UNEP now hosts the secretariats for the following nine MEAs:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
- Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
- Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
What is Montreal Protocol
- It relates to the elements that weaken the ozone layer and is a protocol to the Vienna Convention. ODS, or ozone depleting substance
- It was the first pact to receive ratification from every country.
- It became official in 1987. It became effective in 1989.
- The protocol acknowledges that not every country should be treated similarly.
What is Kyoto Protocol?
- was approved in 1997 at CoP3 of the UNFCCC in Kyoto, Japan. commenced as of February 2005.
- Parties: 192 plus South Sudan, Canada, Andorra, and the United States are not
- In 2002, India approved the protocol.
- In the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012, the Protocol sought to reduce emissions of GHGs in the developed countries by approximately 5% by 2012 compared to 1990 levels.
For the six GHGs mentioned in Annex A, the Kyoto Protocol is applicable.
Important International Environmental Conventions and Protocols
The list of significant international environmental conventions is shown in the table below.
| List of Environmental Conventions |
| Name | Year of Establishment |
| Ramsar Convention | 1971 |
| Stockholm Convention | 2001 |
| CITES | 1973 |
| Convention on Biological Diversity | 1992 |
| Bonn Convention | 1979 |
| Vienna Convention | 1985 |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 |
| United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) | 1992 |
| Rio Summit | 1992 |
| UNCCD | 1994 |
| Basel Convention | 1989 |
| Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety | 2000 |
| UN-REDD | 2008 |
| Nagoya Protocol | 2010 |
| COP24 | 2018 |
| COP21 | 2016 |
| Kigali Amendment | 2016 |
| Minamata Convention | 2013 |
| Rotterdam Convention | 1998 |
| COP25 | 2019 |
Brief about Environmental Conventions and protocols
Stockholm Convention
- It is an organic persistent pollutants convention (POPs)
- It was approved in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2001.
- It became effective in 2004.
Vienna Convention
- It is an agreement to protect the ozone layer.
- It became law in 1985.
- In 1988, it became law.
Basel Convention
- It is a convention on the management of the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste.
- It became official in 1989.
- In 1992, it became law.
Cartagena Protocol
- The Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international environmental agreement.
- It became official in 2000.
- In 2003, it went into effect.
UN-REDD
- The UN Program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation is what it is called.
- It was made in that year.
Nagoya Protocol
- Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Resulting from their utilization (ABS) is an international environmental protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- It became official in 2010.
- It becomes effective in 2014.
Kigali Agreement
- A modification to the Montreal Protocol has been made.
- It became official in 2016.
- It became effective in 2019.
Minamata Convention
- It is an international environmental agreement created to guard against the harmful effects of mercury on human health and the environment.
- It became official in 2013.
- It becomes effective in 2017.
Rotterdam Convention
- Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is an international environmental accord.
- It became official in 1998.
- It became effective in 2004.
COP27
- At the COP 27, nations joined forces to take concrete steps toward meeting the global climate targets set forth in the Paris Agreement and the Convention.
- The conference was held at Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Since COP 22 in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2016, this is the first COP to be hosted in a developing nation.
- Through increased flows of suitable financing, increased adaptation efforts, and reduced emissions, it aims to hasten global climate action.
Conclusion
- For many Parties, ratification and implementation of the International Environmental Conventions and protocols will lessen health and environmental effects more affordably than taking unilateral action.
- Additionally, it has economic advantages since it ensures a level playing field for business across borders and stops Parties from competing with one another at the expense of the environment and human health.
- Factors that hurt human health, threaten food security, impede economic growth, accelerate climate change, and deteriorate the ecosystem that supports our very existence.
- The Convention offers a forum for discussing these links and takes steps to mitigate their harmful effects.
UPSC Previous Year Questions on Environmental Conventions & Protocols
kind of questions that are asked in Prelims with reference to international environmental conventions.
1. Consider the following statements:
- Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of the Ramsar Convention.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2019 Question)
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by (UPSC Prelims 2018 Question)
(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(b) The UNEP Secretariat
(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat
(d) The World Meteorological Organisation
3. With reference to the ‘Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CACSA)’, which of the following statements is/are correct.’? (UPSC Prelims 2016 Question)
- GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
- Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
- India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.
Select the correct answer using the code given
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
4. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2015 Question)
- IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
- IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
- CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
5. With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It serves as a financial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’.
- It undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at the global level
- It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with a specific aim to protect their environment.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2
(d) all the above
6. With reference to a conservation organization called Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
- It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.(UPSC Prelims 2014 Question)
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
7. Consider the following statements: Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone-depleting substances, are used? (UPSC Prelims 2012 Question)
- in the production of plastic foams
- in the production of tubeless tyres
- in cleaning certain electronic components
- as pressurizing agents in aerosol cans
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
