Tag: Environment Current Affairs

1. Stockholm Conference (1972) About: The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972, was the first major international gathering to discuss global environmental challenges. It marked the birth of modern environmental diplomacy, placing the environment on the global agenda. The conference recognized the intrinsic link between environmental protection and socio-economic development. Key Points: Convened by the United Nations, hosted by Sweden. The theme focused on “Only One Earth”, emphasizing environmental unity. Led to the formation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Created a platform for developed and developing countries to dialogue on environmental responsibility. Introduced the idea that environmental protection is essential for human well-being. Recognized the sovereign right of states to exploit their resources, while bearing responsibility not to harm others. Timeline: 1972: Stockholm Conference held. 1972: UNEP was established in Nairobi, Kenya. Recent Developments: Stockholm+50 (2022): UN-led conference revisiting 50 years of environmental progress and setbacks. Impact: Mainstreamed environmental governance globally. Paved the way for future summits like the Rio Earth Summit and climate conventions. Highlighted the north-south divide on environmental issues, which continues in present climate negotiations. Challenges & Way Forward: Limited legal enforcement mechanisms from the outcomes. Gaps between policy formulation and implementation remain. Need for integrated and inclusive environmental frameworks going forward. 2. Rio Earth Summit (1992) About: The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), popularly known as the Rio Earth Summit, was held in Brazil in 1992. It provided a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable development and integrated global environmental action with socio-economic goals. Key Points: Attended by 172 nations, including 108 heads of state and over 2,400 NGOs. Coined the term “Sustainable Development” and popularized the concept. Produced major documents: Rio Declaration: 27 principles including CBDR (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities). Agenda 21: A 40-chapter action plan for sustainable development. Forest Principles: Guidelines for sustainable forest management. Led to the birth of three major legally binding Conventions: UNFCCC (Climate Change) CBD (Biodiversity) UNCCD (Combating Desertification) Laid the groundwork for global environmental diplomacy and long-term sustainability planning. Timeline: 1992: Rio Summit held. 1994-1995: Conventions like UNFCCC and CBD came into force. Recent Developments: Rio’s legacy continues in COP summits, SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), and climate finance debates. Rio+20 in 2012 and Stockholm+50 revisited progress on the original commitments. Impact: Institutionalized the CBDR principle in international environmental law. Built political consensus on sustainable development. Generated lasting institutions and treaties still active today. Challenges & Way Forward: Lack of binding obligations in Agenda 21 and Forest Principles. Need to balance environmental concerns with development in the Global South. UN Earth Summit Overview Push for greater accountability, financing, and technological support 3. Kyoto Protocol (1997) About: The Kyoto Protocol was the first international treaty to impose legally binding emission reduction targets on developed countries. It emerged under the UNFCCC framework and aimed to mitigate climate change through a market-based and country-specific approach. Key Points: Adopted in 1997, entered into force in 2005. Based on CBDR, recognizing historical responsibility of developed nations. Assigned quantified emission reduction targets to 37 industrialized nations. Introduced flexibility mechanisms: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) – allows developed countries to invest in emission-reduction projects in developing nations. Joint Implementation (JI) Emissions Trading (ET) – "carbon credits". India, China, and other developing countries had no binding targets. Timeline: 1997: Adopted. 2005: Came into force. 2008–2012: First commitment period. 2012–2020: Doha Amendment extended second phase (not ratified by many). Recent Developments: Kyoto mechanisms are being phased into the Paris Agreement framework. CDM infrastructure still influences carbon markets today. Impact: Created a precedent for binding climate targets. Promoted the carbon credit economy and green projects globally. Encouraged technology transfer and cooperation. Challenges & Way Forward: U.S. withdrew, reducing the protocol’s global influence. Lacked participation from large emitters like China and India. Shift needed to a more inclusive and ambitious global approach, as seen in the Paris Agreement. UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol 4. Montreal Protocol (1987) & Kigali Amendment (2016) About: The Montreal Protocol is a landmark international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). It is regarded as the most successful environmental agreement in history. The Kigali Amendment (2016) extends this mission by targeting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—greenhouse gases that harm the climate but not the ozone layer. Key Points: Adopted in 1987, effective from 1989. Targeted CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, etc. Universally ratified – every UN member country is a party. Established a Multilateral Fund to assist developing countries with transitions. Emissions avoided by the Protocol are estimated to prevent 2°C of global warming. The Kigali Amendment (2016) aims to phase down HFCs, with different schedules for developed and developing nations. India ratified the Kigali Amendment in 2021, committing to an 85% reduction in HFCs by 2047. Timeline: 1987: Protocol signed in Montreal. 1989: Came into force. 2016: Kigali Amendment agreed. 2021: India ratified Kigali. Recent Developments: India’s Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) aligns with Kigali goals. Global push toward low-GWP refrigerants and sustainable cooling tech. Discussions ongoing about linking Montreal Protocol to climate finance frameworks. Impact: Ozone layer is recovering; expected full recovery by mid-century. Prevented millions of cases of skin cancer and cataracts. Helped mitigate climate change by reducing GHGs indirectly. Challenges & Way Forward: Transition to low-GWP alternatives remains expensive for developing nations. Need for R&D support and affordable tech solutions. Strengthening compliance and monitoring in developing countries is key. 5. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000) About: The Cartagena Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It aims to ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) that may adversely affect biodiversity, especially in cross-border movements. Key Points: Came into force in 2003. Based on the Precautionary Principle. Gives countries the right to make decisions about LMO imports based on risk assessments. Emphasizes the “Advance Informed Agreement (AIA)” procedure for transboundary movement of LMOs. Establishes the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) as an info-sharing platform. Timeline: 2000: Adopted. 2003: Entered into force. Recent Developments: India uses Cartagena principles in evaluating genetically modified (GM) crops like Bt brinjal and GM mustard. Increased international scrutiny over biosafety regulations. Impact: Enhances environmental and food safety standards. Empowers countries to safeguard biodiversity and public health. Promotes informed public participation and regulatory transparency. Challenges & Way Forward: Varying biosafety capacities among nations. Pressure from biotech corporations and trade lobbies. Need for robust regulatory institutions and public awareness in developing countries. 6. Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (2010) About: The Nagoya Protocol is a key legal instrument under the CBD, focused on equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. It ensures that local and indigenous communities receive fair returns when their biological resources and traditional knowledge are used. Key Points: Entered into force in 2014. Reinforces the CBD's third objective: Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). Calls for Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) before accessing genetic resources. Recognizes the rights of indigenous and local communities in decision-making. India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002 already aligns with Nagoya principles. Timeline: 2010: Protocol adopted in Nagoya, Japan. 2014: Came into effect. Recent Developments: Enforcement actions against biopiracy (illegal commercial use of indigenous knowledge). Discussions on digital sequence information (DSI) and benefit-sharing frameworks. Impact: Promotes conservation of biodiversity by giving value to natural and traditional assets. Strengthens community rights and legal safeguards. Encourages sustainable bioprospecting and ethical research. Challenges & Way Forward: Complex ABS procedures can hinder research and innovation. Lack of awareness among local communities. Requires capacity-building and legal literacy at the grassroots level. 7. UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) About: The UNFCCC is the foundational global treaty to address climate change. It was adopted during the Rio Earth Summit and serves as the parent treaty for key agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. It provides a framework for countries to cooperate in stabilizing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere. Key Points: Adopted in 1992, came into force in 1994. Recognizes the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). Divides countries into: Annex I: Developed countries with emission reduction commitments. Non-Annex I: Developing nations like India, with voluntary actions. Establishes Conference of Parties (COPs) as the decision-making body. Led to creation of Kyoto Protocol (1997) and Paris Agreement (2015). Calls for climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. Timeline: 1992: Adopted at Rio Summit. 1994: Entered into force. 1995: First COP held in Berlin. 2015: Paris Agreement adopted under UNFCCC. Recent Developments: COP28 (2023) held in UAE focused on global stocktaking and transition from fossil fuels. India submitted its Updated NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) in 2022. Impact: UNFCCC has brought climate change to the center of global diplomacy. Helped build consensus on mitigation, adaptation, and climate justice. Mobilized billions in climate finance, particularly through the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Challenges & Way Forward: Disputes over responsibility sharing, especially between developed and developing nations. Gap between pledges and real emission cuts. Need for binding accountability mechanisms and stronger technology access. 8. CBD – Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) About: The CBD is a comprehensive international agreement focused on conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair sharing of benefits. It recognizes the sovereign rights of states over their biological resources and promotes in-situ and ex-situ conservation. Key Points: Came into force in 1993. Recognized as one of the three major outcomes of the Rio Summit. India is a party to CBD and enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Supports two major protocols: Cartagena Protocol (2000) – biosafety of GMOs. Nagoya Protocol (2010) – benefit-sharing. Promotes ecosystem approach, traditional knowledge, and sustainable agriculture. Timeline: 1992: Adopted. 1993: Came into force. 2002: India passed its domestic law on biodiversity. Recent Developments: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) replaced Aichi Targets. Focus on 30x30 goal: conserve 30% of land and oceans by 2030. Impact: Catalyzed national biodiversity action plans across countries. Brought indigenous rights and local knowledge into global conversation. Created a legal path to prevent biopiracy. Challenges & Way Forward: Failure to fully achieve Aichi Targets (2010-2020). Poor integration of biodiversity in economic planning. Stronger implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Goals needed. 9. UNCCD – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (1994) About: The UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development with land degradation, especially in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. It aims to combat desertification, land degradation, and mitigate the effects of drought (DLDD). Key Points: Adopted in 1994, came into force in 1996. Focuses on sustainable land management (SLM) and drought preparedness. Encourages National Action Programmes (NAPs). India hosts the Delhi Declaration (COP14, 2019), pledging to restore 26 million hectares by 2030. Aims to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Timeline: 1994: Adopted. 1996: Entered into force. 2019: COP14 held in India. Recent Developments: Global Drought Initiative launched to tackle increasing droughts due to climate change. Ongoing work to include private sector in land restoration financing. Impact: Increased attention to dryland agriculture and resilience. Encouraged nations to mainstream soil conservation and afforestation in development planning. Led to creation of Desertification and Drought Day (June 17). Challenges & Way Forward: Poor funding and institutional coordination. Need for stronger community participation. Promote nature-based solutions and monitor land degradation more effectively.

Tag: Environment Current Affairs

Important Environment Current Affairs for UPSC – Treaties, Reports

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