Environmental issues have no borders and often impact the entire planet. Therefore, it is vital for states to work together to address the various environmental challenges. One way that states can work together is by establishing international agreements to protect and improve the environment.
A multi-state environmental action plan is essential and can have a much bigger impact than the actions of a single state. The same idea applies to citizen actions: one citizen composting has a small impact, but if many citizens do it, especially if they produce a lot of food waste, the benefits are multiplied. If the most polluting states join international agreements, this increases the impact on the environment.
Several international conferences have led to different environmental agreements and conventions. The 4 international conventions shown below are important for environmental management.
|
Name of the convention |
Year |
Place |
Signatory countries |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer |
1985 |
Vienna (Austria) |
198 |
|
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
1992 |
New York (United States) |
197 |
|
Convention on Biological Diversity |
1993 |
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) |
196 |
|
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification |
1994 |
Paris (France) |
197 |
Political language can be difficult to understand, especially when it comes to international politics. Words often seem abstract to us. The same is true for different states. Each state operates in its own way, so a common vocabulary had to be created to ensure that everyone understands what each international agreement entails. No state wants to sign an agreement that it does not understand. In 1969, the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties was written. This is the main reference document for establishing agreements. It defines everything there is to know, including the terms and the process for setting up an international agreement.
There are other agreements about the environment, including the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (UNCHE), the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and the Paris Accords (COP 21).
At the UN World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987, the concept of sustainable development was coined and developed. It became the world’s main focus and the guiding principle for other environmental agreements.
The principle of sustainable development involves developing society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It ensures that current economic development does not bring negative consequences for future generations. Economic development must take into account the protection of people and the environment.
At the 1992 Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development, the principles of precaution and equity became fundamental.
The precautionary principle means that where there is a serious or irreversible risk to the environment, lack of scientific certainty must not be a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
The equity principle means that environmental protection is a responsibility shared by all countries, but that not all countries have the same resources to dedicate to protecting the environment. Developed countries have a duty to take the lead in the fight to protect the environment.
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It was adopted under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
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Its goal was to reduce the production of substances that destroy the ozone layer.
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It was successful because it was ratified by all UN member states.
| What? |
The Montreal Protocol was adopted under the 1985 Vienna Convention. |
|---|---|
|
When? |
The agreement was signed on September 16, 1987. The Protocol came into effect on January 1, 1989. |
|
Where? |
It was signed in Montreal. |
|
Who? |
46 countries signed the agreement. By 2012, it had 198 signatories. |
|
Why? |
In 1985, scientists alerted the world to the fact that there was a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. The ozone layer is essential because it protects the Earth from the Sun’s harmful rays. The hole is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in air conditioners and refrigerators. |
|
How? |
Countries committed to reducing their production and use of CFCs, in an attempt to fully eliminate them. Several conferences were held after the 1987 conference where this protocol was signed. The purpose of these conferences was to determine and fine-tune the concrete actions to be taken by the different countries. |
Results of this protocol: the various actions, consultations and meetings between the countries were successful. This protocol is recognized as being the most effective international environmental agreement. Virtually all CFCs have now been eliminated from the planet.
Visit the following page to find out more: What working together to save the ozone layer tells us about climate action today
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It was adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
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Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) that cause climate change.
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It saw very limited success, with countries refusing to ratify it and some withdrawing.
|
What? |
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
|
When? |
The agreement was signed on December 11, 1997. It officially came into effect on February 16, 2005. What took so long? To formally come into effect, it had to be ratified by at least 55 countries that accounted for at least 55% of GHGs produced by all developed countries. |
|
Where? |
It was signed in Kyoto, Japan, but the negotiations took place in several locations over two years. |
|
Who? |
83 countries signed the agreement. 192 signatories. This protocol mainly targets 37 developed countries that are major producers of GHG. |
|
Why? |
Action to stop climate change was needed. The aim was to establish an international agreement in which countries would have to reduce their GHG emissions, which are the main cause of climate change. |
|
How? |
The signatory countries set themselves different GHG reduction targets with 2012 as the deadline. These targets were set in comparison with GHG emissions in 1990. |
This protocol is a good example of the limitations of international agreements.
The United States signed the agreement but ultimately refused to ratify it and never implemented it. By 2002, instead of reaching its target of a 7% decrease, its emissions increased by 13%.
Canada had ratified the agreement, but withdrew from the Protocol in 2011 under Stephen Harper’s conservative administration. Canada’s GHGs increased by 18.2% between 1990 and 2012.
GHG emissions have continued to rise since 2008, mainly due to emerging countries such as China and India.
To find out more, visit the following page: Kyoto Protocol, 10 years later: Did deal to combat greenhouse emissions work and what of its future?
A signatory country is a country that has signed an official document such as an agreement, convention or treaty.
Beaulieu, Isabelle and collabs. Mondes, 2010, pp. 8-11, 16-17, 28-33
Brodeur-Girard, Sébastien and collabs. Immédiat, 2009, pp. 58-65.
Ladouceur, Maude and collabs. Globe, 2014, pp. 52-54.