International Environmental Agencies & Agreements UPSC: An Overview
The environment is one of the major concerns of the world today. Every country is focusing on protecting the environment, reducing the carbon footprint, and minimizing the damage that human activities cause to the planet. However, environmental issues are not limited to a particular country. They affect the entire world, and therefore, it is important that countries come together and work towards a common goal. International environmental agencies and agreements play a crucial role in this process.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the important international environmental agencies and agreements that are relevant for UPSC aspirants.
International Environmental Agencies:
1. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a body of the United Nations (UN) responsible for coordinating environmental activities and assisting in the development and implementation of environmental policies worldwide. It was established in 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership-based organization that works towards the conservation of nature and the sustainable use of natural resources. It was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
3. World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization that works towards the conservation of nature and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
International Environmental Agreements:
1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted in 1992 that aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
2. Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by requiring developed countries to reduce their emissions by a specific amount.
3. Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty adopted in 2015 that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This agreement commits all signatory countries to regularly report their greenhouse gas emissions and undertake efforts to reduce them.
Conclusion:
International environmental agencies and agreements are essential for protecting the environment and building a sustainable future. For UPSC aspirants, it is important to have a basic understanding of these agencies and agreements to be able to answer questions related to environmental issues. As the world faces more and more environmental challenges, the role of these agencies and agreements will become increasingly important in the years to come.
