INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT CONVENTIONS

WHAT IS CONVENTION?

• It is an agreement between states covering particular matters, especially one less formal than a treaty.

• A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest.

Multilateral convention

• A multilateral convention is a convention to which three or more sovereign states are parties. Each party owes the same obligations to all other parties.

MULTILATERALConvention for the Prevention of Marine

Pollution from Land-Based Sources

FACTS

• This conference was held at Paris by the European Economic Community.

• It was Done at Paris, June 4th, 1974• Also known as Paris convention• This convention was basically held to prevent

the marine pollution from land sources.• As marine pollution was of growing concerns.

PARTICIPANTS

• The participants of the convention were• Austria Belgium Denmark, France, Federal

Republic of Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway ,Portugal, Spain, Sweden. Switzerland, United Kingdom

• Finland and Italy were observers.

OBJECTIVES

• The marine environment, fauna and flora which it supports are of vital importance to all nations.

• AS the ecological equilibrium is threatened by pollution..

• combined action at national, regional and global levels is essential to prevent and combat marine pollution

GOALS

• The Contracting Parties will take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the sea.

• Parties will adopt individually and jointly measures to combat marine pollution from land-based sources

• Preserving and enhancing the quality of the marine environment is the main goal

Cont..

• Will establish complementary or joint programs of scientific and technical research.

• Including research into the best methods of eliminating or replacing noxious substances to reduce marine pollution from land-based sources.

IMPORTANT PRINCIPALS

• The present convention shall apply to the maritime area,

• Those parts of the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean and dependent seas

• The Baltic Sea • The Mediterranean Sea and its dependent

seas

• ‘Maritime area' means: the high seas, the territorial seas of Contracting Parties and waters on the landward side of the base lines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

• A short document produced by UNCED

• Consisted of 27 principles intended to

guide countries in future sustainable

development• It was signed by over

170 countries.

GOALS

Establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of societies and people

Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the global environment and developmental system

Addressed Issues

protection of air, land and water

conservation of biological diversity, forests, and natural resources

sound management of wastes and technology.

to restrict the human activities that are threatening our planet

Addressed Issuespatterns of development that cause stress to the

environment

poverty in developing countries

economic growth

unsustainable patterns of consumption

demographic pressures and their impact on the international economy

Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations

in every area in which human impacts on the environment.

ABOUT THE DECLARATION• The 1972 Stockholm Declaration is a key instrument of modern International

Environmental Law

• It provided a negotiated framework within which sovereign states could develop a coordinated approach towards International Environmental Problems

• The conference is considered as marking the birth of International Environmental Policy

FACTS • An international conference convened under United

Nations from June 5-16 in 1972• It was held in Stockholm ,Sweden• It was the UN’s first major conference on International

environmental issues.• It was attended by representatives of 113 countries ,19

intergovernmental agencies and more than 400 non governmental organizations

• It agreed upon 26 principles concerning environment and development

• It laid the framework for future environmental cooperation between countries

OBJECTIVES

To Recognize

Environmental Education as a potential tool

for the betterment of

the lives of many nations

To Engage the International Community in Environmental Policy Debate

SOME IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES

Principles 2 ,3,4,5 addressed that natural resources and wildlife must be safeguarded

Principles 6,7,8 for preventing the environment from pollution

Principles 9,10,12,13 stressed on improvement of environment and roles of developing countries to achieve these goals

Principle 19 stressing on Environmental education and 26 stressing on the elimination of WMDS

OUTCOMES FROM STOCKHOLM

Establishment of the UNITED

NATIONS ENVIRONMEN

T PROGRAMME

(UNEP)

A NUMBER OF OGRANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED

DEVELOPMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL

CONVENTIONS

FOR EXAMPLE THE

CONVENTION ON LONG TERM

TRANSBOUNDRY AIR POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION:

• The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on that

• global warming exists

• and human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.

INTRODUCTION:

• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan

• on 11 December 1997

• entered into force on 16 February 2005.

• There are currently 192 parties

• Canada withdrew effective December 2012

GOAL?

“ to protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of mankind. ”

OBJECTIVES?

“ to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. ”

ISSUE OF MAIN CONCERN:

• Global warming potential (GWPs), as defined by the IPCC, are “a measure of the relative effect of a substance in warming the atmosphere over a given time period compared against a value of one for carbon dioxide”.

SECTORS OF MAIN CONCERN IN GLOBAL WARMING

• Energy supply (24 to 48% of total GHG) Fuel combustion (energy production, manufacturing,

transport, etc.)Fugitive emissions (oil and natural gas, solid fuels, etc.)

• Industrial processes (5 to 36% of total GHG) Production (metal production, mineral products, chemical industry etc.)

Consumption (halocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, solvents etc.)

• Waste management (primarily CH4)Solid waste disposal on land, wastewater handling etc.

• Land use (0,3 to 9% of total GHG) Agriculture (enteric fermentation, manure management, rice

cultivation, agriculturalsoils etc.)

Forestry.

POLICIES AND MEASURES• To achieve the Protocol’s Parties will need to

implement domestic climate change policies and measures.

• Possible measures include:

• Enhancing energy efficiency.

• Protecting GHG sinks.

• Promoting sustainable agriculture.

• Promoting renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies.

• Tackling transport sector emissions.

UNRESOLVED ISSUES IN KYOTO• No details on specific policies and measures

to meet reduction targets.

• No commitments from developing nations.

• No details on implementing permits system including penalties.

• No details on funding mechanisms for developing nation.

• ‘bunkers fuels’ issue unresolved i.e. The fuel used in shipping and air travels