International Conventions & Frameworks — UPSC Environment Notes

Overview of the CBD

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a multi-lateral, legally binding treaty that covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.

Background: It was opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) in 1992 and entered into force in December 1993. It operates under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.

The Three Main Goals (Pillars)

The CBD is built on three core objectives:

1. Conservation: The preservation of biological diversity across the planet.

2. Sustainable Use: Using the components of biological diversity in a way that does not lead to its long-term decline.

3. Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing: Distributing the advantages arising out of the utilization of genetic resources fairly among all stakeholders.

Core Objectives and Implementation

Access and Technology: Providing appropriate access to genetic resources and ensuring the transfer of relevant technologies to developing nations.

Funding: Providing financial resources to help developing countries meet their conservation obligations.

National Implementation: The primary tool for national-level implementation is the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) . India implements this through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 .

Membership Status

Current Members: 196 countries (Parties) have ratified the CBD, including India.

Global Exception: The United States of America (USA) has signed but not ratified the Convention, making it the only UN member state that is not a party to the treaty.

1. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

This protocol addresses the potential risks posed by modern biotechnology and genetically modified organisms.

Background: Adopted on January 29, 2000, and entered into force on September 11, 2003. Ratified by 171 countries (as of 2021).

Core Aim: To ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs).

Key Features:

- Establishes a framework for the risk assessment and management of LMOs.

- Regulates the import, export, and transit of LMOs; requiring exporters to provide detailed information about the LMOs they intend to export.

- Establishes the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH): An online mechanism for countries to exchange information and cooperate on biosafety issues.

2. The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)

This protocol focuses heavily on the third objective of the CBD: preventing 'biopiracy' and protecting indigenous knowledge.

Background: Adopted on October 29, 2010, in Nagoya, Japan.

Core Aim: The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.

Key Features:

- Sovereignty: Explicitly recognizes the sovereignty of countries over their own genetic resources.

- Prior Informed Consent (PIC): Access to genetic resources is granted only with the prior informed consent of the provider country.

- Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT): Requires established terms for the use of resources and how the resulting benefits will be shared.

- Establishes a compliance mechanism to ensure parties meet their agreement obligations.

3. Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The Aichi Targets were a set of 20 specific actions adopted under the 'Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020'.

Background: Adopted during the 2010 CBD summit in Nagoya, located in Japan’s Aichi prefecture.

Purpose: A ten-year framework for action by all countries and stakeholders to save biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people.

1. Failure of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2011-2020)

According to the Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 (GBO-5) report published by the UN in 2020, the Aichi targets were a massive global failure.

Status: None of the 20 global targets were fully achieved. Only six were partially achieved, while 13 showed no progress at all.

Major Reasons for Failure:

- Lack of clearly defined metrics to gauge exact progress.

- Absence of a robust monitoring, planning, reporting, and review framework.

- Severe lack of financing to help developing nations meet the goals.

2. COP 15 of the UN CBD

The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in two phases:

Locations: Phase I in Kunming, China (Oct 2021) and Phase II in Montreal, Canada (Dec 2022).

Theme: "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth".

Primary Objective: To adopt a new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to replace the expired Aichi targets.

3. Major Outcomes of COP 15

Adoption of the Kunming-Montreal GBF:

- Structure: Features 4 long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented targets for 2030.

- The 30×30 Pledge: The cornerstone target to conserve 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

- Legal Status: The framework is non-legally binding.

High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People: An intergovernmental group of >100 countries co-chaired by Costa Rica, France, and the UK (Ocean co-chair), pushing the central goal of the 30x30 pledge.

Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBF Fund): The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was requested to establish a "Special Trust Fund" (2023-2030) dedicated to supporting GBF implementation.

Multilateral Fund on Digital Sequence Information (DSI): Established for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of digitized genetic data.

Gender Plan of Action: Adopted to ensure gender-responsive implementation of the framework.

Monitoring and Reporting: National action plans will be reviewed similarly to greenhouse gas emissions tracking under UN climate change efforts.

What is CITES?

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its primary aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Background: Drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of IUCN members. It formally entered into force in 1975.

Membership: It currently has 184 Parties, including India.

Nature of the Treaty: CITES is legally binding on the Parties. However, it does not take the place of national laws; rather, it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure CITES is implemented at the national level.

The CITES Listing (Appendices)

CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Species are classified into three Appendices:

Appendix I (Maximum Protection)

Lists species that are the most endangered and threatened with extinction.

Trade Rules: CITES strictly prohibits international commercial trade in these species. Trade is permitted only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., for non-commercial scientific research) and requires both import and export permits.

Appendix II (Regulated Trade)

Lists species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction right now, but may become so if trade is not strictly controlled.

Look-Alike Species: It also includes species whose specimens in trade look identical to those species listed for conservation reasons, to prevent illegal smuggling via misidentification.

Trade Rules: International trade is allowed but heavily regulated, requiring an export permit.

Appendix III (Country-Specific Request)

Lists species that are included at the request of a specific Party (country) that already regulates trade in that species and needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent illegal exploitation.

Trade Rules: International trade is allowed only upon presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates of origin.

1. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)

Also widely known as the Bonn Convention , the CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.

Background: Signed in 1979 under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Membership: It includes 130 States (including India) and the European Union.

Unique Mandate: CMS is the *onlyglobal organization established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species throughout their entire range (across different national borders).

CMS Appendices

CMS classifies species into two categories based on their conservation needs:

Appendix I (Threatened): Includes migratory species that are threatened with extinction. Strict protection is mandated.

Appendix II (International Cooperation): Includes migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation.

India and the CMS

India has been a committed party to the CMS since 1983 .

Specific MoUs: India has signed specialized Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) under the CMS framework to protect specific species:

1. Siberian Cranes

2. Marine Turtles

3. Dugongs (Sea Cows)

4. Raptors (Birds of Prey)

Flyway Action Plan: India has also signed the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan to protect the critical migratory routes of birds passing through the subcontinent.

2. The Stockholm Conference (1972)

Formally known as the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, this was the UN's first major conference on international environmental issues .

Theme: *'Only One Earth'(1972).

Participation: 122 countries adopted the historic Stockholm Declaration .

Key Outcomes and Legacy

Do No Harm: Established the principle that countries must ensure their activities do not cause environmental damage to other nations.

Birth of UNEP: Led to the immediate establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) .

The Genesis of Global Treaties: The Stockholm Conference is considered the catalyst for modern environmentalism. Most major conventions addressing planetary crises—such as the UNFCCC (Climate Change), UNCCD (Desertification), and CBD (Biodiversity)—trace their philosophical origins back to the Stockholm Declaration.

1. Overview of the UNFCCC

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) sets out the basic legal framework and principles for international cooperation to combat climate change.

Background: Introduced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), widely known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Membership: The Convention has near-universal membership, ratified by 197 states, including India.

Primary Objective: The stabilization of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.

2. Key Features and Principles

CBDR Principle: The core philosophy of the UNFCCC is Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). It acknowledges that while climate change is a common global problem, different states have different historical responsibilities for GHG emissions and different financial/technical capabilities to address it.

Conference of Parties (COP): The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC. The annual UN climate change conferences are the official meetings of the COP where global climate policies are negotiated.

3. Classification of Parties (Countries)

To implement the CBDR principle, the Convention divides countries into three main operational groups based on their differing commitments and economic status in 1992:

Annex I Parties: Includes industrialized countries that were members of the OECD in 1992, plus countries with Economies in Transition (EIT Parties, such as the Russian Federation, Baltic States, and Central/Eastern European States).

Annex II Parties: A sub-group of Annex I. It consists only of the OECD members (excluding the EIT Parties). They hold the specific mandatory burden to provide financial and technological support to developing countries.

Non-Annex I Parties: Mostly developing countries. Vulnerable groups (like low-lying coastal areas or drought-prone nations) and 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are given special consideration due to their limited capacity to adapt to climate impacts.

1. The Kyoto Protocol (COP-3, 1997)

Background: Adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, but entered into force much later in 2005.

Membership: There are 192 Parties to the Protocol.

Key Feature: It operationalizes the UNFCCC by committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on agreed individual targets.

CBDR Principle: It only binds developed countries. It places a heavier burden on them under the principle of "Common But Differentiated Responsibility" (CBDR), acknowledging their historical contribution to global emissions.

2. Market-Based Mechanisms

To help developed nations meet their emission targets cost-effectively, the Protocol established three flexible mechanisms:

A. International Emissions Trading (IET)

Concept: A system allowing countries that have spare emission units (emissions permitted but not "used") to sell them to countries that are over their targets. It creates a market for "permits to emit".

Example: The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which is the world's largest carbon market.

B. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Concept: Allows developed countries (Annex B Parties with binding targets) to invest in emission-reducing projects in developing countries.

Benefits:

- For Developed Nations: They earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which count towards their own Kyoto targets.

- For Developing Nations: They receive foreign investment, sustainable development benefits, and technology transfer.

Examples: Building wind farms, solar power plants, or energy-efficient industrial projects in developing nations.

C. Joint Implementation (JI)

Concept: Similar to the CDM, but the host country is another developed country (Annex I country) rather than a developing one.

Tradable Unit: The carbon credits generated from JI projects are called Emissions Reductions Units (ERUs).

1. Pre-Paris Milestones (2007 - 2010)

COP-13, Bali (2007): Adopted the Bali Action Plan. Countries recognized the need for "deep cuts" in emissions and adopted the Adaptation Fund.

COP-15, Copenhagen (2009): Resulted in the Copenhagen Accord (drafted by the USA and BASIC countries). It declared global warming should be limited to 2°C but was critically voluntary and not legally binding.

COP-16, Cancún (2010): Established two major pillars of climate finance and tech: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Technology Mechanism. Recognized that Annex A parties must reduce emissions by 25-40% by 2020.

2. COP-21, Paris (2015): The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. Negotiations began at COP-17 in Durban (Durban Platform). It was adopted in 2015 and entered into force in 2016.

Long-Term Goals

1. Hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2°C.

2. Pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

3. Achieve net zero emissions in the second half of this century.

3. Key Pillars of the Paris Agreement

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Mandatory climate action plans submitted by countries. They must be updated and submitted every 5 years.

Long-Term Strategies (LT-LEDS): Voluntary strategies providing a long-term vision (e.g., up to 2050) to contextualize the NDCs.

Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF): A single, universal process starting in 2024 for countries to transparently report their climate actions and support. The rules (MPGs) were finalized at COP-24 in Katowice (2018).

The Global Stocktake (GST): A periodic assessment of collective global progress towards Paris goals. It occurs every 5 years (the first was in 2023). The outcome informs countries to enhance their future NDCs.

4. Carbon Neutral vs. Net Zero

Carbon Neutral: Balancing emitted carbon with absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.

Net Zero Carbon Emission: Ensuring an activity releases net-zero carbon overall. All global GHG emissions must be counterbalanced by carbon sequestration. Note: India pledged at COP-26 to achieve Net Zero by 2070.

1. COP-26, Glasgow (2021)

Glasgow Climate Pact: Aims to restrict harmful emissions to keep the 1.5°C global warming limit alive.

Global Methane Pledge: Aimed at limiting methane emissions by 30% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.

Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA): Led by Costa Rica and Denmark to end new licensing rounds for oil/gas exploration.

Solar Investment Action Agenda: Launched by WRI, ISA, and Bloomberg to mobilize 1 trillion in solar investment by 2030.

2. India's 'Panchamrit' at COP-26

India presented five nectar elements (Panchamrit) as its enhanced climate action plan:

1. Reach 500 GW Non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.

2. Meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.

3. Reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030.

4. Reduce the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% by 2030 (over 2005 levels).

5. Achieve the target of Net Zero emissions by 2070.

3. COP-27, Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)

Loss and Damage Fund: A historic fund to compensate vulnerable countries for irreversible climate impacts that cannot be mitigated or adapted to.

Sharm el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda: 30 goals to build resilience for 4 billion vulnerable people by 2030, mobilizing 140B-300B annually.

Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC): Spearheaded by UAE and Indonesia to accelerate mangrove conservation. Members include India, UAE, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

Global Shield Fund: A joint initiative of the G7 and the V20 Group (20 vulnerable countries) for rapid disaster insurance funding.

Methane Alert and Response System (MARS): A satellite-based system under UNEP’s IMEO strategy to detect and tackle methane emissions.

Early Warnings for All: A 3.1 billion UN/WMO plan to protect everyone on Earth with early warning systems within 5 years.

AWARe (Action on Water Adaptation or Resilience): An Africa-first initiative establishing pan-African water hubs for drought-ravaged regions.

4. India-led / Collaborative Initiatives at COP-27

"In our LiFEtime" Campaign: Launched by the National Museum of Natural History (MoEFCC) and UNDP to encourage youth (18-23 years) to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

25-Point Action Plan: Launched by countries representing over 50% of global GDP (including India) to decarbonize 5 key sectors by COP-28: power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture.

> Did You Know? > Palli , a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, became India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat .

What is Climate Finance?

It refers to local, national, or transnational financing drawn from public, private, and alternative sources of funding, aiming to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The GEF is a unique partnership of 18 agencies, including UN agencies, multilateral development banks, and national entities, designed to address the world's most challenging environmental issues.

Background: Established in 1991 as a pilot program within the World Bank. In 1994, it was restructured and moved out of the World Bank system to become a permanent, separate institution.

Governance: Governed by a council made up of representatives from contributing countries and organizations.

Six Focus Areas: Biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and ozone depletion.

Financial Mechanism for 5 Major Conventions

The GEF serves as the official financial mechanism for five critical international environmental conventions:

1. Minamata Convention on Mercury

2. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

3. United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

4. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

5. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Funds Administered by the GEF

1. GEF Trust Fund (Est. 1991): Supports projects across six focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and sustainable forest management.

2. Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) (Est. 2001): The 2022-2026 strategy focuses on the adaptation needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and strengthening technology transfer. It supported the launch of CRAFT (Climate Resilience and Adaptation Technology Transfer Facility), the world's first private sector investment vehicle for climate resilience.

3. Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) (Est. 2001): Helps countries implement National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Both the LDCF and SCCF are mandated to serve the Paris Agreement.

1. Green Climate Fund (GCF)

The GCF is the flagship global fund established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its primary role is to support developing countries in their efforts to address climate change.

Establishment and HQ: Established in 2010; headquartered in Incheon, South Korea.

Funding Structure: It is funded by contributions from developed countries, as well as from various public and private sources.

Core Focus: It specifically allocates its resources to low-emission (mitigation) and climate-resilient (adaptation) projects and programmes in developing countries.

2. World Bank Administered Funds

The World Bank plays a major role in climate finance by managing several key mechanisms:

Climate Investment Funds (CIF): Established in 2008. It acts as a critical enabler of pioneering climate-smart planning and climate action in low and middle-income economies. It comprises two specific funds:

1. The Clean Technology Fund

2. The Strategic Climate Fund

Biocarbon Fund: Set up as a public-private sector initiative managed by the World Bank. It comprises over 20 projects divided into two categories: UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects and Verified Carbon Standard projects.

3. Other Major Financial Mechanisms

Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF): A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) designed to maximize the private finance leveraged through public funds. It is funded by the European Commission and managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Amazon Fund (Fundo Amazonia): A regional financial mechanism established by the Brazilian government in 2008. It aims to gather donations for non-reimbursable investments in efforts to prevent, monitor, and combat deforestation, as well as to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the Amazon rainforest.

Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA): Adopted by UN member states in July 2015 at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Ethiopia. It acts as the foundational global framework for financing sustainable development.

1. What is the IPCC?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change.

Establishment: Created in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Objective: To provide the world with a clear, scientific view on the current state of knowledge regarding climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.

Key Feature: The IPCC does not conduct its own original research nor does it monitor climate-related data. It relies on thousands of volunteer experts worldwide to assess published scientific papers.

2. Structure of the IPCC

The IPCC is divided into three main Working Groups (WG) and a Task Force:

WG I: The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change.

WG II: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.

WG III: Mitigation of Climate Change.

TFI: Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

3. IPCC Assessment Reports (AR)

IPCC Assessment Reports provide a comprehensive scientific, technical, and socio-economic assessment of climate change. Five reports were completed between 1990 and 2014. The IPCC is currently concluding its Sixth Assessment cycle (AR6).

An Assessment cycle includes Working Group Reports, Special Reports, Methodology Reports, and a final Synthesis Report.

Special Reports under AR6:

1. Global Warming of 1.5 degrees C (2018): Assesses pathways to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.

2. Climate Change and Land (2019): Focuses on desertification, land degradation, and sustainable land management.

3. Ocean and Cryosphere (2019): Highlights the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems and frozen regions.

4. Key Findings of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)

Surging Emissions: In 2019, global net anthropogenic GHG emissions reached 59 Gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e), which is 54 percent higher than in 1990.

Stark Carbon Inequality: The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) emitted only 3.3 percent of global emissions in 2019. Historically (1850-2019), LDCs contributed less than 0.4 percent of total CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry.

Household Inequality: The top 10 percent of households with the highest per capita emissions contribute a disproportionately massive share of global GHG emissions.

Failing the Paris Targets: The IPCC warns it is likely that global warming will exceed 1.5 degrees C in this century due to existing and planned fossil fuel infrastructure.

The C1 Pathway: To limit temperatures to 1.5 degrees C with limited or no 'overshoot', the world must reduce GHG emissions by 43 percent by 2030.

1. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The WMO is the specialized agency of the UN responsible for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.

Background: Established in 1950, it became a UN specialized agency in 1951. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

Membership: It comprises 187 states and 6 territories (Total 193).

Governance: The supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress, which is composed of all WMO Members and meets every four years to set policies and review programmes.

2. Key Functions of WMO

Coordination: It coordinates the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services across 193 States and Territories.

Early Warnings: Forecasts and provides early warnings on severe weather events like flooding, droughts, tropical cyclones, and tornadoes.

Specialized Predictions: Tracks and predicts the movement of locust swarms and the transport of pollutants (such as nuclear/toxic substances and volcanic ash).

Climate Tracking: Issues Annual, Five-Year, and Decadal Statements on the Status of the Global Climate.

3. Important Reports Published by WMO

State of Climate Services: Provides case studies and explanations on how climate information supports sectors like agriculture amid climate variability.

Greenhouse Gas Bulletin: An annual bulletin based on observations from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch Programme. It tracks changing levels of GHGs, serving as an early warning system for atmospheric climate drivers.

4. World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)

Background: An international research program established in 1980.

Aim: To promote collaboration and interdisciplinary research to improve our understanding of the Earth's climate system. It studies how the climate responds to natural and human-induced factors and provides vital scientific information for climate-related decision-making.

1. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

Background: Signed in 1985 and came into force in 1988.

Aim: To protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of human-induced modifications of the ozone layer.

Nature: It is a framework convention. It promotes research, cooperation, and global monitoring, but it is not legally binding and does not set specific targets to phase out Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

2. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

A landmark multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of nearly 100 man-made Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).

Background: Agreed upon in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

Membership: Ratified by 198 states (Universally ratified).

Nature of Commitments: Unlike the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol is legally binding, time-targeted, and measurable. Developing and developed countries have equal but differentiated responsibilities with separate timetables.

Administration: Assisted by the Ozone Secretariat based at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

3. Multilateral Fund (MLF)

Created in 1990 by the London Amendment, the MLF is a financial mechanism that helps developing countries meet the incremental costs of fulfilling their obligations under the Montreal Protocol.

4. Success and International Ozone Day

Scientific Proof: NASA and NOAA report that the Antarctic ozone hole is actively shrinking, demonstrating the treaty's success.

World Ozone Day: Celebrated on September 16 every year to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987.

1. India and the Montreal Protocol

India has been a committed partner in the global fight against ozone depletion.

Timeline: India became a party to the Vienna Convention in 1991 and the Montreal Protocol in 1992.

Institutional Setup: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) established an Ozone Cell to act as the National Ozone Unit (NOU). This cell provides the necessary services for the effective implementation of the Protocol.

Empowered Steering Committee (ESC): A dedicated body that oversees the implementation of the Montreal Protocol provisions, reviews policies, and monitors project execution.

2. ODS (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000

These rules form the legal backbone for controlling ozone-depleting substances in India.

Scope: Regulates the production, consumption, export, and import of ODSs.

Prohibitions: Prohibits the use of CFCs (except for Metered Dose Inhalers - MDIs and other medical purposes) and halons (except for essential servicing).

Mandatory Registration: It is compulsory for all ODS producers, manufacturers of ODS-based products, importers, exporters, stockists, and sellers to register themselves.

Amendments: The rules have been periodically updated to align with global phase-out schedules (amended in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2014, and 2019).

3. India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)

Launched in 2019, India is the first country in the world to develop a comprehensive national Cooling Action Plan.

Aim: To provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while securing environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Vision: It provides a 20-year perspective plan (up to 2037-38) and policy recommendations to address cooling requirements across various sectors (residential, commercial, transport, cold chain).