International Agreements and Efforts, Download UGC NET Study Notes PDF

The topic of “International Agreements and Initiatives” is an important area for the UGC NET exam. This theme highlights various treaties, agreements and initiatives taken by nations to tackle global challenges and promote international cooperation. Below are some notable international agreements and efforts.

UGC NET Study Notes for Paper 1

International agreements/efforts

International agreements and efforts refer to collaborative initiatives and treaties established between countries to address global issues and achieve common goals. These agreements and efforts often bring together multiple nations to address climate change, human rights, trade, security, and other challenges. Their goal is to promote cooperation, coordination and collective action at the global level. International agreements can take various forms, including treaties, conventions, protocols, and declarations, and they usually involve negotiation and consensus building between participating countries.

Montreal Protocol

• The Montreal Protocol is an international environmental treaty that was signed on 16 September 1987 in Montreal, Canada.
• The protocol was created in response to scientific evidence showing that ODS were depleting the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere by increasing the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth’s surface.

• Under the Montreal Protocol, participating countries agreed to phase out the production and consumption of ODS, starting with CFCs and halons by 2000, and later other ODSs.

What is the ozone layer and ozone layer depletion?

• ozone layer : The ozone layer is a thin layer of ozone gas in Earth’s stratosphere that plays a vital role in protecting life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.
• Depletion of ozone layer: Ozone layer depletion refers to the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere due to the release of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and other chemicals. ODS are released from human activities, such as refrigerants, aerosol sprays, and industrial processes.

Montreal Protocol succession

• The Montreal Protocol reduced ODS production and consumption, which helped protect the ozone layer.
• Phase-out chemicals like CFCs also reduce greenhouse gases, thereby aiding climate change.
• Recovery of the ozone layer reduced UV radiation, preventing skin cancer and other health problems.
• Ozone layer recovery protected ecosystems such as marine and terrestrial ecosystems from UV radiation damage.
• The Montreal Protocol has also promoted the development of new, safer and more efficient technologies that have created jobs and promoted economic growth.

Ultimately, the Montreal Protocol is widely considered one of the most successful international environmental agreements. The ozone layer is beginning to recover, and the protocol is credited with avoiding significant increases in UV radiation and related health and environmental problems.

rio summit

• The Rio Summit, also known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) or Earth Summit, was a major international conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 3 to 14 June 1992.
• The conference was organized by the United Nations (UN) and was attended by representatives from 172 countries as well as a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders.
• The Rio Summit was a significant event in the history of international environmental diplomacy, as it brought together world leaders to discuss a wide range of environmental and sustainable development issues, including climate change, biodiversity, deforestation and the impact of economic growth on the environment. Was brought together. ,

Rio summit results

The Earth Summit, also known as the Rio Summit 1992, produced a number of important documents including:

The Rio Summit adopted the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, The global effort to mitigate climate change and the responsibility of developed countries to support developing countries were recognised. The UNFCCC established a framework for future climate change negotiations and led the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol.

Convention on Biological Diversity

It is a multilateral treaty established by the United Nations whose objective is to promote the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. The CBD was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and came into force in December 1993.

CBD has three main purposes:

Key Features of CBD:

• CBD has been approved by 196 countries.
• India is also a party to the convention. India ratified it in 1994.
• The Biological Diversity Act of 2002 was enacted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.
• To implement the provisions of the Act, the government established the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in 2003. The NBA is a statutory body.
• This convention is legally binding on its signatories.
• The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body of the conference. This includes governments that have ratified the treaty.
• Its secretariat is in Montreal, Canada.
• Only two UN member states are not parties to the CBD, namely: the United States and the Vatican.
• At the 1992 Earth Summit, two historic binding agreements were signed, one of them being the UNCBD. The second was the Convention on Climate Change.
• More than 150 countries signed the document at the summit and since then, more than 175 countries have ratified the agreement.

Therefore, various international agreements have been signed by countries to promote environmental protection and safeguard the interests of the environment and its related aspects.

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