Green Olympiad Study Material. Free Chapter II

Transcription

1 Free Chapter II The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) took place in 1992 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Government officials from 178 countries and between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals from governments, NGOs and media participated to discuss solutions for global problems such as poverty, war or the growing gap between industrialised countries. It emphasised that economic and social progress depends critically on the preservation of the natural resource base with effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. The UN summit focused on three broad concepts: 1

2 1. An Earth Charter covering a number of principles aiming at development and the protection of the environment. 2. Secondly, Agenda 21 was intended to be a global action plan for sustainable development 3. Thirdly, developing countries demanded a substantial increase in new funding from developed countries to contribute to sustainable development in the South. Outcomes of the Rio Earth Summit Generally, Rio 1992 gave a good impulse to the further development of international environmental law. Six conventions came out of Rio 1992 some of which have been converted into the next and more decisive phase, namely protocols, from which point they would become ratified in their respective countries. 1. The Rio Declaration 2

3 A set of 27 principles designed to commit government to ensure environmental protection and responsible development and intended to be an Environmental Bill of Rights. It established the Precautionary principle and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. 2. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the Kyoto Protocol from 1997 An international agreement aimed at the stabilization of atmospheric concentrations of global greenhouse gases to prevent dangerous climate change as a result of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. 3

4 3. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, including the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety An international agreement to conserve biological species, genetic resources, habitats and ecosystems; to ensure the sustainable use of biological materials; and to provide for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources. 4. The Rio Forestry Principles Fifteen non-binding principles for the protection and sustainable use of global forest resources proposed. These principles have often been regarded as a foundation for a process to negotiate and agree an International Forestry Convention. 5. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification To combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/ or desertification. 4

5 The convention was actually not a direct result of UNCED but added after the conference. To date this convention has been ineffective for lack of a financing mechanism. 6. Agenda 21 Undoubtedly it was the most important and complete document that came out of the Earth Summit. It has become the blueprint for sustainability and forms the basis for sustainable development strategies. Its recommendations range from new ways to educate, to care for natural resources and to participate in shaping a sustainable economy. The overall objective of Agenda 21 was very ambitious for it was nothing less than designing a safe and just world with people in the South and North alike would live an equitable life 5

6 within Earth s capacities. The institutional result of the UNCED was the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). Agenda 21 called for the creation of the CSD to ensure effective follow-up of UNCED and further the process of constituting sustainable development. CSD was also meant to be the international body to monitor the implementation of Agenda 21. In addition, many countries set up sustainable development commissions and to develop national strategies for sustainable development. Also in the wake of the Rio Earth summit processes were: 6

7 1. The Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which was signed by Germany and the USA on May 23, 2001; The POPs convention takes the lead on the ban of at least 8 of these dangerous organic substances including the insecticide DDT. The implementation of this ban in southern countries is faltering due to lack of financial means. 2. The Convention on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 3. The Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. ANNEX I, ANNEX II COUNTRIES AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Parties to UNFCCC are classified as: 7

8 Annex I countries - industrialized countries and economies in transition Annex I countries which have ratified the Protocol have committed to reduce their emission levels of greenhouse gasses to targets that are mainly set below their 1990 levels. Annex II countries - developed countries which pay for costs of developing countries Annex II countries are a sub-group of the Annex I countries. They comprise the OECD members, excluding those that were economies in transition in Developing countries Developing countries are not required to reduce emission levels unless developed countries supply enough funding and technology. 8

9 Setting no immediate restrictions under UNFCCC serves three purposes: 1. It avoids restrictions on their development, because emissions are strongly linked to industrial capacity. 2. They can sell emissions credits to nations whose operators have difficulty meeting their emissions targets. 3. They get money and technologies for low-carbon investments from Annex II countries. Developing countries may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed. Get in Touch with us on Facebook on 9

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