International Environmental Agreements
NCERT Class 12 • Biology • Chapter "Environmental Issues" | NCERT Class 12 • Political Science • Chapter "Environment and Natural Resources"
International Environmental Agreements
Environmental problems cross borders, so no country can solve them alone. Since the early 1970s a series of conferences and treaties has built a framework for cooperation, and the recurring dispute in all of them is how to share the burden fairly between rich and poor countries.
The Major Conferences and Treaties
- The Stockholm Conference of 1972 was the first major international meeting on the human environment.
- The Montreal Protocol of 1987 committed countries to phasing out ozone depleting substances.
- The Rio Earth Summit of 1992 produced the climate convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21.
- The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 set binding emission reduction targets for developed countries only.
- The Paris Agreement of 2015 took a different route, with every country setting its own nationally determined contribution.
- The Ramsar Convention covers wetlands and CITES covers trade in endangered species.
- Conference of the parties meetings are held regularly to review progress and negotiate further commitments.
Principles and Disputes
- Common but differentiated responsibilities is the central principle: all countries share the problem, but those that emitted most historically must do more.
- Developed countries industrialised on cheap fossil fuel, so their historical responsibility is far larger.
- Developing countries argue that their per capita emissions remain low and that they need energy for development.
- Climate finance and technology transfer from developed to developing countries are therefore part of every agreement.
- Sustainable development goals integrate environmental targets with poverty reduction, health and education.
- Compliance is the weak point, since international agreements have limited enforcement power.
- India's position has consistently combined acceptance of responsibility with insistence on equity and on the right to develop.
| Agreement | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm Conference | 1972 | Human environment |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 | Ozone depleting substances |
| Rio Earth Summit | 1992 | Climate, biodiversity, Agenda 21 |
| Paris Agreement | 2015 | Nationally determined climate action |
Common but differentiated responsibilities — the principle that all countries share responsibility for the environment but in proportion to their capability and historical contribution.
Exam me kaise aata hai
- The Earth Summit was held in — 1992
- The Montreal Protocol was adopted in — 1987
- Which agreement uses nationally determined contributions — the Paris Agreement
- The first major conference on the human environment was at — Stockholm
UPSC/State PSC ke liye
- Kyoto set binding targets for developed countries alone, while Paris asked every country to set its own, which traded legal strictness for wider participation.
- Per capita emissions and historical emissions give very different pictures of responsibility, which is exactly why the equity debate never settles.
Yahan confuse hote hain
✗ The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement work the same way | Kyoto set binding targets for developed countries; Paris uses self set national contributions | ✓
✗ The Montreal Protocol deals with climate change | It deals with ozone depleting substances | ✓
✗ All countries have equal responsibility | Responsibility is common but differentiated | ✓
Ek nazar me
- Stockholm 1972, Montreal 1987, Rio 1992 and Paris 2015 are the landmarks.
- Kyoto set binding targets for developed countries; Paris uses national contributions.
- Common but differentiated responsibilities is the central principle.
- Climate finance, technology transfer and equity remain the main disputes.
Ab practice karein
Climate change aur global agreements se har exam me date based questions aate hain. ExamAtlas ke mock test se abhi jaanchein.