ENVIRONMENTAL PROTOCOLS: WHAT ARE THEY AND MAIN PROTOCOLS - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The environmental protocols are a number of international agreements that aim to improve environmental conditions worldwide. They seek to achieve the prevention and reduction of the impacts of human actions on the environment.

They are anti-government documents that have legal backing. The United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) are essential for the implementation of these protocols. Compliance with environmental protocols is an obligation for the countries that sign when committing to the project.

By The Impact of Technology on the Environment, from Wikimedia Commons

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, the Volatile Organic Compounds Protocol, the Kyoto Protocol and the Montreal Protocol are some of the treaties that have been adopted to improve environmental conditions.

In addition, some of the protocols establish the responsibilities of each signatory country for compliance with the measures stipulated in the treaty.

What does it consist on?

Importance of international law

International law is defined as the set of binding norms, agreements and treaties between countries. When sovereign states create an agreement (binding and enforceable) it is called international law.

The countries of the world come together to make rules together in order to benefit their citizens; as well as promoting peace, justice and common interests.

International law is associated with the human rights of all citizens, the treatment of refugees, the prosecution of international crimes, claiming territories, the fair treatment of prisoners, the preservation of the environment and a myriad of issues that benefit the inhabitants of the world.

Environmental agreements

Environmental protocols, or also called international environmental agreements, are a type of treaty linked to international law in order to achieve an environmental objective.

It is a series of intergovernmental documents (with legal backing) that have the main purpose of preventing or managing human impacts on natural resources.

The United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) are key intergovernmental organizations in the implementation of these agreements.

The United Nations deals with a compendium of issues related to biological diversity, chemicals and waste, climate and the atmosphere; as well as the World Trade Organization, which promotes trade and environmental policies and promotes the protection and preservation of the environment.

Most of the treaties are binding and legally enforceable by all countries that have formally confirmed their participation in the agreement.

Main international protocols

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Environmental Protocol, in its shorter name, was a treaty that entered into force on January 14, 1998, concluded in the capital of Spain, Madrid.

The function of the agreement is to provide comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment. It is estimated that by the year 2048 it will be open for a new review.

Within the protocol, a series of articles were drawn up whose countries involved have a duty to comply, among them is the prohibition of any activity related to mineral resources that is not solely for scientific purposes.

Another article requires member states to be prepared for emergency response actions in the area.

As of May 2013, the protocol has been ratified by 34 of the member countries, while only 11 have not.

Volatile Organic Compounds Protocol

The Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds or their transboundary flows. It entered into force on September 29, 1997.

The program is part of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.

It seeks to control and reduce the emission of organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at stable temperatures. With this, it aims to reduce cross-border flows to protect both human health and the environment.

It was completed in Switzerland and had the participation of 24 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in the city of Japan in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005.

It was an international treaty that aimed to reduce the polluting gases that cause global warming. When it came into effect, it required 41 countries and the member states of the European Union to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

In 2015, the Kyoto Protocol was replaced by a global agreement to limit the rise in global average temperature to a maximum of 2 ° C.

Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was an international treaty adopted on September 16, 1987.

Its objective was to regulate the production and reduce the use of chemical products that contribute to the destruction of the Earth's ozone layer. It was signed by 46 countries; however, it currently has 200 signatories.

The Montreal Protocol entered into force on January 1, 1989, but has been further modified in order to reduce and eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force in 2003.

It is an international treaty that aims to protect biological diversity from the risks posed by genetically modified organisms thanks to biotechnology. These organisms have been used to produce drugs and foods with genetic modifications.

The protocol establishes that the products that result from genetic modifications must have a series of precautions and allow nations to establish a balance between public health and economic benefits.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety may even prohibit the importation of genetically modified organisms, if they consider them unsafe.

References

1. Kyoto Protocol, Portal Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com
2. Montreal Protocol, Portal Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com
3. What is International Law ?, Portal Legal Career Path, (nd). Taken from legalcareerpath.com
4. The Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty Secretariat Portal, (nd). Taken from ats.aq
5. List of Major Environmental Treaties, Rules, and Other Initiatives that Lindy Johnson Played a Key Role in Shaping, PDF Document, (nd). Taken from gc.noaa.gov
6. Volatile Organic Compounds Protocol, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
7. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
8. List of international environmental agreements, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org