MODULE 6 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

ØVIENNA CONVENTION (1985) : outlines states' responsibilities for protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of ozone depletion, established the framework under which the Montreal Protocol was negotiated.

ØMONTREAL PROTOCOL (1987): is a landmark international agreement designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992. The Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere--chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform--are to be phased out by 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform).

ØBASEL CONVENTION (1989):The Basel Convention on the( Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal) is an international treaty in which 170 parties participated, was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries .The Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation.

ØRIO DECLARATION (1992):The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, having met at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14June1992,reaffirming the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, adopted at Stockholm on 16 June1972,and seeking to build up it, with the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among States.

ØCONVENTIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE & ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: (1994):
The world community at Rio Conference showed unanimity to prevent global climate change and eradication of biologically diverse species. This conventions were signed by more than 150 nations. The convention on climate change requires the States to take steps to reduce their emissions of gases contributing to global warming. The other convention on biodiversity requires the States to take steps for protection of the world’s diverse plant and animal species.

ØGLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (1992): was established as a cooperative venture of the World Bank, UNEP and UNDP,an independent financial organization, that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment . GEF grants support projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. It was set up during the 1992 Earth Summit with 27 members initially. At the Fourth GEF Assembly in 2006, an additional $3.13 billion was committed