Prelims Capsule : Major Conferences, Conventions,

Protocols in Environment and Ecology

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2/13/2017

Introduction

Does the plethora of conventions, conferences, protocols that appear in the Environment and Ecology syllabus
confuse and put you off? This article is developed in order to make them simple to you. Before we probe in to the
actual one, it is imperative to learn the background and process.

Let us understand some definitions.

A Conference is consulting together formally; a type of negotiations, there is only broad theme. In a conference the
principle bodies are established for further deliberations if any required on the broad theme for which the conference
is called for.

A Conventionis a meeting or gathering to formulate or deliberate on a generally accepted principle , aframework in

which the parties decide the basic guidelines.

(Note: Sometimes, the line between conference and a convention is very thin and sometimes they are
interchangeably used because the outcome document of convention is arrived at the conference)

A Protocol to the convention is an agreement that diplomatic negotiators formulate and sign as the basis for a final
convention where the parties set specific aims or legal obligations. Usually, when a major provision is to be
incorporated on regulations of the convention, a protocol is called among the countries, who are signatory of the

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original convention when it was signed and approved.

Process

The international laws or conventions on environment related issues arise under the two international organizations
viz., IUCN and the UN. Though sometimes they work together, it is important differentiate which treaty arises from
which organization and who handles the administrative and the financial aspects.

Under the UNO

The UN Charter does not specifically mention the environment or sustainable development. Both the General
Assembly (UNGA) and the Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC which is one of the 6 main organs of the
United Nations) consider environmental questions.

The lead organization under the United Nations charter that deliberates on the environment related issues is the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP is under the UN General Assembly organ of the UN)and theCommission on
Sustainable Development is another forum for the countries to discuss the issues.

Economic and Social Council adopts a resolution to recommend the UN General Assembly to consider convening
a UN conference on problems of the environment or UNGA may on its own pass a resolution to convene a
conference on the issue.

So simply put,

Resolution (by ECOSOC / UNGA) Conference Convention Protocol Treaty

Example:

Sweden first suggested to ECOSOC in 1968 the idea of having a UN conference to focus on human
interactions with the environment.
ECOSOC passed resolution supporting the idea and recommended the General Assembly consider
convening a UN conference.
General Assembly Resolution in 1969 decided to convene a conference in 1972 and suggesting that the
conference focus on stimulating and providing guidelines for action by national government and international
organizations facing environmental issues.
The UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972) at Stockholm was held.
This led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) the leading global
environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of
the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an
authoritative advocate for the global environment.

IUCN

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of
nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

In 1947, the Swiss League for the Protection of Nature organised an international conference on the
protection of nature in Brunnen (Switzerland).
Afterwards, the IUCN was established on 5 October 1948, in Fontainebleau, France
The initiative to set up the new organisation came from UNESCO
Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland
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 It was previously called the International Union for Protection of Nature IUPN (19481956) and the
World Conservation Union (19902008).
IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations, and plays a role in the implementation of
several international conventions on nature conservation and biodiversity. (Note: It is not a member or part of
the UN)
It is best known for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List, which assesses the conservation status of
species worldwide.
IUCN was established in 1948.

IUCN was one of the few NGOs formally involved in the preparations of the United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972). The Stockholm Conference eventually led to three new international
conventions, with IUCN involved in their drafting and implementation:

To establish a stable financial basis for its work, IUCN participated in setting up the World Wildlife Fund
(1961) now called the World Wide Fund for Nature WWF.
Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). IUCN provides
technical evaluations and monitoring
CITES- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1974) IUCN
is a signatory party and the CITES secretariat was originally lodged with IUCN
Ramsar Convention Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (1975). The secretariat is still
administered from IUCNs headquarters.
In 1975 IUCN started work on the World Conservation Strategy.

The Strategy was followed in 1982 by the World Charter for Nature, which was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly, after preparation by IUCN.

TIMELINE

Convention Name Year

RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands 1971

Stockholm Conference 1972

Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972

CITES 1973

Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals 1979

World Conservation Strategy 1980

Nairobi Declaration 1982

World Charter of Nature 1982

Vienna Convention for Ozone Layer 1985

Montreal Protocol for ODS 1987

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 Helsinki Declaration 1989

Basel Convention on Hazardous wastes 1989

Earth Summit 1992

UNFCCC 1992

CBD 1992

UN Convention on Desertification 1994

Kyoto Protocol 1997

Stockholm Convention on POPs 2000

Johannesberg Declaration 2002

UN World Summit 2005

Bali Summit on Climate Change 2007

RAMSAR CONVENTION, 1971

The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the
framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and
their resources.
The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975 after
UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the Conventions depositary
received the instruments of accession from the countries.
The RAMSAR Secretariat is based at the headquarters of the International Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 nd.

Criteria for Selecting a RAMSAR site:

Criterion 1:If the site is representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type
found within the appropriate biogeographic region.
Criterion 2: if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological
communities.
Criterion 3: if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological
diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
Criterion 4: if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge
during adverse conditions.
Criterion 5: if it regularly supports 20,000 or more water-birds.
Criterion 6: if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of
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 water-bird.
Criterion 7: if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-
history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or
values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.
Criterion 8: if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on
which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.
Criterion 9: if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of
wetland-dependent non-avian animal species.

The Montreux Record

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where
changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of
technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar
List.

RAMSAR SITES in India

The convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982.

India currently has 26 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area
of 689,131 hectares. See Appendix 1.

Keoladeo National Park, Loktak Lake, are designated in Montreux record, and Chilka lake was designated but
removed since 2002.

The World Heritage Convention, 1972

The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the
balance between the two.

The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World
Heritage Listunder UNESCO

Established in 1992, the World Heritage Centre ensures the day-to-day management of the Convention.

There are 35 (27 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) World Heritage Sites in India that are recognised by the UNESCO
as of July 2016. See Appendix 2

The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm June 1972

Generally called as the Stockholm Conference.

Itwas the first declaration of international protection of the environment. In the conference
Stockholm Declaration contains 26 principles. These principles provide the basis of anInternational Policy for
the Protection and improvement of the environment.

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 The UnitedNations Environment Programme has been established by the UNGA in pursuance of the
Stockholm Conference.
The Environmental Programmewas set up in Geneva in June 1972.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild flora and fauna(CITES) 1973

It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
The Conference aims to control or prevent international commercial trade inendangered species or products
derived from them.
The Convention does not seek todirectly protect endangered species, rather it seeks to reduce the
economic incentive topoach endangered species and destroy their habitat by closing off the
internationalmarket.
India became a party to the convention in 1976. International trade in all wildflora and fauna in general and
species covered under convention is regulatedthrough the provisions of the Wild life (protection) Act 1972.

CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES, 1979 (BONN CONVENTION)

The Convention on the Conservation of MigratorySpecies of Wild Animals (also known as the
BonnConvention) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avianmigratory species throughout their
range.
The Conventionfacilitates the adoption of strict protection measuresfor endangered migratory species, the
conclusionof multilateral agreements for the conservation andmanagement of migratory species, and co-
operativeresearch activities.
The Convention has two appendices:

Appendix I lists migratory species that are classified asendangered and where urgent international
cooperationis necessary to address the issue.
Appendix II lists otherspecies that require or would benefit significantly frominternational agreements
under the Convention.

TheConvention entered into force in 1983.

Marine Turtles, Siberian and Dugong are a part of the conservation under this convention which are related to
India.

WORLD CONSERVATION STRATEGY, 1980

In 1975 IUCN started work on the World Conservation Strategy.

Stopping illegal trade of wildlife is one of IUCNs priorities
The drafting process and the discussions with the UN agencies involved led to an evolution in thinking
within IUCN and growing acceptance of the fact that conservation of nature by banning human presence no
longer worked.
The World Conservation Strategy was launched in 35 countries simultaneously on 5 March 1980.
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 It set out fundamental principles and objectives for conservation worldwide, and identified priorities for
national and international action.
It is considered one of the most influential documents in 20th century nature conservation and one of the first
official documents to introduce the concept of sustainable development.
The Strategy was followed in 1982 by the World Charter for Nature, which was adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly, after preparation by IUCN.

WORLD CHARTER FOR NATURE, 1982

World Charter for Nature was adopted by United Nations member nation-states on October 28, 1982. It
proclaims five principles of conservation by which all human conduct affecting nature is to be guided and
judged.

Nature shall be respected and its essential processes shall not be impaired.
The genetic viability on the earth shall not be compromised; the population levels of all life forms, wild
and domesticated, must be at least sufficient for their survival, and to this end necessary habitats shall
be safeguarded.
All areas of the earth, both land and sea, shall be subject to these principles of conservation; special
protection shall be given to unique areas, to representative samples of all the different types of
ecosystems and to the habitats of rare or endangered species.
Ecosystems and organisms, as well as the land, marine and atmospheric resources that are utilized by
man, shall be managed to achieve and maintain optimum sustainable productivity, but not in such a
way as to endanger the integrity of those other ecosystems or species with which they coexist.
Nature shall be secured against degradation caused by warfare or other hostile activities.

Nairobi Declaration 1982 to Stockholm Conference

The Nairobi Declaration was adopted at Nairobi for celebrating the 10 thAnniversary of the Stockholm
conference on human Environment in 1972.
The Declaration envisaged thecreation of a special commission to frame long term environment strategies for
achievingsustainable developments upto the year 2000 and beyond.

Vienna convention for the protection of ozone layer (1985)

The convention was adopted on 22nd March, 1985 by the conference ofThe Vienna Convention for the
Protection of the Ozone Layer is a Multilateral Environmental Agreement.
It is under the
The Vienna convention of 1985was the starting point of the global cooperation for protection of ozone layer.
Later,adoption of Montreal protocol on substances that deplete ozone layer on 1987, theamendment in
Montreal protocol in London (1990) and Vienna (1995).

Montreal protocol on substances that deplete ozone layer, 1987 to the Vienna Convention

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 The Protocol came into force in 1989.
The protocol settargets for reducing the consumption and production of a range of ozone
depletingsubstances.
In a major innovation the protocol recognized that all nations should not betreated equally. The agreement
acknowledges that certain countries have contributed toozone depletion more than others.
It also recognizes that a nations obligation to reduce current emissions should reflect its
technological and financial ability to do so. Becauseof this, the agreement sets more stringent standards
and accelerated phase-out timetablesto countries that have contributed most to ozone depletion.
India accepted this protocolalong with its London Amendment in September 1992.
The Ministry of Environmentand Forest has established an ozone cell and a steering committee on the
protocol tofacilitate implementation of the India country program, for phasing out ozone depletingsubstances
production by 2010 to meet the commitments India has also taken policydecisions.
The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 weredrafted under Environment
(protection) Act, 1986.

Amendment to Montreal Protocol, 2017

170 countries have reached a historic deal to phase out Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) after years of protracted
and at times seemingly intractable negotiations in Kigali, Rwanda accepted an amendment to the Montreal
Protocol that will see developed countries reduce their use of HFCs from 2019.
HFCs are potent greenhouse gases with a significantly higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide
and are widely used as refrigerants, aerosol sprays and in solvents. HFCs have been widely used as an
alternative to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) since the Montreal Protocol came into effect to prevent ozone
depletion.
Developed countries must reduce HFCs use by 10% by 2019 from 2011-2013 levels, and 85% by 2036.
A second group of developing countries, including China and African nations, are committed to launching the
transition in 2024. A reduction of 10% compared with 2020-2022 levels should be achieved by 2029, and
80% by 2045.
A third group of developing countries, including India, Pakistan and Arab Gulf states, must begin the process
in 2028 and reduce emissions by 10% by 2032 from 2024-2026 levels, and then by 85% by 2047.

World Commission on Environment and Development (1987)

It was started by the UN General Assembly resolution in 1983 and based on a four-year study entitled Our
Common Future, also known as the Brundtland report in 1987 was put out.
It developed the theme of sustainable development. It was the first time Sustainable Development was
officially defined;
This commission is also called as the Brundtland commission.

Basel convention on trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes, 1989

The industrialized world in the 1980s had led to increasing public resistance to the disposal of hazardous
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 wastes in accordance with what became known as the NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) syndrome and to
an increase of disposal costs. This in turn led some operators to seek cheap disposal options for hazardous
wastes in the developing countries, where environmental awareness was much less developed and
regulations and enforcement mechanisms were lacking
The Convention came into force in 1992.
The objectives of the convention are toreduce trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes, to minimize
the creation of suchwastes and to prohibit their shipment from Developed countries to the LDCs
India ratified the convention andenacted Hazardous Wastes Management Rules Act 1989, encompasses
some of theBasal provisions related to the notification of import and export of hazardous wastes,illegal traffic
and liability.

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), 1992

In continuation of Stockholm Declaration, 1972 and the Nairobi Declaration,1982 the third major Declaration
was held in Rio-de-Janeiro in Brazil in the year 1992.
Hence it is termed as Rio-Declaration and attended by over 150 countries. Hence, it isalso well known as
Earth Summit.
It discussed global and environmental problemsvery widely.
It was the biggest International Conference in the history of Internationalrelations was also called as
the Parliament of the planet then.

The formal process of UNCED culminated in the adoption of fivedocuments, namely

Rio Declaration a statement of broad principles to guide national

conduct on environmental protection and development.
Agenda-21, a massive documentcontaining a detailed action-plan for sustainable development.
Legally Non-Binding Principles of Forestry.
Convention on Climate Change and
Convention onBiodiversity.

The Rio Declaration

The Rio Declaration was adopted in the conference recognizing the universal and integral nature of Earth and
by establishing a global partnership among states and enlisting general rights and obligations on
environmental protection.
The RioDeclaration is a statement of 27 principles for the guidance of national environmentalbehaviour and
enlisting general rights and obligations on environmental protection.
Rio principles placed human beings at the centre of sustainable development concerns by stating that
humans are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature
The gist of those principles are happy and healthy life to all people in the world in order to achieve this goal,
concept of sustainable development has been established.
To achieve sustainable development, states shall reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production
and consumption, exchange of scientific and technological knowledge, compensation for adverse effects of
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 environmental damage caused by activities with in their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their
jurisdiction, precautionary approach shall be widely applied by states polluter should bear the cost of
pollution, Environmental impact assessment as an instrument to monitor the likely environmental effects.

Agenda-21

It is a comprehensive action plan which gives a future plan in relation to

environment and development.
The Agenda emphasizes on issues like poverty, health consumption patterns, natural resource use, financial
resources human settlements and technological
It also includes energy, climate and other wide range of issues concerning
environment and development.
Agenda-21 is not a binding document but it constitutes the key document of the Rio

U.N. Frame Work Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992

In 1992, countries joined an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, as a framework for international cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global
temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and coping with impacts that were, by then,
inevitable.
The primary goals of the UNFCCC were to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions atlevels that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the global climate.
The convention embraced the principle of common but differentiated responsibilitieswhich has guided
the adoption of a regulatory structure.
India signed the agreement inJune 1992 which was ratified in November 1993. As per the convention the
reduction/limitation requirements apply only to developed countries. The only reporting obligationfor
developing countries relates to the construction of a GHG inventory.
Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement are a part of the UNFCCC

Kyoto protocol, 1997

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on
the premise that (a) global warming exists and (b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16
February 2005.
There are currently 192 parties to the Protocol.

Some of the principal concepts of the Kyoto Protocol are:

The main feature of the Protocol is that it established legally binding commitments to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases for parties that ratified the Protocol. The commitments were based on the Berlin Mandate,
which was a part of UNFCCC negotiations leading up to the Protocol.

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 Implementation. In order to meet the objectives of the Protocol, Parties are required to prepare policies and
measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases in their respective countries. In addition, they are required to
increase the absorption of these gases and utilize all mechanisms available, such as

joint implementation
Clean development mechanism and
Emissions trading, in order to be rewarded with credits that would allow more greenhouse gas
emissions at home.

Minimizing Impacts on Developing Countries by establishing an adaptation fund for climate change.
Accounting, Reporting and Review in order to ensure the integrity of the Protocol.
Compliance. Establishing a Compliance Committee to enforce compliance with the commitments under the
Protocol.

PARIS AGREEMENT, 2016

The Paris Agreement (French: Accord de Paris) is an agreement within the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation
and finance starting in the year 2020.
It was opened for signature on 22 April 2016 (Earth Day) at a ceremony in New York. As of December 2016,
194 UNFCCC members have signed the treaty, 131 of which have ratified it.
The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions pledged during the 2015 Climate Change Conference
serveunless provided otherwiseas the initial nationally determined contribution.
The emission reduction efforts will be made in order to hold the increase in the global average temperature to
below 2 C by reducing emissions to 40 gigatonnes or to 1.5
The implementation of the agreement by all member countries together will be evaluated every 5 years, with
the first evaluation in 2023.
The Paris Agreement has a bottom up structure in contrast to most international environmental law treaties
which are top down, characterised by standards and targets set internationally, for states to implement.
Unlike, the Kyoto Protocol, which sets commitment targets that have legal force, the Paris Agreement, with its
emphasis on consensus-building, allows for voluntary and nationally determined targets.
The Paris Agreement still emphasizes the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilitythe
acknowledgement that different nations have different capacities and duties to climate actionit does not
provide a specific division between developed and developing nations.
The SDM is considered to be the successor to the Clean Development Mechanism, a flexible mechanism
under the Kyoto Protocol, by which parties could collaboratively pursue emissions reductions for their INDCs.
The Sustainable Development Mechanism lays the framework for the future of the Clean Development
Mechanism post-Kyoto (in 2020).
Not part of the Paris Agreement ( and not legally binding)is a plan to provide US$100 billion a year in aid to
developing countries for implementing new procedures to minimize climate change with additional amounts
to be provided in subsequent years (The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of
the UNFCCC )

The agreement stated that it would enter into force (and thus become fully effective) only if 55 countries that
produce at least 55% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. (US and China together contribute 40% of the
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 emissions.)

Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993. It has 3 main objectives:

The conservation of biological diversity

The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources
The Convention was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (the Rio Earth Summit).
This convention is a legally binding framework treaty that has been ratified by180 countries.
The areas that are dealt by convention are conservation of biodiversity,sustainable use of biological
resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising fromtheir sustainable use.
The convention came into force in 1993. Many biodiversity issuesare addressed including habitat
preservation, intellectual property rights, biosafety andindigenous peoples rights.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to CBD

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement
which aims 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. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003.

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising
from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which 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, 90 days after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification.

U.N. Convention on Desertification, 1994

An inter-governmental negotiating committee for the elaboration of aninternational convention to combat

desertification in countries experiencing seriousdrought and/ or desertification was recommended in 1992
U.N. Conference onEnvironment and Development.
The U.N. General Assembly established a committee in1992 which helped formulation of the convention on
desertification.
The convention endorses and employs a bottom-up approach to internationalenvironmental cooperation.
Theconvention aims at tackling desertification through national, regional and sub-regionalaction programmes.
India hosts the network on agro forestry and soil conservation.
2006 was declared International Year of Deserts and Desertification
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World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)

It is also known as Rio +10, held at Johannesburg in 2002

Reviewed progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 since its adoption in 1992
Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development

ROTTERDAM CONVENTION, 1998

The Rotterdam Convention (formally, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent
Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade) signed in 1998 is a
multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals,
effective from 2004.
The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use
proper labelling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.
Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and
exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.
In 2012, the Secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm conventions, as well as the UNEP-part of the Rotterdam
Convention Secretariat, merged to a single Secretariat with a matrix structure serving the three conventions.
The three conventions now hold back to back Conferences of the Parties as part of their joint synergies
decisions.

Stockholm Convention on POPs, 2004

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmentaltreaty, signed in

2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent
organic pollutants (POPs).
In 1995, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called for global
action to be taken on POPs, which it defined as chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-
accumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the
environment.

UN Conference on Sustainable Development (2012)

It was the third international conference on sustainable development aimed at reconciling the economic and
environmental goals of the global community.

It is also known as Rio 2012 / Rio+20 / held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20 th anniversary of Earth Summit
10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.
The report was themed The future we want.

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