Environment & Ecology for UPSC Flashcards
International environmental conventions and protocols.
- Ramsar Convention
- 1971, Ramsar (Iran) – conservation of wetlands.
India joined in 1982. - Bonn Convention (CMS)
- 1979 – conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
- CITES
- 1973, Washington – regulates international trade in endangered species.
- Vienna Convention
- 1985 – framework for protection of the ozone layer.
- Montreal Protocol
- 1987 – phases out ozone-depleting substances.
- Kigali Amendment
- 2016 amendment to the Montreal Protocol – phase-down of HFCs.
- Basel Convention
- 1989 – transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
- UNFCCC
- Adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit; in force 1994.
Its annual meeting is the COP. - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
Protocols: Cartagena (biosafety, 2000) and Nagoya (access & benefit sharing, 2010). - Kyoto Protocol
- 1997 – binding greenhouse-gas targets for developed countries; in force 2005.
- Rotterdam Convention
- 1998 – prior informed consent for trade in hazardous chemicals.
- Stockholm Convention
- 2001 – eliminates Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
- Minamata Convention
- 2013 – controls mercury pollution.
- Paris Agreement
- 2015 (COP21) – keep warming well below 2°C and pursue 1.5°C; countries submit NDCs.