The Importance of Intergovernmental Agreements on the Environment - Essay Example

Environmental problems The importance of intergovernmental agreements on the environment and what is the role of the EU related with these agreements Environment can be classified in to two broad categories; natural environment and built environment. The natural environment includes all the living and nonliving things occurred naturally on earth. Built environment on the other hand is human made only. Built environment can destroy the natural environment. Most of the natural environment problems are caused by human activities only. Because of the global nature, the environment problem cannot be addressed by a single country alone. The impacts of environment destruction activities done by one country may not be limited to that country alone. In fact most of the environmental problems created by the industrialized countries, affect badly the poor countries as well. The most critical issues related to environment are the climate changes and global warming. The emission of greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide have adverse effect on environment. So in order to protect the environment a combined effort by the whole world is required. Kyoto Protocol and Montreal Protocol are two international agreements designed for the protection of environment. Kyoto Protocol “Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty -- the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -- to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. More recently, a number of Environmental problems 2 nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the climate change process, particularly the COP, the subsidiary bodies and their Bureau” (The Convention and the Protocol) Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. It is a legal agreement signed on 16 February 2005. This protocol is designed based on the instructions from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This environmental treaty made at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) informally known as the Earth summit which held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. This treaty is mainly intended to stabilize the green house gases (Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Sulfur hexafluoride etc.) emission to the atmosphere by the industrialized countries. “The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012” (Kyoto Protocol) As of 2008, around 183 countries have approved the agreement. This protocol has first implemented in December, 1997, in Kyoto, Japan and hence commonly known as Kyoto Protocol. “Under Kyoto, industrialized countries agreed to reduce their collective GHG emissions by 5.2% compared to the year 1990. National limitations range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for the United States, 6% for Environmental problems 3 Japan, and 0% for Russia. The treaty permitted GHG emission increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland”(Kyoto Protocol) ‘Apart from the main aim of reduction of emission of green house gases to atmosphere, Kyoto Protocol urged the member countries to prepare policies for the reducing the green house gases and absorption of the produced GHG’s. It also encouraged the countries to establish an adaptation fund for climate change, accounting, reporting, and reviewing in order to keep the integrity of protocol’. (Kyoto Protocol) Montreal Protocol This protocol is intended to protect the stratospheric ozone layer, which protect us from dangerous radiations from outer universe “The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992. The Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere--chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform--are to be phased out by 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform).” (The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer)The refrigerators and Air conditioners are making use of Chloro Fluro Carbons (CFC) which is extremely dangerous for the ozone layer which is naturally protect us from dangerous cosmic rays and outer space radiations. Any damage to the ozone layer will allow such dangerous radiations to enter into earth’s atmosphere which will be harmful to all the living things. Because of the irresponsible industrialization the thinning process of the ozone layer is Environmental problems 4 already reached to a dangerous level. Further damage to the ozone layer will definitely create graveyards for the human life. . “The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, as it is called in full, and its amendments are international treaties requiring that countries end production of ozone-depleting substances (such as CFCs and halons). To assist in reaching this goal, several international organizations report on the science of ozone depletion, implement projects to help move away from ozone-depleting substances, and provide a forum for policy discussions.” (Montreal & Kyoto Protocols) The drastic climate changes as a result of the environmental problems are a big threat not only to the living things, but for the agriculture sector as well. Because of the excess amount of Carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, the atmospheric temperature is goes on increasing. The earth’s surface temperature is increasing and a 0.750 C rise in atmospheric temperature has been recorded by the scientists during the last century itself. It may likely to rise further 1.1 to 6.40 C during the twenty- first century. Increased global temperature can cause sea levels to raise, increased extreme weather intensities, changes in agricultural yields etc. The role of European Union “The European Union is committed to working constructively for a global agreement to control climate change, and is leading the way by taking ambitious action of its own”. In January 2007, as part of an integrated climate change and energy policy, Environmental problems 5 the European Commission set out proposals and options for an ambitious global agreement in its Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond". EU leaders endorsed this vision in March 2007. They committed the EU to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% of 1990 levels by 2020 provided other developed countries commit to making comparable reductions under a global agreement. And to start transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient, low-carbon economy, they committed to cutting emissions by at least 20% independently of what other countries decide to do” (Climate Change) A lot of reasons are there for global warming and environmental problems. Though some natural phenomena such as solar variations and volcanoes probably had a small warming effect, scientists unanimously agreed that the major reasons are manmade only. The emission of toxic gases like, Chloro Fluro carbons (CFC) and Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide etc. contribute to the global warming and environmental pollution. There is a balance between the amount of oxygen and CO2 present in the atmosphere naturally. The main CO2 absorber, trees and plants are destroyed by the human for heavy industrialization. Environmental problems 6 From the above discussion itself it is clear that to prevent global warming and environmental pollution, we have to stop emission of toxic gases to the atmosphere. The use of Air conditioners, refrigerators should be regulated and also equipments with such CFC gases filled should not be used. “To help reduce global-warming gases: Choose energy-efficient electrical appliances. Drive less. Walk, bike, skate, or take public transportation.( Mindy Pennybacker) The reduction of vehicle usage can certainly contribute to the prevention of global warming. The smoke checkups of the vehicles should be done at regular intervals of time. All the vehicles which are fuelled by petrol or diesel emit toxic gases harmful to the environment. More over lot of harmful gases will be liberated at the time of conversion of Crude Oil into petrol and diesel will result Conclusion The agreements like Kyoto and Montreal protocols can make good impact in the fight against environmental problems. But along with the world as whole, all the individuals also have their role to play against the environmental pollution. The most important thing one can do to contribute to the prevention of global warming and environmental pollution is; don’t destroy the forests under the label of heavy industrialization, but grow more and more plants whenever and wherever possible. Plants and trees not only supply oxygen to us but it absorbs the most dangerous gas Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In order to control global warming we have to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and for that purpose only the trees and plants can help us. Environmental problems 7 “Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) today, the Earth would still warm by another degree Fahrenheit or so. But what we do from today forward makes a big difference.  Depending on our choices, scientists predict that the Earth could eventually warm by as little as 2.5 degrees or as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit”.  (Global Warming Solutions) To prevent environmental pollution each and every human have an important role to play. Automobile usage should be reduced and the smoke checkups of the vehicles should be done at regular intervals of time. Air conditioners and Refrigerators which is making use of the Chloro Fluro Carbons (CFC) should be avoided from the daily life. More and more trees and plants should be planted rather than destroying it. Environmental problems 8 Sources 1. The Convention and the Protocol – Retrieved on 4/1/09 http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/2877.php 2. Kyoto Protocol - Retrieved on 4/1/09 http://unfccc.int/kyoto protocol/items/2830.php 3. Kyoto Protocol- Retrieved on 4/1/09 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol 4. Montreal & Kyoto Protocols - Retrieved on 4/1/09 http://www.temis.nl/protocols/protocols.html 5. The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer- Retrieved on 4/1/09 -http://www.ciesin.org/TG/PI/POLICY/montpro.html 6. Climate Change- Retrieved on 4/1/09 – http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm Environmental problems 9 7. Mindy Pennybacker- Global Warming: Ready for Your Carbon Close-Up? Retrieved on 4/1/09 http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/carbon-closeup.html 8. Global Warming Solutions Retrieved on 4/1/09 http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-solutions.html Read More