International Environmental Conventions
The major global conventions on biodiversity, wildlife trade, wetlands, hazardous waste and chemicals — CBD, CITES, Ramsar, Basel, Stockholm and more.
Key Takeaways
- The CBD (1992) governs biodiversity; its protocols are Cartagena (biosafety) and Nagoya (benefit-sharing).
- CITES regulates international trade in endangered species through three appendices.
- The Ramsar Convention (1971) protects wetlands of international importance.
Core concept
Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are treaties through which countries jointly protect the global environment. Each targets a specific issue — biodiversity, wildlife trade, wetlands, chemicals or waste. India is a party to the major ones.
Static foundation — the biodiversity cluster
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992) has three goals: conservation, sustainable use, and fair sharing of benefits. Its two protocols are the Cartagena Protocol (biosafety — living modified organisms) and the Nagoya Protocol (Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources).
Major Environmental Conventions
| Convention | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsar | 1971 | Wetlands of international importance |
| CITES | 1973 | International trade in endangered species (3 appendices) |
| CMS (Bonn) | 1979 | Conservation of migratory species |
| Basel | 1989 | Transboundary movement of hazardous waste |
| CBD | 1992 | Biological diversity (Cartagena & Nagoya Protocols) |
| Stockholm | 2001 | Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
| Minamata | 2013 | Mercury |
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Current affairs linkage
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (under the CBD) sets the '30x30' target — protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030. India frequently updates its Ramsar list (among the largest networks in Asia). (Add a recent Ramsar designation or COP outcome.)
Prelims trap zones
- Cartagena = biosafety (GMOs); Nagoya = access & benefit sharing — both are CBD protocols.
- CITES Appendix I gives the HIGHEST protection (trade banned).
- Basel = hazardous waste; Stockholm = POPs; Minamata = mercury — don't mix up the chemicals treaties.
Prelims Pointers
- CBD's Nagoya Protocol deals with Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources.
- CITES Appendix I = highest protection (trade generally banned); Appendix II = regulated trade.
- The Basel Convention regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
- The Stockholm Convention targets Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Mains Angle
- 'Multilateral environmental agreements are only as strong as their enforcement.' Discuss.
- Examine India's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
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