Emergence of Environmental issues, Agenda 21 ,Kyoto Protocol,CTE

It was the Industrial Revolution that gave rise to modern environmental pollution as it is
generally understood today. The emergence of great factories and consumption of
immense quantities of coal and other fossil fuels gave rise to unprecedented air pollution
and the large volume of industrial chemical discharges added to the growing load of
untreated human waste .Environmentalism grew out of the amenity movement, which
was a reaction to industrialization, the growth of cities, and worsening air and water
pollution.
In the 2th century environmental ideas continued to grow in popularity and recognition.
Efforts were starting to !e made to save some wildlife, particularly the "merican #ison.
The endangerment of the "merican #ison helped to focus the minds of conservationists
and popularize their concerns. $ota!ly in %&%' the $ational (ar) *ervice was founded !y
(resident +oodrow +ilson.
In the %&,s the -hip)o movement was formed in India. influenced !y /ahatma
0andhi, they set up peaceful resistance to deforestation !y literally hugging trees 1leading
to the term 2tree huggers23. Their peaceful methods of protest and slogan 2ecology is
permanent economy2 were very influential.
#y the mid %&,s many felt that people were on the edge of environmental catastrophe.
The #ac)4to4the4land movement started to form and ideas of environmental ethics 5oined
with anti46ietnam +ar sentiments and other political issues. These individuals lived
outside normal society and started to ta)e on some of the more radical environmental
theories such as deep ecology. "round this time more mainstream environmentalism was
starting to show force with the signing of the Endangered *pecies "ct in %&,7 and the
formation of -ITE* in %&,8.
9n an international level, concern for the environment was the su!5ect of a :$
conference in *toc)holm in %&,2, attended !y %%; nations. 9ut of this meeting developed
:$E( 1:nited $ations Environment (rogramme3 and the follow4up :nited $ations
-onference on Environment and <evelopment in %&&2. 9ther international organizations
in support of environmental policies development include the -ommission for
Environmental -ooperation 1$"=T"3, the European Environment "gency 1EE"3, and
the Intergovernmental (anel on -limate -hange 1I(--3.
Agenda 21
Development of Agenda 21
It is a programme run !y the :nited $ations 1:$3 related to sustaina!le development. It
is a comprehensive !lueprint of action to !e ta)en glo!ally, nationally and locally !y
organisations of the :$, governments, and ma5or groups in every area in which humans
impact on the environment. The num!er 2% refers to the 2%st century
The full te>t of "genda 2% was revealed at the %&&2 :nited $ations -onference on
Environment and <evelopment 1Earth *ummit3, held in Rio de ?aneiro on ?une %;th
where %,& governments voted to adopt the programme. The final te>t was the result of
drafting, consultation and negotiation, !eginning in %&@& and culminating at the two4
wee) conference
Structure and Contents- Agenda 21There are ; chapters in "genda 2%, divided into
four sections. "ll told the document was over & pagesA
Section ! Social and Economic Dimensions
including com!ating poverty, changing consumption patterns, population and
demographic dynamics, promoting health, promoting sustaina!le settlement patterns and
integrating environment and development into decision4ma)ing.
Section ! Conservation and "anagement of #esources for Development
including atmospheric protection, com!ating deforestation, protecting fragile
environments, conservation of !iological diversity 1!iodiversity3, and control of
pollution.
Section ! Strengt$ening t$e #ole of "a%or &roups
including the roles of children and youth, women, $09s, local authorities, !usiness and
wor)ers.
Section '! "eans of mplementation
including science, technology transfer, education, international institutions and
mechanisms and financial mechanisms.
Agenda 21! Pream(le
"genda 2% addresses the pressing pro!lems of today and also aims at preparing the
world for the challenges of the ne>t century. It reflects a glo!al consensus and political
commitment at the highest level on development and environment cooperation. Its
successful implementation is first and foremost the responsi!ility of 0overnments.
$ational strategies, plans, policies and processes are crucial in achieving this.
International cooperation should support and supplement such national efforts. In this
conte>t, the :nited $ations system has a )ey role to play. 9ther international, regional
and su! regional organizations are also called upon to contri!ute to this effort. The
!roadest pu!lic participation and the active involvement of the non4governmental
organizations and other groups should also !e encouraged.
The developmental and environmental o!5ectives of "genda 2% will require a
su!stantial flow of new and additional financial resources to developing countries, in
order to cover the incremental costs for the actions they have to underta)e to deal with
glo!al environmental pro!lems and to accelerate sustaina!le development. =inancial
resources are also required for strengthening the capacity of international institutions for
the implementation of "genda 2%. "n indicative order4of4magnitude assessment of costs
is included in each of the programme areas. This assessment will need to !e e>amined
and refined !y the relevant implementing agencies and organizations.
Kyoto Protocol
+hat is Byoto (rotocolC
The Byoto (rotocol is a protocol to the international =ramewor) -onvention on -limate
-hange with the o!5ective of reducing 0reenhouse gases that cause climate change. It
was agreed on %% <ecem!er %&&, at the 7rd -onference of the (arties to the treaty when
they met in Byoto, and entered into force on %' =e!ruary 28.
It is an agreement made under the :nited $ations =ramewor) -onvention on -limate
-hange 1:$=---3. -ountries that ratify this protocol commit to reduce their emissions
of car!on dio>ide and five other greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they
maintain or increase emissions of these gases.
Aim of Kyoto Protocol
"im to reduce collective emission of green house gases and prevent glo!al warming
The Byoto (rotocol is an agreement under which industrialized countries will aim to
reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases !y 8.2D compared to the year %&&
1!ut note that, compared to the emissions levels that would !e e>pected !y 2% without
the (rotocol, this limitation represents a 2&D cut3. The goal is to lower overall emissions
of si> greenhouse gases 4 car!on dio>ide, methane, nitrous o>ide, sulfur he>afluoride,
hydrofluorocar!ons, and perfluorocar!ons 4 averaged over the period of 2@42%2.
$ational limitations range from @D reductions for the European :nion and some others
to ,D for the :*, 'D for ?apan, D for Russia, and permitted increases of @D for
"ustralia and %D for Iceland.
T$e Clean Development "ec$anism )CD"* is an arrangement under the Byoto
(rotocol allowing industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment
countries3 to invest in pro5ects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an
alternative to more e>pensive emission reductions in their own countries. The most
important factor of a car!on pro5ect is that it esta!lishes that it would not have occurred
without the additional incentive provided !y emission reductions credits.
+oint implementation )+* is an arrangement under the Byoto (rotocol allowing
industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment 1so4called "nne> %
countries3 to invest in emission reducing pro5ects in another industrialised country as an
alternative to emission reductions in their own countries. -ountries with relatively high
costs for emission reductions can reduce the costs of complying with their Byoto targets
!y using credits from ?I pro5ects, as costs of emission reductions are significantly lower
in some countries.
,T- . E/'#-"E/T P#-TECT-/
The +T9 has no specific agreement dealing with the environment. Eowever, the +T9
agreements confirm governmentsF right to protect the environment, provided certain
conditions are met, and a num!er of them include provisions dealing with environmental
concerns. The o!5ectives of sustaina!le development and environmental protection are
important enough to !e stated in the pream!le to the "greement Esta!lishing the +T9.
The standing forum dedicated to dialogue !etween governments on the impact of trade
policies on the environment, and of environment policies on trade.
:nder the <oha <evelopment "genda, the regular committee is also loo)ing at the
effects of environmental measures on mar)et access, the intellectual property agreement
and !iodiversity, and la!eling for environmental purposes
/oreover, the institutional machinery wor)ing under +T9 for investigating the trade
and environment interface, and ma)ing positive suggestions towards the o!5ective of
sustaina!le development, is the committee on Trade and Environment 1-TE3.
T$e Committee -n Trade and Environment
The %&&; /inisterial <ecision on Trade and Environment created the +T9Fs -ommittee
on Trade and Environment 1-TE3, which is open to the entire +T9 mem!ership, with
some international organizations as o!servers. The committeeFs mandate is !road, and it
has contri!uted to identifying and understanding the relationship !etween trade and the
environment in order to promote sustaina!le development
-TEGs wor) programme
The wor) programme covers a range of relevant issues, from trade and the environment
in general, li!eralization and trade !arriers, and ta>es, to individual sectors such as
services and intellectual property, and relations with environmental organizations.
The <oha mandateThe 2% <oha <eclaration has a section dealing with the
committeeFs regular wor). The focus is on effects of environmental measures on mar)et
access, the relevant provisions of the intellectual property agreement, la!eling
requirements for environmental purposes, technical assistance, sharing e>pertise for
national environmental reviews and environmental aspects of the <oha negotiations.
ssues Sorted 0y CTE
Sustaina(le development
Trade is a powerful ally of sustaina!le development. The +T9Fs founding agreement
recognizes sustaina!le development as a central principle, and it is an o!5ective running
through all su!5ects in current <oha negotiations The purpose of trade li!eralization and
the +T9Fs )ey principle of non4discrimination is a more efficient allocation of resources,
which should !e positive for the environment
Environmental re1uirements and mar2et access
The effect of environmental measures on mar)et access is particularly important to the
wor) of the Trade and Environment -ommittee !ecause it holds the )ey to ensure that
sound trade and environmental policies wor) together.*o, a !alance is needed, !etween
safeguarding mar)et access and protecting the environment. +T9 mem!er governments
agree that they have to e>amine how environmental measures could !e designed
3a(eling
Ha!eling is one of the su!5ects assigned to the -ommittee on Trade and Environment
1-TE3. It is part of an item 17!3 on the committeeFs wor) programme in which the
committee is assigned to consider the relationship !etween the provisions of the +T9Fs
agreements and the requirements governments ma)e for products in order to protect the
environment The use of eco4la!els 1i.e. la!eling products according to environmental
criteria3 !y governments, industry and non4governmental organizations 1$09s3 is
increasing