Multilateral Environmental Agreements

MEA
MEAs are international legal instruments that Have a goal of sustainable development. Take measures to remedy, mitigate or deal with global or regional environmental concerns.

MAIN CLUSTERS
Scope of MEAs: 5 topics

BIODIVERSITY

LAND

CHEMICALS & HAZARDOUS WASTE SEAS

ATMOSPHERE

ACME - Session 3 - Multilateral Environmental Agreements - 6 / 17

Kyoto Protocol
A MEA with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Developed countries are assigned limits on emissions relative to 1990 levels. Targets vary by nation. First commitment period is 2008-2012. The Protocol has Flexibility Mechanisms for meeting targets: emissions trading and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). The Protocol sets goals for individual countries in order to achieve a combined international emissions reduction of at least 5% below 1990 levels.

Essential Points of Understanding

The United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drafted to deal with climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding addition to the UNFCCC. Signatories to the Protocol (84 countries) agree to the ideas and goals. Countries who have ratified are bound by its requirements. Signatories are categorized into three groups based on their responsibilities: - Annex I: Industrialized countries that have agreed to reduce emissions. - Annex II: Developed countries who have to pay for the costs of the emissions reducing technologies of Developing countries. - Non-annex: Developing countries who are not restricted by the Protocol. Although the Protocol is binding, there are no penalties if Annex I countries do not comply. China and India, non-annex countries not bound by the Protocol, are some of the worlds top emitters.

Total CO2 Emissions in 2001

ISCIENCES LLC

The Top Ten Carbon Emitters of 2001

The Stages of the Kyoto Protocol

1970s-1980s 1990s-2005 2005-2008 2008-2050

More attention being paid to the environment. Several multilateral environmental agreements are implemented, beginning with the Ramsar Convention.

The UNFCCC is drafted. There is an increase in environmental initiatives and the Kyoto Protocol is formulated. The Protocol enters into force in 2005.

The Protocol enters into force, but problems occur as countries reveal they cannot meet requirements. Discussions begin on a post-2012 framework despite some opposition.

Meetings concerning the future of the Protocol and alternatives will take place. Also, rising temperature threats that scientists have already predicted may occur.

Basel Convention
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Adopted in 1989 in response to concerns about developed country companies dumping hazardous wastes in developing countries. Entered into force on 5 May 1992.

To date it has 172 Parties.

Objective of Basel Convention

Reduce transboundary movement of hazardous wastes to a minimum consistent with their environmentally sound management. Dispose off hazardous wastes as close as possible to their source of generation. Minimize generation of hazardous wastes in terms of quantity and degree of hazard.

Key provisions :
Transboundary movement only among parties. Export is prohibited if:

The state of import has an import ban, OR

The state of import has not given its consent to the import.

Framework for lifecycle management

Basel Convention
It can assist in managing disposal of unwanted stockpiles . The technical working group is developing guidelines on management of POPs wastes.

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2050. Kofi Annan quoted as saying that "perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989. It has undergone seven revisions, in 1990 (London), 1991 (Nairobi), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1993 (Bangkok), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing). The year 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol.

Why is it important to protect the ozone layer?

The ozone layer filters out excessive ultra-violet radiation from the sun and protects all life on earth from adverse effects. For people, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened immune systems. Increased UV can also lead to reduced crop yield and disruptions in the marine food chain and therefore, saving the ozone layer means saving lives, health and environment. UV also damages materials such as paints on vehicles and plastics.

Effects
The atmospheric concentrations of the most important chlorofluorocarbons and related chlorinated hydrocarbons have either leveled off or decreased. Rate of increase of Halon Concentrations have slowed down and their abundances are expected to begin to decline by about 2020.

Stockholm Convention
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants : Adopted in 2001 in response to an urgent need for global action on POPs (chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulate in fatty tissues and biomagnify through the food chain) Entered into force on 17 May 2004. To date it has 170 Parties.

Objective of the Stockholm Convention:

To protect human health and the environment from the harmful impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) How? Eliminate production and use of intentionally produced POPs. Minimize and eliminate releases of unintentionally produced POPs. Clean-up old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs. Support the transition to safer alternatives. Target additional POPs for action.

Key provisions :
Elimination of production/use of Annex A chemicals. Restriction of production/use Annex B chemicals. Reduction/elimination of release of Annex C chemicals. Identification/management of obsolete stocks, wastes with POPs. Selection of new POPs.

Scope and coverage

Basel covers hazardous wastes that are explosive, flammable, poisonous, infectious, corrosive, toxic or ecotoxic. Stockholm covers 14 pesticides, and 7 industrial chemicals and by-products.

Common link:
Most POPs are covered by both the Conventions. Many pesticides are subject to the two conventions.

Convention on Biological Diversity

HISTORY:
CBD is an international agreement adopted at the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.

The CBD was negotiated under the guidance of the United Nations.
Signed by more than 150 government leaders at the Rio Earth Summit.

OBJECTIVES :
To conserve biological diversity. To use its components in a sustainable way. To share fairly and equitably the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

ACHIEVEMENTS :
The Convention is now one of the most widely ratified international treaties on environmental issues, with 188 member countries. to generate an enormous amount of interest in biodiversity, both in developed and developing countries.

Some of the many issues dealt with under the convention include:
Measures and incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Regulated access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge, including Prior Informed Consent of the party providing resources. Sharing, in a fair and equitable way, the results of research and development and the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources with the Contracting Party providing such resources (governments and/or local communities that provided the traditional knowledge or biodiversity resources utilized).

 Access to and transfer of technology, including biotechnology, to the governments and/or local communities that provided traditional knowledge and/or biodiversity resources. Technical and scientific cooperation. Impact assessment. Education and public awareness. Provision of financial resources. National reporting on efforts to implement treaty commitments.

THANK YOU
Taru Agarwal (401) Bahula Bajpai (403) Jyoti Banthia (404) Tanmay Bhagat (405) Apurva Bhatnagar (406)