The document discusses several major international environmental agreements: 1) The Montreal Protocol aims to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances. It has achieved universal ratification and has put the ozone layer on a path to recovery. 2) The Kyoto Protocol, under the UNFCCC, sets binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gases. Its goals are to lower emissions of six key gases and establish the Clean Development Mechanism. 3) The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable use and sharing of genetic resources. It includes programs on forests, islands, inland waters and more.

1. INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS
1. Montreal protocols
2. Kyoto protocols
3. Convention on
Biological Diversity
(CBD).
Unit 6 :
ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICIES
& PRACTICES
Ability Enhancement Compulsory
Course
(AECC – Environment Studies)
1

2. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
 International agreements are formal
understandings or commitments legally
binding agreement between two or more
countries.
 A agreement / treaty can be called a
Convention, a Protocol, a Pact or an Accord.
 Usually governed by the United Nations.
 Types;
1. BILATERAL (between two countries)
2. MULTILATERAL (between several countries)
2 International Agreements

3. Several hundred International Environmental
Agreements are signed.
1. Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer, Montreal, 1989
2. Kyoto to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Protocol -
greenhouse gas emission reductions
3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
Nairobi, 1992
4. Convention on Nuclear Safety, Vienna, 1994
5. Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International
Lakes (ECE Water Convention), Helsinki, 1992
6. Many other…..
3 International Agreements

4. 1. MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES
THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER
 Under Vienna Convention for the Protection of
the Ozone Layer, 1985.
 Global agreement to protect the stratospheric
ozone layer by phasing out the production and
consumption of ozone-depleting substances
(ODS)
 The stratospheric ozone layer filters out harmful
ultraviolet radiation, which is associated with
an increased prevalence of skin cancer and
cataracts, reduced agricultural productivity, and
disruption of marine ecosystems.
4 International Agreements

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7. 1. MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES
THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER…
 Agreed on 26 August 1987,
 Force on 26 August 1989
 1st meeting in Helsinki, May 1989.
Eight ammendments
1. 1990 (London)
2. 1991 (Nairobi)
3. 1992 (Copenhagen)
4. 1993 (Bangkok)
5. 1995 (Vienna)
6. 1997 (Montreal)
7. 1998 (Australia)
8. 1999 (Beijing)
9. 2016 (Kigali, adopted, but not in force)
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8.  Initially signed by 46 countries, now all are
signatories.
 Countries have binding, time-targeted and
measurable commitments.
 Developing and developed countries have equal
but differentiated responsibilities
8 International Agreements
1. MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES
THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER…

9. International Agreements9
Specific responsibilities related to the phase
out of the different groups of ODS;
1. Control of ODS trade
2. Annual reporting of data
3. National licensing systems to control
ODS imports and exports
4. other matters.
1. MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES
THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER…

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 The Montreal Protocol has proven to be
innovative and successful
 The first treaty to achieve universal ratification
by all countries in the world.
 Leveraging worldwide participation
 The Montreal Protocol has sent clear signals to
the global market and placed the ozone layer,
which was in peril, on a path to repair.
http://ozone.unep.org/sites/default/files/MP_han
dbook-english-2018.pdf
1. MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES
THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER…

13. 13 International Agreements

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 The Earth Summit held on June 4, 1992 in Rio
de Janeiro led to the signature of three
conventions, the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) is one
among it.
 UNFCCC, an international environmental treaty,
states the goal of the Kyoto Protocol as;
“The stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level
that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system.”
2. Kyoto to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Protocol

15. International Agreements15
 Negotiated in 11th December 1997 at the city of
Kyoto, Japan.
 Force on February 16th, 2005.
 192 signatory countries
 Legally binding agreement under which
industrialized countries will reduce their
collective emissions of greenhouse gases by
5.2% compared to the year 1990
 Affect the energy balance of the global
atmosphere in ways expected to lead to an
overall increase in global average temperature,
known as global warming.
2. Kyoto to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Protocol…

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The goal is to lower overall emissions from six
greenhouse gases
1. carbon dioxide (CO2)
2. Methane (CH4)
3. Nitrous oxide (N2O)
4. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
5. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
6. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
2. Kyoto to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Protocol…

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 As set a heavier burden on developed nations
under the principle of “common but
differentiated responsibilities”
 Because of their historical responsibility for
current levels of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
COMMITMENT PERIOD
1. 2008 to 2012
2. 2013 to 2020
2. Kyoto to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Protocol…

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1. Joint implementation
2. Clean development mechanism
3. Emissions trading
2. Kyoto to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Protocol…

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24. 3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
 Entered into force on 29 December 1993.
3 main objectives:
1. The conservation of biological diversity
2. The sustainable use of the components of
biological diversity
3. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic
resources
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25. 3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)…
 7 thematic programmes of work corresponds to
some of the major biomes on the planet,
establishes a vision for, and basic principles to
guide future work.
1. Agricultural Biodiversity
2. Dry and Sub-humid Lands Biodiversity
3. Inland Waters Biodiversity
4. Forest Biodiversity
5. Island Biodiversity
6. Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
7. Mountain Biodiversity
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26. 3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)…
Supports initiatives;
1. Business
2. Local Authorities
3. Parliamentarians
4. Universities and the Scientific Community
5. Children & Youth
6. The Green Wave for Schools
7. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
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27. 3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)…
 The Convention’s governing body that meets every
two years, or as required.
 14th meeting of the COP (Conference of the
Parties)Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) 17-29 Nov 2018
Two conventions in CBD;
3a. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
3b. The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-
sharing
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28. 3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)…
3a. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
 It was adopted on 29 January 2000
 Entered into force on 11 September 2003.
 To ensure the safe handling, transport and use of
living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from
modern biotechnology that may have adverse
effects on biological diversity, taking also into
account risks to human health.
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29. 3. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)…
3b. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic
Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of
Benefits
 Aims at sharing the benefits arising from the
utilization of genetic resources in a fair and
equitable way.
 It entered into force on 12 October 2014
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31. Thank you
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