biosafety Clearing House established
2010 Nagoya Protocol - Access to Genetic Resources
Adopted 2010-Nov-29
Conservation & Sustainable use of Bio-Diversity
Access to Genetic Resources
Transfer of Technology
1994 UNCCD - Combat Desertification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD)
PARTIES: 194
Legally Binding
PPD: Participation-Partnership-Decentralization
COVERS: Arid; Semi-Arid; Dry sub-humid Areas
Issue: 13 million Ha becomes unproductive → 20 MT Food Grain → 1.5 billion people
2007 10-yr Strategy: REVERSE-PREVENT-MITIGATE → Poverty ↑ Sustainability ↓
1998 ROTTERDAM - Hazardous Chemicals (PIC)
SIGNATO:
PARTIES: 155
OPEN Exchange of Information (labeling etc.)
Signatory Nations can allow/ban imports
CANADA - Chrysolite Asbestos Fibers - No Longer Opposes
2001 STOCKHOLM Persistent Organic Pollutants
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
SIGNATO: 152
PARTIES: 180
Excludes DDT Malaria
Calcium Metabolism ↑ → Shells Thin → Brittle Eggs → Bird Population ↑
Developed Countries → Provide Aid (Eco+Tech) → Production ↑ (Intentional & Unintentional)
Manage & Dispose POP in eco-friendly manner.
2013 MINAMATA - Mercury
Minamata Convention on Mercury
SIGNATO: 128
PARTIES: 28
Bio-Accumulation
Mercury → Sea → Fish → Humans
Minamata Disease