Sustainable Devlopment
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Sustainable Development
The United Nations officially adopted a new set of global goals on September 25, 2015 to
combat poverty, inequality and climate change over the next 15 years
The SDGs are a set of 17 goals and 169 targets aimed at resolving global social, economic
and environmental problems.
To be met over the next 15 years, beginning on Jan 1, 2016, the SDGs replace the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were adopted in 2000
Implementation of the new goals, requiring trillions of dollars in investment, will be
monitored and reviewed using a set of global indicators
Governments came up with the idea at the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development in
Brazil 2012. A working group with representatives of 70 nations drafted a proposed set of goals.
At the same time, the United Nations ran public consultations around the world and an online
survey asking people about their priorities for the goals.
Governments negotiated a final version of the SDGs that are due to be adopted by 193
countries at a Sept. 25-27, 2015 summit at the United Nations in New York.
The United Nations says the MDGs - a set of eight goals with 21 targets - led to achievements
including: -
More than halving the number of people living in extreme poverty, to 836 million in 2015
from 1.9 billion in 1990
Gender parity in primary schools in the majority of countries
Reducing the rate of children dying before their fifth birthday to 43 deaths per 1,000 live
births from 90
A fall of 45 percent in the maternal mortality ratio worldwide
Some 37 million lives saved by tuberculosis prevention and treatment, over 6.2 million
malaria deaths averted, and new HIV infection rates down by around 40 percent
Access to improved sanitation for 2.1 billion people
Official development assistance from developed countries up 66 percent in real terms to
$135.2 billion
Some 795 million people still go hungry and around 800 million people live in extreme
poverty, with fragile and conflict-torn states experiencing the highest poverty rates
Between 2008 and 2012, 144 million people were displaced from their homes by natural
disasters, a number predicted to rise as the planet warms, bringing more extreme weather and
rising seas
Water scarcity affects 40 percent of the global population and is projected to increase
Some 946 million people still practice open defecation
Gender inequality persists in spite of more representation for women in parliaments and more
girls going to school
57 million children still denied right to primary education
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities
for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,full and productive
employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster
innovation
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development
Facts:
Globally, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined by more than half
from 1.9 billion in 1990. However, 836 million people still live in extreme poverty. About
one in five persons in developing regions lives on less than $1.25 per day.
Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are home to the overwhelming majority of
people living in extreme poverty.
High poverty rates are often found in small, fragile and conflict-affected countries.
One in four children under age five in the world has inadequate height for his or her
age
Targets:
By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as
people living on less than $1.25 a day
By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all
ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all,
including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the
vulnerable
By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable,
have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services,
ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural
resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance
By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and
reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other
economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Facts:
Globally, the proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions has fallen
by almost half since 1990, from 23.3% in 1990-1992 to 12.9% in 2014-2016. However,
one in nine people in the world today (795 million) are still undernourished.
The vast majority of the world’s hungry people live in developing countries, where
12.9% of the population is undernourished
Asia is the continent with the hungriest people – two-thirds of the total. The
percentage in southern Asia has fallen in recent years, but in western Asia it has
increased slightly
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest prevalence (percentage of
population) of hunger. About one person in four there is undernourished
Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under five – 3.1 million
children each year
One in four of the world’s children suffer stunted growth. In developing countries the
proportion rises to one in three
66 million primary school-age children in developing countries attend classes hungry,
with 23 million in Africa alone
Agriculture is the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40% of
today’s global population. It is the largest source of income and jobs for poor rural
households.
500 million small farms worldwide, most still rain fed, provide up to 80% of food
consumed in a large part of the developing world. Investing in smallholder farmers is an
important way to increase food security and nutrition for the poorest, as well as food
production for local and global markets.
Targets:
By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and
people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient
food all year round
By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the
internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of
age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating
women and older persons
By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food
producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and
fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources
and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value
addition and non-farm employment
By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient
agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain
ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme
weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land
and soil quality
By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and
domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly
managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and
international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits
arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional
knowledge, as internationally agreed
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Facts:
Child Health :
17,000 fewer children die each day than in 1990, but more than six million children still
die before their fifth birthday each year
Since 2000, measles vaccines have averted nearly 15.6 million deaths
Despite global progress, an increasing proportion of child deaths are in sub-Saharan
Africa and Southern Asia. Four out of every five deaths of children under age five occur
in these regions
Maternal Health:
HIV/AIDS:
By 2014, there were 13.6 million people accessing antiretroviral therapy, an increase
from just 800,000 in 2003
New HIV infections in 2013 were estimated at 2.1 million, which was 38% lower than in
2001
At the end of 2013, there were an estimated 35 million people living with HIV
At the end of 2013, 240,000 children were newly infected with HIV
Targets:
By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live
births
By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with
all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000
live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births
By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical
diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable
diseases
By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases
through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug
abuse and harmful use of alcohol
By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health -care services,
including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of
reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to
quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and
affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous
chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities
for all
Facts:
Enrolment in primary education in developing countries has reached 91%, but 57
million children remain out of school
More than half of children who have not enrolled in school live in sub-Saharan Africa
Targets:
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary
and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood
development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary
education
By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality
technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant
skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and
entrepreneurship
By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all
levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with
disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and
women, achieve literacy and numeracy
By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote
sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable
development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of
a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural
diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Facts:
In Southern Asia, only 74 girls were enrolled in primary school for every 100 boys in 1990. By
2012, the enrolment ratios were the same for girls and for boys
In sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Western Asia, girls still face barriers to entering both primary
and secondary school
Women in Northern Africa hold less than one in five paid jobs in the non-agricultural sector
In 46 countries, women now hold more than 30% of seats in national parliament in atleast one
chamber
Targets:
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private
spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and fema le
genital mutilation
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public
services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared
responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for
leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as
agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference
on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome
documents of their review conferences
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Facts:
In 2015, 91% of the global population is using an improved drinking water source, compared to
76% in 1990. However, 2.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets
or latrines
Each day, an average of 5,000 children die due to preventable water and sanitation-related
diseases
Hydropower is the most important and widely used renewable source of energy and as of
2011, represented 16% of total electricity production worldwide.
Approximately 70% of all available water is used for irrigation
Floods account for 15% of all deaths related to natural disasters
Targets:
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking
water for all
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and
end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and
those in vulnerable situations
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and
minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of
untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure
sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including
through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Facts:
3 billion people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating
Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60% of total
global greenhouse gas emissions
Energy from renewable resources – wind, water, solar, biomass and geothermal energy – is
inexhaustible and clean. Renewable energy currently constitutes 15% of the global energy mix
1.3 billion people - one in five globally – still lack access to modern electricity
Targets:
By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy
mix
By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment and decent work for all
Facts:
Global unemployment increased from 170 million in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012, of which
about 75 million are young women and men
Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the US$2 poverty line and poverty eradication is only
possible through stable and well-paid jobs
470 million jobs are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and
2030.
Small and medium-sized enterprises that engage in industrial processing and manufacturing
are the most critical for the early stages of industrialization and are typically the largest job
creators. They make up over 90% of business worldwide and account for between 50-60% of
employment
Targets:
Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and,
in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the
least developed countries
Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification,
technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high -value
added and labour-intensive sectors
Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job
creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster
innovation
Facts:
About 2.6 billion people in the developing world are facing difficulties in accessing electricity full
time
2.5 billion people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation and almost 800 million people lack
access to water, many hundreds of millions of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
1 to 1.5 million people do not have access to reliable phone service
For many African countries, particularly the lower-income countries, infrastructure constraints
affect company productivity by around 40%
Manufacturing is an important employer, accounting for around 470 million jobs worldwide in
2009 – or around 16% of the world’s workforce of 2.9 billion. It is estimated that there were
more than half a billion jobs in manufacturing in 2013
Industrialization’s job multiplication effect has a positive impact on society. Every one job in
manufacturing creates 2.2 jobs in other sectors
In developing countries, barely 30% of agricultural production undergoes industrial
processing. In high-income countries, 98% is processed. This suggests that there are great
opportunities for developing countries in agribusiness
Targets:
Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional
and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well -
being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise
industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national
circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in
developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their
integration into value chains and markets
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable,
with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and
environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries
taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technol ogical capabilities of industrial
sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030,
encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and
development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and
development spending
On average – and taking into account population size – income inequality increased by 11% in
developing countries between 1990 and 2010
A significant majority of households in developing countries – more than 75% – are living today
in societies where income is more unequally distributed than it was in the 1990s
Children in the poorest 20% of the population are still up to three times more likely to die
before their fifth birthday than children in the richest quintiles
Social protection has been significantly extended globally, yet persons with disabilities are up to
five times more likely than average to incur catastrophic health expenditures
Despite overall declines in maternal mortality in the majority of developing countries, women in
rural areas are still up to three times more likely to die while giving birth than women living in
urban centres
Targets:
By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent
of the population at a rate higher than the national average
By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all,
irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or
other status
Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by
eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate
legislation, policies and action in this regard
Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and
progressively achieve greater equality
Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions
and strengthen the implementation of such regulations
Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-
making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver
more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions
Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people,
including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration
policies
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Facts:
Half of humanity – 3.5 billion people – lives in cities today. By 2030, almost 60% of the world’s
population will live in urban areas
828 million people live in slums today and the number keeps rising
The world’s cities occupy just 2% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60 – 80% of energy
consumption and 75% of carbon emissions. Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh
water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health. But the high density of cities
can bring efficiency gains and technological innovation while reducing resource and energy
consumption
Cities have the potential to either dissipate the distribution of energy or optimise their efficiency
by reducing energy consumption and adopting green – energy systems. For instance, Rizhao,
China has turned itself into a solar – powered city; in its central districts, 99% of households
already use solar water heaters.
Targets:
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic
services and upgrade slums
By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport
systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with
special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children,
persons with disabilities and older persons
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for
participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management
in all countries
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people
affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross
domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus
on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by
paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public
spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with
disabilities
If people worldwide switched to energy-efficient lightbulbs, the world would save US$120 billion
annually.
Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets
could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.
More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water.
1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year
Targets:
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and
Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the
lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and
reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all
wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international
frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to
minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction,
recycling and reuse
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt
sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting
cycle
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with
national policies and priorities
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness
for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Facts:
The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to
rise. They are now at their highest levels in history. Global emissions of carbon dioxide have
increased by almost 50% since 1990
The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased
to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. Carbon dioxide concentrations have
increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, primarily from fossil fuel emissions and
secondarily from net land use change emissions. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the
emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing ocean acidification.
Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any
preceding decade since 1850. In the Northern Hemisphere, 1983-2012 was likely the warmest
30-year period of the last 1,400 years.
From 1880 to 2012, average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. Without action, the
world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to
surpass 3 degrees Celsius this century – with some areas of the world, including in the tropics
and subtropics, expected to warm even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are
being affected the most
The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th century has been larger than the mean rate during
the previous two millennia. Over the period 1901 to 2010, global mean sea level rose by 0.19
[0.17 to 0.21] meters
From 1901 to 2010, the global average sea level rose by 19 cm as oceans expanded due to
warming and melted ice. The Arctic’s sea ice extent has shrunk in every successive decade since
1979, with 1.07 million km² of ice loss every decade
It is still possible, using an array of technological measures and changes in behaviour, to limit the
increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels
There are multiple mitigation pathways to achieve the substantial emissions reductions over the
next few decades necessary to limit, with a greater than 66% chance, the warming to 2ºC – the
goal set by governments. However, delaying additional mitigation to 2030 will substantially
increase the technological, economic, social and institutional challenges associated with limiting
the warming over the 21st century to below 2 ºC relative to pre-industrial levels
Targets:
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural
disasters in all countries
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on
climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly
$100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing
countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on
implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its
capitalization as soon as possible
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
Facts:
Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and
represent 99% of the living space on the planet by volume.
Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3
trillion per year or about 5% of global GDP
Globally, the levels of capture fisheries are near the ocean’s productive capacity, with catches
on the order of 80 million tons
Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions
Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of
global warming
Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, with more than 3 billion people
depending on the oceans as their primary source.
Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people
Subsidies for fishing are contributing to the rapid depletion of many fish species and are
preventing efforts to save and restore global fisheries and related jobs, causing ocean fisheries
to generate US$ 50 billion less per year
As much as 40% of world oceans are heavily affected by human activities, including pollution,
depleted fisheries, and loss of coastal habitats.
Targets:
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular
from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid
significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take
action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through
enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science -based
management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at
least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their
biological characteristics
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with
national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to
overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies,
recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for
developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World
Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing States and least
developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through
sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by
implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and
sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of “The
future we want”
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Facts:
Targets:
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and
inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands,
mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of
forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase
afforestation and reforestation globally
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land
affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land
degradation-neutral world
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their
biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential
for sustainable development
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt
the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened
species
Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of
genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as
internationally agreed
Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and
fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the
impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or
eradicate the priority species
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local
planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Facts:
The number of refugees of concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) stood at 13 million in mid-2014, up from a year earlier
Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost some US $1.26 trillion for developing countries
per year
The rate of children leaving primary school in conflict-affected countries reached 50% in 2011,
which amounts to 28.5 million children
Targets:
Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywh ere
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of
children
Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal
access to justice for all
By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the
recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision -making at all
levels
Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions
of global governance
By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in
accordance with national legislation and international agreements
Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development
Facts:
Finance
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support
to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue
collection
Developed countries to implement fully their official developmen t assistance
commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve
the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development
assistance (ODA/GNI) to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of
ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider
setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed
countries
Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple
sources
Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through
coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt
restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor
countries to reduce debt distress
Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries
Technology
Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international
cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance
knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved
coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level,
and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally
sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on
concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation
capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the
use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications
technology
Capacity-building
Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacit y-
building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the
Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and
triangular cooperation
Trade
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral
trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the
conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda
Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view
to doubling the least developed countries share of global exports by 2020
Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting
basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organization
decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to
imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to
facilitating market access
Systemic issues
Multi-stakeholder partnerships
Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by
multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise,
technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
Environmental Legislations
Environmental Segments
The earth and its environment may be divided into several segments, the names of
which end in sphere.
The spheres include the atmosphere, lithosphere (rocks), hydrosphere (water),
biosphere (living things), and magnetosphere (magnetic fields).
Atmosphere:
The Earth’s atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retained by
the Earth’s gravity.
It contains roughly (by molar content/volume) 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93%
argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases and a variable amount
(average around 1%) of water vapor. This mixture of gases is commonly known as air.
The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultra violet solar radiation and
reducing temperature extremes between day and night.
o Troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth’s
atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.
o Many jet aircraft’s fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the
ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the sun.
o Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere.
o Thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits.
o The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This is the
upper limit of our atmosphere.
Lithosphere:
The Earth is not a perfect sphere. It is flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator.
By tracking the orbit of satellites, it is possible to determine accurately the shape of the
Earth.
The shape of the Earth is called the Geoid.
Concentrations of earthquakes outline several large segments of the lithosphere called
plates.
The lithosphere plates ‘float’ on the asthenosphere and move about the Earth’s
surface. Some plates carry whole continents with them. The theory that describes these
plates and their movement is called plate tectonics.
At the mid-ocean ridges, new rock is produced by volcanism and the plates move away
from each other. Where two plates approach each other, one is thrust downward into
the mantle where it is heated and melted.
Two hundred million years ago all the Earth’s continents formed a single land mass
called Pangaea. The continents began to drift apart about 150 million years ago.
Today, the drifting continues. For example, every year North America moves 2-3
centimeters (about 1 inch) farther from Europe.
Hydrosphere:
Earth is the only planet in our solar system on which liquid water is present.
More than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.
In addition to the oceans, the hydrosphere consists of water in lakes and streams,
subsurface water, the ice of glaciers and water vapor in the atmosphere.
About 13% of the Earth’s sea space surface is covered by ice, the amount of ice and its
distribution in the Polar Regions influence how much energy the Earth absorbs from the
Sun. This in the turn has an effect on Earth’s climate.
In temperate regions, most precipitation in winter is as snow.
In higher elevations, some snow may last through the summer months.
The melting of the snow may provide water for irrigation and hydroelectric power.
The water of the hydrosphere is in constant motion.
Water evaporates from both the land and seas.
The water vapor in the atmosphere condenses to form clouds and falls as rain or snow.
That which falls on land is carried, eventually, to the sea to begin the cycle. This is the
water cycle.
Magnetosphere:
The Earth’s magnetic field is like that produced by a large bar magnet. However, the
interior of the Earth is not permanently magnetized.
The magnetic field may be explained by the dynamo theory.
In this theory, the magnetic field is produced by rotation of Earth’s fluid metallic core.
Biosphere:
The biosphere is the part of Earth, including air, land, surface rocks and water, within
which life occurs, and which biotic processes in the turn alter or transform.
From the broadest bio physiological point of view, the biosphere is the global ecological
system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction
with the elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
This biosphere is postulated to have evolved, beginning through a process if biogenesis
or bio poesies, at least some 3. 5 billion years ago.
Environmentalism
Environmentalists all over the world raised many causes about the effect of modern
developments on bio-diversity. The complete extinction of Tasmanian tiger (a marsupial),
cheetah in India, Californian condor led the environmentalists & wild life conservationists to
work for the protection of wild life & their habitats.
In 1972, United States banned the agricultural use of DDT as it was proved harmful to ecology
& human health. After that many countries including India also banned DDT. Such effects of
wild life, human & raising environmental pollutions many pressure groups with international
recognition like Green peace, friends of Earth & PETA came into existence.
In India, the environmentalism took a new shape & developed as a major protest
against any project that hit environment, only after the Chipkoo movement. Chipkoo
movement had a tremendous influence & impact on other environmental movements not only
in India but also all over the world. The movement clearly demonstrated people’s participation
in environmentalism. The Chipkoo movement was started by a group of female peasants in
Uttaranchal region of India to protest the brutal killing of a girl “Amruta Devi”. The movement
began in Chancoli district of U.P. and spread throughout the Uttaranchal Himalayas by the end
of the decade. The movement not only was against the cutting of trees but also to reclaim the
traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system of state forest
department. The chipkoo activists hugged trees to prevent their cutting & even protested
limestone min.
Chipkoo movement was the ban on cutting the trees for 15 years in the forest of U.P. in 1980.
Later on the ban was also imposed in U.P., Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, Western Ghats &
Vindhyas.
The birth of UN in 1945 resulted in many formal organizations for the protection of
environment, wildlife and habitats. The environmental movements & protests against
environment degradation carried out mostly in the beginning by many non-formal
organizations could not yield good results as UN agencies like UNESCO, UNEP, FAO came into
force. The members of countries were advised to carry environmental protection mechanisms.
Hence all the important environmental legislations in all parts of the world came out in 1945. At
the global level, the setting up world conservation union i.e, IUCN and its active role in
identifying the endangered species led to their conservation.
The other import programmes, conferences & treaties are man and Biosphere
programmes by UNESCO, Stolkhom conference-1972, Earth summit-1992, Montreal protocol-
1987, key to protocol-1997, convention of Biological diversity-1993, etc. Even today, the
environmentalists are worried about the effects of the climate change on the environment & its
components. Today environmentalists want to identify regions with high bio-diversity as well as
threatened for conservation. A new mode of environmentalism that became popular in last
decade was the movement of bio-diversity hotspots. As of new, 34 bio-diversity hotspots
which are terrestrial habitats. Occupying just 2.3% of the land surface but host more than 60%
of the world’s bio-diversity.
Environmentalists who support bio-diversity hotspots want UN & other related organizations,
to support their cause & help in protecting these endemic rich regions of the world. GOI
enacted many environmental legislations after 1970 but only due to severe pressure at the
Domestic & International level some of the important legislation include
The GOI is also implementing various national & international treaties. The most important of
which include Montreal’s protocol, Ramsar convention, CITES [convention of international trade
in endangered species], Kyoto protocol & convention of biological bio-diversity.
GOI recently started NAPCC in June outlining existing and future policies and programs
addressing climate mitigation and adaptation
The Government of India passed this act in 1981 to clean up our air by controlling pollution.
The act states that source of air pollution such as vehicles, industries, power plants etc are not
permitted to release CO2, CO, particulate matter, SO2, Nitrogen oxide, volatile organic
compounds and toxic substances.
b. To provide for establishment of central & state boards with a new to implement the act
c. To confer on the boards the powers to implement the provisions of the act & assign to the
board functions relating to pollution
This act is implemented throughout the country and came into force on May 16, 1981. The act
consists of 7 chapters and 54 sections. The act was amended in 1987 and 1988.
Chapter 1: The first chapter mentions the extent and commencement of the act and also
discusses important definitions in first two sections. The important definitions are:
i) Air pollutant means any solid, liquid, gaseous substance including noise present in
atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human being or other
living creature or plants or property or environment.
ii) Approved appliances means any equipment or gadget used for the bringing of any
combustible material or for generating or consuming any few, gas of particulate matter and
approved by the state board for the purpose of this act.
iii) Automobile means any vehicle powered either by internal combustion engine or by any
method of generating power to drive such vehicle by burning fuel.
iv) Emission means any solid or liquid or gaseous substance coming out of any chimney or any
other outlet.
v) Occupier means in relation to any factory or premises means the person who has control
over the affairs of the factory or premises & includes in relation to any substance, the person in
the substance (in brief we can written this)
Chapter 2: Chapter 2 contains the information about constitution of central and state boards
for prevention of air pollution in 3 to 15 sections. These sections discuss the terms and
conditions of service of the members of the board, their disqualifications and meeting of the
board. There is association of members to the board for particular purpose.
Chapter 3: This chapter elaborately discusses the power and functions of the board between
16 to 18 sections. The functions of both central and state boards as well as their power to give
directions are included in chapter 3.
Chapter 4: Chapter 4 discusses provisions for prevention and control pollution from 19 to 31
sections. The power to declare air pollution control areas, to set standards for emissions, to
restrict certain industrial plants, to entry & inspect and obtain information without notice, to
take sample of emissions, prepare the reports etc are discussed in this chapter.
Chapter 5: Chapter 5 discusses funds, accounts and audit of state and central boards in 32 to
36 sections. The contributions made by the central government and state govts in their budget.
The funds of the boards, their accounts and annual reports are discussed here.
Chapter 6: Chapter 6 elaborately discusses penalties and procedures to punish any person or
industry whoever contravenes the act and is responsible for air pollution. This chapter has 37
to 46 sections. Any failures to comply with the provisions of the act results in penalties whoever
fails to intimate the occurrence of emission of acts in air pollution. The atmosphere in excess of
the standards or whoever gives false information & makes false statement shall be punishable
with imprisonment for form which may extend to 3 months or with fine or with both. Whoever
contravenes any provisions of the act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to 3 months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 10000 or with both and in case of
continuing contravention with an additional fine which may extend to Rs. 5000 for everyday
during which such contravention continues after conviction for the 1st such contravention.
Chapter 7: The chapter 7 discusses miscellaneous aspects in the sections 47 to 54. These
miscellaneous aspects include special provisions for the boards, dissolutions of the state
boards, maintenance of the register by the boards, containing particulars of the persons to
whom consent has been granted. This chapter also includes central powers of central and state
governments to make rules.
The Indian forest Act of 1972 consolidated all the previous laws regarding the forests
that were passed before 1920.
This act remained in force till 1980 when it was realized that protecting forests for
timber production alone was not acceptable, the other rules of protecting services that
the forests provide and their values assets such as biodiversity were also identified.
Hence a new act was essential and this led to the forest conservation Act of 1980 and its
amendment in 1988.
In 1992, the 73rd and 74th amendments of the constitutions furthered governance
through Panchayats. They allow the state to invest in Local Panchayats with the
authority to manage local forest resources. This act is discussed in five sections.
Section 1:
In this section, the title, extent and commencement were discussed. This act extends to
the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Section 2:
In this section, restrictions are discussed on the reservation of the forest or use of
forest land for non-forest purpose. Under this section, no state government or other authority
shall make except with the prior approval of the Central Govt any order directing,
b) That any forest land or any portion thereof may be used for any non-forest purpose
c) that any forest land or any portion thereof may be assigned by the way of lease or to any
private person or to any authority or corporation or any other organization not owned,
managed or controlled by govt.
d) That any forest land or any portion thereof may be cleared of trees which have grown
naturally in that land or portion for the purpose of using it for reforestation.
The non-forest activities include the cultivation of tea, coffee, spices, robber, palms,
horticultural crops or medicinal plants.
Section 3:
Under section 3, the central government may constitute advisory committees consisting
of members as it may deem fit to advice on any matter connected with conservation of forests
which may be referred to it.
Under section 3A, penalty for the contravention of the provisions of the act are mentioned.
Whoever contravenes any provisions of section 2 shall be punishable with simple imprisonment
for a period which may extend to 15 days.
Under section 3B, offences by the authorities and government depts. are discussed. Those who
are found to be guilty of the offence shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly.
Section 4:
In this section, the power of the central government to make rules by notification in the
official gazette is discussed.
Section 5:
In this section, the repeal of forest (conservation) Ordinance, 1980 has been
mentioned.
The Environment (protection) Act, 1986 not only has important constitutional implications but
also an international background. The spirit of the proclamation adopted by the United
Nations conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972 was implemented
by the government of India by creating this act. The main objective of this act is to provide the
protection and improvement of environment (which include water, air, land, human being,
other living things, plants, micro organisms and properties) and for matters connected there
with.
Chapter I: Chapter I is preliminary and is discussed in two sections. It extends to the whole
India. The important definitions are: environment, environmental pollution, handling &
occupier.
Chapter II: The powers of central government to make measures to protect and improve
environment, the appointment of the officers and their power and functions, the power to give
directions and the rules to regulate environmental pollution are discussed in 3 to 6 sections of
this chapter.
Chapter III: In this chapter, prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution was
elaborated between 7 & 17 sections. Persons carrying an industry are not allowed to discharge
pollutions in excess of the standards. No person shall handle any hazardous substance except in
accordance with the safeguards prescribed by the act. Any person empowered by the central
government has the powers of entry and inspection of any industry handling any hazardous
substances.
9th section deals with the right of entry, inspection of officers of state, central boards of any
industry or municipality without any notice especially to check meters.
10th & 11th sections deal about levy of interest on cess if not paid within the prescribed time.
12th section deals with recovery of cess & penalties if cess is not paid within the prescribed time
13th section provides a chance for the aggrieved to appeal against the penalties imposed
14th section elaborately discusses the penalties (that includes 6 months imprisonment or Rs.
1000 fine or both)
15th section deals about action on management of polluting industries, 16 th section deals with
amendments and 17th section deals with a provision of making new rules from time to time.
An act to provide for the prevention & control of water pollution came into force on
March 23, 1974.
The main objective of this act is to maintain & restore the wholesomeness of water &
water bodies.
This act has 8 chapters & 64 sections.
The 1st chapter discusses the preliminary issues in 1 & 2 sections. The title application &
commencement of the act is discussed in section-I & this act applies to all the states &
UTs of the country including Jammu & Kashmir.
Section-II elaborates important definitions like board, occupies, outlet, pollution,
sewage, effluent, trade including any big effluent.
Chapter-2 has sections from 3-12 in which the constitution of central & state boards,
terms & conditions of service of the members, their disqualification, constitution of
committers & temporary association of the other persons with the board are discussed.
Chapter-3 consists of 13-15 sections in which joint boards are (elaborately) discussed. A
joint board can be constituted in the pursuance of an agreement entered into by the
central & the central govt or any of its officer shall have the power to take samples of
air, water, soil & other substances from the factory for the purpose of analysis. The
central govt may also make rules by notification in the official Gazette. Any person
whoever fails to comply with the provisions of the act shall be punishable with an
imprisonment for a form which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend
to Rs. 100000 or with both. In the case of failure or if the committer continues,
additional fine of Rs. 5000/- everyday during which the contraction continuous, will be
in posed.
Chapter 4: In this chapter, miscellaneous topics are mentioned and elaborated between
18 & 26 sections. No suit prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall be initiated
against govt or its employee with respect of anything which is done in good faith in the
pursuance of this act civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or
proceedings in respect of anything done or action taken or any direction issued by the
central govt under this act.
This is an act to provide for the levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by
persons carrying on certain industries and by local authorities with a new to augment
the resources of the central and state boards for the prevention and control of water
pollution constituted under water(prevention and control of pollution)Act, 1974.
This act includes 17 sections.
Section 1 discusses the title, extent and commencement of the act. It extends to the whole of
India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the Section 2, important definitions like local authority, specified industry, board are
mentioned. Any word or expression used but not defined in this act and defined in water
(prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in that act.
The 3rd section deals with levy and collection of cess. The cess shall be payable by every person,
carried on by any special industry and every local authority and shall be calculated on the basis
of the water consumed for any of the purpose.
The 4th section discusses affixation of meters. Meters should be affixed to measure the quantity
of water consumed. Whoever fails to affix any meter will be given a notice. Even if after notice
the meter is not fixed then the authorities shall fix the meter and the cost of such meter
together with the cost of affixing meter shall be recovered.
The 5th section deals with furnishing of returns. Every industry or local authority liable to pay
the cess shall furnish return at regular intervals regarding the use of water and cess paid.
The 6th and 7th sections discuss assessment of cess and rebate provisions. The officer to whom
a return has been furnished should make an enquiry and assess the amount of cess payable by
the party. The local authority or any industry if deals install any waste treatment plants shall be
entitled to the rebate of 25% of the cess.
Under the section 8, the crediting of the proceeds of the cess to the consolidated fund of India
has been discussed.
Chapter-4 has 16-18 sections. In these sections, the function of central & state boards
are discussed. The main function of the boards is to control water pollution & to promote
cleanliness of water bodies like streams & wells.
Chapter-5 includes 19-35 sections. In this the provisions for the prevention & control of
water pollution are discussed. The power of the board to take samples of effluents & power to
entry & inspect & making restrictions on new outlets & new discharges, the power of the state
boards to carry out certain works & emergency provisions in the case of stream or well are
elaborately discussed.
In chapter-6 the contributions by central government to the central board & the
contributions by the state government to the state board, the funds allocated in the budget,
annual reports of the central & state Government’s are discussed in sections 34-40.
It is now the nodal agency for planning, promoting and coordinating environmental and forest
programmes. Its main activities include:
These tasks are sought to be fulfilled through environmental impact assessment, eco-
regeneration, assistance to organisations implementing environmental and forestry
programmes, promoting research, extension training in these fields to augment the requisite
manpower, dissemination of information on environmental matters, creation of environmental
awareness among all sectors of the population, and cooperation at an international level.
The earliest laws regarding control of air pollution were the Bengal Smoke Nuisance Act
of 1905 and the Bombay Smoke Nuisance Act of 1912.
In 1912, Wild Birds and Animal Protection Act were enacted.
The River Boards Act of 1956 provided for regulation and development of inter-state
rivers.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 was enacted to deal with
water pollution.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 was enacted to provide
for the levy and collection of cess on water consumed by specified industries and local
authorities to augment the resources of the Central and State Pollution Control Boards.
In 1994, the Environment Clearance Notification came into effect. It was revised later in
2006 providing for comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process and
clearance process for 39 develop-ment activities in eight categories
The Paryavaran Vahini scheme was launched by the Ministry during 1992-93 to create
environmental awareness and to encourage involvement of people through active
participation as well as to report illegal acts pertaining to forests, wildlife, pollution and
environmental degradation. One Paryavaran Vahini is constituted for each district
especially identified for this purpose. The selection of the districts is made on the basis
of high incidence of pollution, density of tribal population and forest cover.
The National Environment Policy builds on the existing policies (e.g. National Forest
Policy, 1988; National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and
Development, 1992; and the Policy Statement on Abatement of Pollution,1992; National
Agriculture Policy, 2000; National Population Policy, 2000; National Water Policy, 2002
etc).
It is intended to be a guide to action in regulatory reform; programmes and projects for
environmental conservation; review and enactment of legislations by Central, State and
Local Government.
Article-48-A of the constitution provides - "The state shall endeavor to protect, and
improve the environment and to safeguard forest and wildlife of the country."
Article 51-A (g) provides – “It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect and
improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have
compassion for living creatures,"
Thus our constitution includes environmental protection and conservation as one of our
fundamental duties.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests oversees the implementation of policies and
programmes on conservation of the country’s natural heritage – water resources,
biodiversity, welfare of animals – as well as policies on reduction of pollution
Ministry of Environment and Forests is the nodal agency in the country for UNEP and
other international environmental programmes
Established in 1890
Headquarters : Kolkata
It surveys and identifies the plant resources in the country
It has 9 circles located in different phyto-geographical regions of the country
It undertakes exploration tours over the entire country and publishes the results
Established in 1916
Headquarters : Kolkata
It has 16 regional stations in different parts of the country
Its main function is to explore and survey the faunal biodiversity of the country
It is a subordinate organization of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of
India
HQ : Dehradun
It is an organization for forest resource assessment
4 regional offices @ Shimla, Kolkata, Nagpur and Bangalore
Its main activities are assessment of forest cover of the country by interpretation of
remote sensing satellite data, and forest cover maps are drawn
Statutory body
It is constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act
It regulates the functioning of the zoos but its role is more of a facilitator than a
regulator.
Main objective - To complement the national effort in conservation of wild life.
Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from the CZA for its operation.
The Authority evaluates the zoos with reference to the parameters prescribed under the
Rules and grants recognition accordingly.
10 islands Smith, Ross, Aves, Long and Little Andaman in Andaman and Nicobar, and
Minicoy, Bangaram, Suheli, Cherium and Tinnakara in Lakshadweep
IDA sees the impact of policies and programmes of Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep so that an integrated development of these islands can take place keeping
in view aspects of environmental protection
Environment Protection Act, 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of India. In the wake of
the Bhopal Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment Protection Act
of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution
Compared to previous laws on environment protection, this Act is a more effective and
bold measure to fight the problem of pollution
The genesis of Act is in Article 48A (Directive Principles of State Policy) and Article
51A(g) (Fundamental Duties) of the Indian Constitution
It has 26 Sections and it has been divided into 4 chapters relating to
1) Preliminary
2) General Powers of the Central Government
3) Prevention, Control, and Abatement of Environmental Pollution
4) Miscellaneous
The Act empowers the Central Government to take all appropriate measures to –
The Central Government or any other person duly authorized is empowered to collect
the samples of air, water, soil or other substances as evidence of the offences under the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
It prescribes a special procedure for handling hazardous substances.
If a Government Department offend this act, the Act holds the Head of the Department
as guilty of the offence unless the head of the Department proves that the offence was
committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the
commission of such offence
It empowers and authorizes the Central Government to issue directions for the
operation or process, prohibition, closure, or regulation of any industry. For this purpose
government is also authorized to stop, regulate the supply of electricity or water or any
other service directly without obtaining the order of the Court in this regard
It grants immunity to the officers of the Government for any act done under the
provisions of this
The Central Government is also empowered to enter and inspect anyplace through any
person or through any agency authorized by Central Government
The Act debars the Civil Courts from having any jurisdiction to entertain any suit or
proceeding in respect of an action, direction, order issued by Central Government or
other statutory authority under this Act
This act will be superior over anything inconsistent contained in any enactment other
than this Act
Salient features:
The NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
NGT is also not bound by the rules of evidence as enshrined in the Indian Evidence Act,
1872.
It will be relatively easier for conservation groups to present facts and issues before the
NGT, including pointing out technical flaws in a project, or proposing alternatives that
could minimize environmental damage but which have not been considered.
While passing Orders, decisions, awards, the NGT will apply the principles of sustainable
development, the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principles. However, it
must be noted that if the NGT holds that a claim is false, it can impose costs including
lost benefits due to any interim injunction
Jurisdiction :
As per Section 14 (1) The National Green Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases where a
substantial question relating to environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating
to environment), is involved and such question arises out of the implementation of the
enactments specified in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. The acts listed in
Schedule 1 are:
The Tribunal shall hear the disputes arising from the questions referred to in sub- section (I) and
settle such disputes and pass orders thereon.
As per Section 15 (1) of the Act, the Tribunal may, by an order, provide -
(a) relief and compensation to the victims of pollution and other environmental damage arising
under the enactments specified in the Schedule 1 (including accident occurring while handling
any hazardous substance);
(c) for restitution of the environment for such area or areas, as the Tribunal may think fit.
The NGT was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, passed
by the Central Government.
The stated objective of the Central Government was to provide a specialized forum for
effective and speedy disposal of cases pertaining to environment protection,
conservation of forests and for seeking compensation for damages caused to people or
property due to violation of environmental laws or conditions specified while granting
permissions.
It draws inspiration from Article 21 of Constitution of India, which assures the citizens
of India the right to a healthy environment
In October 2010, India became the 3rd nation in the world after Australia and New
Zealand to have special courts for environmental issues
The tribunal has 20 members – 10 from the Judiciary and 10 who are experts in the field
of environmental and related sciences
This is the first body of its kind that is required by its parent statute to apply the
‘polluter pays’ principle and the principle of sustainable development
Appeals against the Tribunal can be moved in the Supreme Court
Structure :
The Principal Bench of the NGT has been established in the National Capital – New
Delhi, with regional benches in :
1) Pune (Western Zone Bench),
2) Bhopal (Central Zone Bench),
3) Chennai (Southern Bench) and
4) Kolkata (Eastern Bench)
Each Bench has a specified geographical jurisdiction covering several States in a region.
There is also a mechanism for circuit benches.
The Chairperson of the NGT is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, Head Quartered
in Delhi. Other Judicial members are retired Judges of High Courts.
Each bench of the NGT will comprise of at least one Judicial Member and one Expert
Member.
Expert members should have a professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years
experience in the field of environment/forest conservation and related subjects.
The NGT has not been vested with powers to hear any matter relating to the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972, the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and various laws enacted by States
relating to forests, tree preservation etc. Therefore, specific and substantial issues
related to these laws cannot be raised before the NGT.
It was born out of India's attempt to realize the objectives enshrined in the UN
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992
CBD recognizes the sovereign rights of states to use their own Biological Resources
The Act provide for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its
components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of
biological resources.
Objectives:
The Act envisages a three-tier structure to regulate access to the biological resources,
comprising of -
Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dweller (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,2006
It provides for the restitution of deprived forest rights across India, including both
individual rights to cultivated land in forestland and community rights over common
property resources.
It integrates conservation and livelihood rights of the people.
Salient features
Gramsabha will be the competent authority for initiating the process of determining the
nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both that may be given to
the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
Objectives
Increasing the forest/tree cover in the country through massive afforestation and social
forestry programs
Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber
of the rural and tribal populations
Involvement of local communities in the protection, conservation and management of
forests through Joint Forest Management Programme
Conservation of Biological Diversity and Genetic Resources of the country through exsitu
and in-situ conservation measures
Significant contribution in maintenance of environment and ecological stability in the
country
The rules specify activities which are harmful to wetlands like industrialization,
construction, dumping of untreated waste and reclamation and prohibit these activities
in the wetlands
Other activities – like harvesting and dredging may be carried out only with prior
permission from the concerned authorities
The rules have classified the wetlands for better management and easier identification
Central Wetland Regulatory Authority – It had been set up to ensure proper
implementation of the Rules and perform all functions for management of wetlands in
India
Authority shall have a number of expert members apart from govt. representatives to
ensure that wetland conservation is carried out in the best possible manner
The Rules are a positive step towards conservation of wetlands in India. This will go a
long way in protecting our wetlands which are under severe threat
The National Action Plan hinges on the development and use of new technologies
The implementation of the Plan includes public private partnerships and civil society
action
The focus will be on promoting understanding of climate change, adaptation and
mitigation, energy efficiency and natural resource conservation
There are Eight National Missions which form the core of the National Action Plan
1) National Solar Mission
2) National Mission On Sustainable Habitat
3) National Water Mission (NWM)
4) National Mission For Sustaining The Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)
5) National Mission For A Green India
6) National Mission For Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
7) National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC)
8) National Bio-Energy Mission
The National Solar Mission is a major initiative to promote ecologically sustainable growth
while addressing India's energy security challenge.
Spanning the remaining period of the 11th Plan and first year of the 12th Plan (up to
2012-13) as Phase 1
Objectives:
To establish India as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for
its diffusion across the country as quickly as possible
To create an enabling policy framework for the deployment of 100,000 MW of solar
power by 2022
To create favorable conditions for solar manufacturing capability, particularly solar
thermal for indigenous production and market leadership
NMEEE seeks to strengthen the market for energy efficiency by creating conducive
regulatory and policy regime.
NMEEE has been envisaged to foster innovative and sustainable business models to the
energy efficiency sector.
The NMEEE seeks to create and sustain markets for energy efficiency in the entire
country which will benefit the country and the consumers
Developing a framework for optimum water use through increase in water use
efficiency by 20% through regulatory mechanisms with differential entitlements and
pricing, taking the National Water Policy (NWP) into consideration.
Ensuring that a considerable share of water needs of urban areas is met through
recycling of waste water
Meeting water requirements of coastal cities through the adoption of new and
appropriate technologies such as low-temperature desalination technologies allowing
use of ocean water
Revisiting NWP to ensure basin-level management strategies to deal with variability in
rainfall and river flows due to climate change
Developing new regulatory structures to optimize efficiency of existing irrigation
systems
Primary objectives:
Develop a sustainable National capacity to continuously assess the health status of the
Himalayan Ecosystem
Assist States in the Indian Himalayan Region with their implementation of actions
selected for sustainable development
Mission Objectives
Uses:
It has multi-purpose medicinal and nutritional properties, and also helps in soil
conservation and nitrogen fixation
Hardy, drought-resistant and tolerant to extreme temperatures from – 43º C to + 40º C,
the plant has an extensive root system which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it
ideal for controlling soil erosion and preventing desertification
The initiative is a part of Sub-Mission on Cold Desert Ecosystems under the Green India
Mission — which is a part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change
Mission Objectives
This act has been adopted by all the states except that of Jammu and Kashmir which
has a similar law enacted for the purpose of wildlife protection. The operation of the Act
is mandatory in the Union Territories too
It provides the basic framework to ensure the protection and management of wildlife.
It was amended in 1982, 1986, 1991 and 1993 to accommodate provision for its
effective implementation
Out of the six schedules, Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute
protection and offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.
The penalties for Schedule III and Schedule IV are less and these animals are
protected.
Schedule V includes the animals which may be hunted. These are Common crow, Fruit
bats, Mice & Rats only.
Schedule VI contains the plants, which are prohibited from cultivation and planting.
Declaration of Sanctuary, National Park and Game Reserves come under this act
An Advisory Committee constituted under the Act advises the Centre on these
approvals.
The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village
forests, protected forests and private forests.
Reserved forest
A state may declare forestlands or waste lands as reserved forest and may sell the
produce from these forests.
Any unauthorized felling of trees quarrying, grazing and hunting in reserved forests is
punishable with a fine or imprisonment, or both
Village forests
Protected forests
The state governments are empowered to designate protected forests and may prohibit
the felling of trees, quarrying and the removal of forest produce from these forests.
The preservation of protected forests is enforces through rules, licenses and criminal
prosecutions.
International Conventions
International Conventions related to Atmosphere:
1) Montreal Protocol
2) Vienna Convention
3) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
4) Kyoto Protocol
Montreal Protocol:
Protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
International treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production
of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion
First meeting Helsinki, May 1989
Undergone 8 revisions upto now Recent revision : 2016 (Kigali, adopted, but not in
force)
Outcome ozone hole in Antarctica is slowly recovering
Includes CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons)
Climate projections indicate that the ozone layer will return to 1980 levels between
2050 and 2070
Montreal Protocol does not deal with Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
HFCs extremely potent greenhouse gases
Kofi Annan quoted Montreal Protocol as “perhaps the single most successful
international agreement to date”
Montreal Protocol does not address HFCs but these substances figure in the basket of 6
greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol
Developed countries following the Kyoto Protocol report their HFC emission data to the
UNFCCC
The two ozone treaties (Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol) have been ratified
by 197 parties [196 UN states + European Union]
India became party of Vienna Convention in 1991 and of Montreal protocol in 1992
It ratified the Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing Amendments in 2003
India produces CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, Halon-1211, HCFC-22, Halon-1301,
Carbontetrachloride (CTC), methyl chloroform and methyl bromide
These Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are used in refrigeration and air conditioning,
firefighting, electronics, foams, aerosol fumigation applications
A detailed India Country Programme for phase out of ODS was prepared in 1993
It ensured that phase out of ODS is according to national industrial development
strategy + without undue burden on consumers and industries
Access to Protocol's Financial Mechanism is in accordance with the requirements
stipulated in the Montreal Protocol
An Ozone cell and a steering committee on the Montreal protocol was setup by MoEF to
facilitate implementation of India Country Programme for phasing out ODS production
by 2010
To meet its objectives govt. had exempted all non-ODS technology goods from Customs
and Central Excise Duties
Vienna Convention:
Annex I - There are 43 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex I of the Convention,
including the European Union. These Parties are classified as industrialized (developed)
countries and "economies in transition" (EITs). The 14 EITs are the former centrally planned
(Soviet) economies of Russia and Eastern Europe.
Annex II - Of the Parties listed in Annex I of the Convention, 24 are also listed in Annex II
of the Convention, including the European Union. These Parties are made up of
members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Annex II Parties are required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and
developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (climate
change mitigation) and manage the impacts of climate change (climate change
adaptation)
Annex B - Parties listed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol are Annex I Parties with first- or
second-round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions targets. The first-round targets apply
over the years 2008–2012. As part of the 2012 Doha climate change talks, an
amendment to Annex B was agreed upon containing with a list of Annex I Parties who
have second-round Kyoto targets, which apply from 2013–2020. The amendments have
not entered into force
Least-developed countries (LDCs) - 49 Parties are LDCs, and are given special status
under the treaty in view of their limited capacity to adapt to the effects of climate
change
Non-Annex I - Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly
low-income developing countries. Developing countries may volunteer to become
Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed
By 1995, countries realized that emission reductions provisions in the Convention were
After 2 years this protocol was adopted.
Due to complex ratification process, it entered into force in 2005.
In short KP is what “operationalizes” the convention.
It commits industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions based on the principles
of the Convention.
Difference between protocol and convention - while the Convention encouraged
industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so
inadequate
Targets
It sets binding emission reduction targets for 37 industrialized countries and the
European community in its first commitment period.
Architecture of KP
Beating heart of KP is made up of -
1. Reporting and verification procedures.
2. Flexible market-based mechanisms
3. A compliance system
Joint implementation:
It offers Parties a flexible and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part of their Kyoto
commitments, while the host Party benefits from foreign investment and technology
transfer
Carbon Trading
Carbon trading is the process of buying and selling permits and credits to emit carbon
dioxide. It has been a central pillar of the EU's efforts to slow climate change. The
world's biggest carbon trading system is the European Union Emissions Trading
System (EU ETS).
2 types of carbon trading – emission trading and offset trading
Emission Trading
If a country does not meet the requirements for measurements and reporting – it loses
the privilege of gaining credit through JI projects.
If a country goes above its emissions cap, and does not try to make up the difference
through any of the mechanisms available, then said country must make up the
difference plus an additional 30% during the next period.
The country could also be banned from participating ‘cap and trade' program
Nodal agency for CITES , CAWT, IWC, UNESCO-WHC, CMS Ministry of Environment and
Forests
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
It classifies plants and animals according to three categories, or appendices, based on how
threatened :
Appendix I: It lists species that are in danger of extinction. It prohibits commercial trade
of these plants and animals except in extraordinary situations for scientific or
educational reasons.
Appendix II: They are those that are not threatened with extinction but that might
suffer a serious decline in number if trade is not restricted. Their trade is regulated by
permit.
Appendix III: They are protected in at least one country that is a CITES member states
and that has petitioned others for help in controlling international trade in that species.
In addition CITES also restricts trade in items made from such plants and animals, such
as food, clothing, medicine, and souvenirs
Aims to focus public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in
wildlife and wildlife products.
Initiated in 2005
CAWT is a unique voluntary public-private coalition
It’s a Global Coalition of governments and international business and conservation
organizations, working together to support each other’s efforts to end the illegal trade
in wildlife and wildlife products
CAWT is not a legal entity
India has joined hands with US and other partners against the illegal wildlife
crime/trafficking
In 1986 the Commission introduced zero catch limits for commercial whaling (it is still
in place today), although the Commission continues to set catch limits for aboriginal
subsistence whaling
India member of the International Whaling Commission since 1981
UNESCO – WHO:
UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is responsible for listing of World Heritage Sites,
which include both cultural and natural sites
The wildlife dept. of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of India is associated
with the conservation of the natural world heritage sites
An externally-aided project has also been undertaken by the ministry for the
conservation of wildlife
The total period of the project is 10 yrs with 2 phases
The project will be undertaken in 4 world heritage sites of India
1) Kaziranga National Park
2) Manas National Park
3) Nanda Devi National Park
4) Keoladeo National Park
UNCLOS:
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of
the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty is the international agreement that
resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III),
which took place between 1973 and 1982.
SOLAS:
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international
maritime treaty which sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment
and operation of merchant ships.
UNCCD:
They are organic chemical substances, that is, they are carbon-based.
They possess a particular combination of physical and chemical properties such that,
once released into the environment, they
o Remain intact for exceptionally long periods of time (many years).
o Widely distributed in environment because of natural processes involving soil,
water and, most notably, air.
o Though not soluble in water, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms
including humans, and are found at higher concentrations at higher levels in the
food chain
In addition, POPs concentrate in living organisms through another process called
bioaccumulation
Initially, twelve POPs have been recognized as causing adverse effects on humans and the
ecosystem and these can be placed in 3 categories:
Later 9 new POPs were also added and 10th one was Endosulfan
Basel Convention :
Annex I of convention:
It lists those wastes that are classified as hazardous and subject to the control
procedures under the Convention
Annex II of convention:
Wastes that require special consideration (known as "other wastes", and which
primarily refer to household wastes)
Rotterdam Convention
The Rotterdam Convention (formally, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed
Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International
Trade) is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to
importation of hazardous chemicals
Pesticides and industrial chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted for
health or environmental reasons by two or more Parties + CoP decided to subject the
PIC procedure
Total – 43 chemicals (32 – pesticides, 11 – industrial chemicals)
Also known as Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit held in Rio de Janerio in June 1992
New reliance on public transportation systems (like Delhi metro, BRTS) in order to
reduce vehicle emissions, congestion
The growing usage and limited supply of water
Documents:
Agenda 21
The first World Public Meeting on Culture in Brazil (2002) came up with the idea to
draw up document guidelines for local cultural policies, a document comparable to what
Agenda 21 meant in 1992 for the environment.
It is the first document that advocates establishing the groundwork of an undertaking
by cities and local governments for cultural development.
Rio+5
As the name itself suggests it was special session which took place after 5 years of
Earth summit to appraise five years of progress on the implementation of Agenda 21.
Progress recognized as 'uneven'.
Identified key trends including increasing globalization, widening inequalities in income
and a continued deterioration of the global environment
Johannesburg Summit
Rio+20
Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they
provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and
biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last century.
What is wetland
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers,
underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatland, oases, estuaries,
deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-
made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
COP
Conference of the Parties (COP) is the Convention's governing body consisting of all
governments that have ratified the treaty.
Every three years, representatives of the Contracting Parties meet as the Conference of
the Contracting Parties (COP)
COP is the policy-making organ of the Convention which adopts decisions (Resolutions
and Recommendations) to administer the work of the Convention.
Ramsar Site
At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party undertakes to designate at
least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
The inclusion of a “Ramsar Site” in the List embodies the government’s commitment to
take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
The country with the highest number of Sites is the United Kingdom with 170
The country with the greatest area of listed wetlands is Bolivia.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
It classifies plants and animals according to three categories, or appendices, based on how
threatened :
Appendix I: It lists species that are in danger of extinction. It prohibits commercial trade
of these plants and animals except in extraordinary situations for scientific or
educational reasons.
Appendix II: They are those that are not threatened with extinction but that might
suffer a serious decline in number if trade is not restricted. Their trade is regulated by
permit.
Appendix III: They are protected in at least one country that is a CITES member states
and that has petitioned others for help in controlling international trade in that species.
In addition CITES also restricts trade in items made from such plants and animals, such
as food, clothing, medicine, and souvenirs
Aims to focus public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in
wildlife and wildlife products.
Initiated in 2005
CAWT is a unique voluntary public-private coalition
It’s a Global Coalition of governments and international business and conservation
organizations, working together to support each other’s efforts to end the illegal trade
in wildlife and wildlife products
CAWT is not a legal entity
India has joined hands with US and other partners against the illegal wildlife
crime/trafficking
India is a member of it
What it does?
Like all commodity organizations it is concerned with trade and industry, but like an
environmental agreement it also pays considerable attention to the sustainable
management of natural resources
ITTO develops internationally agreed policy documents to promote sustainable forest
management and forest conservation
It assists tropical member countries to adapt such policies to local circumstances and to
implement them in the field through projects
It collects, analyses, and disseminates data on the production and trade of tropical
timber and funds a range of projects
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), established the
United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).
The Forum has universal membership, and is composed of all Member States of the
United Nations and specialized agencies.
IUCN
The organization is best known for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List, which
assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
Headquarters - Gland, Switzerland
Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into 9 groups, set through criteria such as
rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of
population and distribution fragmentation
Vision:
Missions:
To influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the
integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is
equitable and ecologically sustainable
IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects globally and brings
governments, NGOs, UN agencies, companies and local communities together to
develop and implement policy
IUCN Members include both States and non-governmental organizations
Goal: To highlight the rationale for tiger preservation and provide leadership and common
approach throughout the world in order to safeguard the survival of the tiger, its prey
and its habitat
Goals:
Annex I - There are 43 Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex I of the Convention,
including the European Union. These Parties are classified as industrialized (developed)
countries and "economies in transition" (EITs). The 14 EITs are the former centrally planned
(Soviet) economies of Russia and Eastern Europe.
Annex II - Of the Parties listed in Annex I of the Convention, 24 are also listed in Annex II
of the Convention, including the European Union. These Parties are made up of
members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Annex II Parties are required to provide financial and technical support to the EITs and
developing countries to assist them in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (climate
change mitigation) and manage the impacts of climate change (climate change
adaptation)
Annex B - Parties listed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol are Annex I Parties with first- or
second-round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions targets. The first-round targets apply
over the years 2008–2012. As part of the 2012 Doha climate change talks, an
amendment to Annex B was agreed upon containing with a list of Annex I Parties who
have second-round Kyoto targets, which apply from 2013–2020. The amendments have
not entered into force
Least-developed countries (LDCs) - 49 Parties are LDCs, and are given special status
under the treaty in view of their limited capacity to adapt to the effects of climate
change
Non-Annex I - Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly
low-income developing countries. Developing countries may volunteer to become
Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed
By 1995, countries realized that emission reductions provisions in the Convention were
After 2 years this protocol was adopted.
Due to complex ratification process, it entered into force in 2005.
In short KP is what “operationalizes” the convention.
It commits industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions based on the principles
of the Convention.
Difference between protocol and convention - while the Convention encouraged
industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so
inadequate
Targets
It sets binding emission reduction targets for 37 industrialized countries and the
European community in its first commitment period.
Architecture of KP
Beating heart of KP is made up of -
1. Reporting and verification procedures.
2. Flexible market-based mechanisms
3. A compliance system
Joint implementation:
It offers Parties a flexible and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part of their Kyoto
commitments, while the host Party benefits from foreign investment and technology
transfer
Carbon Trading
Carbon trading is the process of buying and selling permits and credits to emit carbon
dioxide. It has been a central pillar of the EU's efforts to slow climate change. The
world's biggest carbon trading system is the European Union Emissions Trading
System (EU ETS).
2 types of carbon trading – emission trading and offset trading
Emission Trading
If a country does not meet the requirements for measurements and reporting – it loses
the privilege of gaining credit through JI projects.
If a country goes above its emissions cap, and does not try to make up the difference
through any of the mechanisms available, then said country must make up the
difference plus an additional 30% during the next period.
The country could also be banned from participating ‘cap and trade' program
Bali Meet
Held in 2007
Objectives:
Aim - to push the world towards taking action that reduces the GHG gases in the
atmosphere which cause CC.
They were to discuss what after 2012? (what are countries expected to do after the first
phase of Kyoto ends in 2012)
Developing countries – “After 2012 developing countries like India and China also need
to take some responsibility, as they are growing economically and increasing emissions”.
New set of principles which will decide what to do after 2012.
Bali Roadmap:
The outcome of the summit was an agreement adopted by the states' parties that called
for the 100 billion USD per annum "Green Climate Fund", and a "Climate Technology
Centre" and network.
However the funding of the Green Climate Fund was not agreed upon. Nor was a
commitment to a second period of the Kyoto Protocol agreed upon, but it was
concluded that the base year shall be 1990 and the global warming potentials shall be
those provided by the IPCC
Mechanism of COP 16
Technology mechanism
GCF (Green climate fund)
Adaptation committee
Adaptation Fund
2 demands of India - that the principle of equity remain intact in any new climate regime
and that this new global deal be launched after 2020
Outcome