🌐 Chapter 09 · Topic 06 · International Conventions
International Conventions — Complete Revision
All major environmental conventions — year, location, secretariat, parties, India’s status, key provisions — in one comprehensive revision page for UPSC & PSC exams.
📊 Master Table — All Conventions
| Convention | Year | Subject | Secretariat | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsar | 1971 | Wetlands | Gland, Switzerland | Ratified 1982; 85 sites |
| World Heritage | 1972 | Cultural & natural heritage | Paris (UNESCO) | Ratified 1977; 42 sites |
| CITES | 1973 | Wildlife trade | Geneva | Ratified 1976; WPA 1972 |
| Bonn (CMS) | 1979 | Migratory species | Bonn | Ratified 1983 |
| Vienna Convention | 1985 | Ozone (framework) | UNEP, Nairobi | Ratified 1991 |
| Montreal Protocol | 1987 | Ozone-depleting substances | UNEP, Nairobi | Ratified 1992 |
| Basel Convention | 1989 | Hazardous waste | Geneva | Ratified 1992 |
| UNFCCC | 1992 | Climate change (framework) | Bonn | Ratified 1993 |
| CBD | 1992 | Biodiversity | Montreal | Ratified 1994 |
| Kyoto Protocol | 1997 | GHG emission reductions | Bonn (UNFCCC) | Ratified 2002 |
| Rotterdam | 1998 | Hazardous chemicals | Geneva/Rome | Ratified 2005 |
| Cartagena Protocol | 2000 | Biosafety/GMOs | Montreal (CBD) | Ratified 2003 |
| Stockholm Convention | 2001 | POPs | Geneva | Ratified 2006 |
| Nagoya Protocol | 2010 | ABS (genetic resources) | Montreal (CBD) | Ratified 2012 |
| Minamata | 2013 | Mercury | Geneva | Ratified 2018 |
| Paris Agreement | 2015 | Climate change | Bonn (UNFCCC) | Ratified 2016 |
| Kigali Amendment | 2016 | HFCs phase-down | UNEP, Nairobi | Ratified 2021 |
⚡ Quick-Fire Key Facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Only UN treaty with universal ratification | Montreal Protocol (197 parties) |
| Most successful environmental treaty | Montreal Protocol |
| Oldest modern intergovernmental env agreement | Ramsar Convention (1971) |
| First major international env conference | Stockholm Conference (1972) |
| UNEP headquarters | Nairobi, Kenya |
| UNFCCC secretariat | Bonn, Germany |
| CBD secretariat | Montreal, Canada |
| CITES secretariat | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Ramsar secretariat | Gland, Switzerland |
| India’s Ramsar Sites | 85 (as of 2024) |
| India’s World Heritage Sites | 42 (34 cultural + 7 natural + 1 mixed) |
| India’s first Ramsar Sites | Chilika Lake + Keoladeo Ghana (1981) |
| World Wetlands Day | 2 February |
| World Environment Day | 5 June (Stockholm Conference) |
| India’s net zero target | 2070 (COP26, Glasgow) |
| 30×30 target | Kunming-Montreal Framework (2022) |
| Loss & Damage Fund established | COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh (2022) |
| Biopiracy examples | Neem, turmeric, basmati (India challenged) |
| Minamata disease | Mercury poisoning, Japan, 1950s–60s |
| POPs “Dirty Dozen” | 12 original POPs including DDT, PCBs, dioxins |
🇮🇳 India’s Key Positions & Contributions
- CBDR — India consistently advocates for Common But Differentiated Responsibilities
- Climate finance — demands developed countries fulfil $100 billion/year commitment
- Net zero 2070 — India’s target is later than most developed countries (2050) due to development needs
- International Solar Alliance (ISA) — India’s initiative; 120+ members; HQ Gurugram
- CDRI — Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure; India’s initiative at COP26
- Biopiracy — India successfully challenged patents on neem, turmeric, basmati
- Biological Diversity Act 2002 — implements CBD and Nagoya Protocol
- 85 Ramsar Sites — largest in South Asia; added 49 new sites in 2021–22
- Project Tiger — India’s tiger conservation programme; 54 tiger reserves; tiger population doubled since 2006
✅ Master Revision Checklist — Chapter 09
✅ Stockholm (1972) = UNEP created = Nairobi = June 5 = World Environment Day
✅ Earth Summit (1992) = Rio = UNFCCC + CBD + Agenda 21 + Rio Declaration
✅ Rio+20 (2012) = “The Future We Want” = HLPF = SDG process
✅ UNFCCC = 1992 = Bonn = CBDR = Annex I vs Non-Annex I
✅ Kyoto Protocol = 1997 = binding targets for Annex I = CDM
✅ Paris Agreement = 2015 = 1.5°C/2°C = NDCs = all countries
✅ COP26 Glasgow = India’s Panchamrit = coal phase-down
✅ COP27 = Loss & Damage Fund; COP28 = First Global Stocktake
✅ CBD = 1992 = Montreal = 3 objectives = conservation + sustainable use + ABS
✅ Nagoya Protocol = 2010 = ABS = PIC + MAT = prevents biopiracy
✅ Cartagena Protocol = 2000 = LMOs/GMOs = AIA
✅ CITES = 1973 = Geneva = Appendix I (trade banned) + II (regulated) + III
✅ Bonn Convention (CMS) = 1979 = migratory species
✅ Kunming-Montreal Framework = 2022 = 30×30 target
✅ Basel = 1989 = hazardous waste = PIC = Basel Ban Amendment 1995
✅ Rotterdam = 1998 = hazardous chemicals = PIC procedure
✅ Stockholm Convention = 2001 = POPs = Dirty Dozen = DDT
✅ Minamata = 2013 = mercury = Minamata disease Japan
✅ Vienna Convention = 1985 = ozone framework; Montreal Protocol = 1987 = binding
✅ Montreal Protocol = only UN treaty with universal ratification = most successful
✅ Kigali Amendment = 2016 = HFCs = India ratified 2021
✅ Ramsar = 1971 = wetlands = Gland = oldest modern env agreement
✅ India = 85 Ramsar Sites; first = Chilika + Keoladeo (1981)
✅ 2 February = World Wetlands Day
✅ World Heritage Convention = 1972 = UNESCO = India = 42 sites
✅ UNCLOS = 1982 = “Constitution of Oceans” = EEZ = 200 nm
✅ ISA = International Seabed Authority = Kingston, Jamaica
✅ India’s ISA = International Solar Alliance = Gurugram = 120+ members
✅ Earth Summit (1992) = Rio = UNFCCC + CBD + Agenda 21 + Rio Declaration
✅ Rio+20 (2012) = “The Future We Want” = HLPF = SDG process
✅ UNFCCC = 1992 = Bonn = CBDR = Annex I vs Non-Annex I
✅ Kyoto Protocol = 1997 = binding targets for Annex I = CDM
✅ Paris Agreement = 2015 = 1.5°C/2°C = NDCs = all countries
✅ COP26 Glasgow = India’s Panchamrit = coal phase-down
✅ COP27 = Loss & Damage Fund; COP28 = First Global Stocktake
✅ CBD = 1992 = Montreal = 3 objectives = conservation + sustainable use + ABS
✅ Nagoya Protocol = 2010 = ABS = PIC + MAT = prevents biopiracy
✅ Cartagena Protocol = 2000 = LMOs/GMOs = AIA
✅ CITES = 1973 = Geneva = Appendix I (trade banned) + II (regulated) + III
✅ Bonn Convention (CMS) = 1979 = migratory species
✅ Kunming-Montreal Framework = 2022 = 30×30 target
✅ Basel = 1989 = hazardous waste = PIC = Basel Ban Amendment 1995
✅ Rotterdam = 1998 = hazardous chemicals = PIC procedure
✅ Stockholm Convention = 2001 = POPs = Dirty Dozen = DDT
✅ Minamata = 2013 = mercury = Minamata disease Japan
✅ Vienna Convention = 1985 = ozone framework; Montreal Protocol = 1987 = binding
✅ Montreal Protocol = only UN treaty with universal ratification = most successful
✅ Kigali Amendment = 2016 = HFCs = India ratified 2021
✅ Ramsar = 1971 = wetlands = Gland = oldest modern env agreement
✅ India = 85 Ramsar Sites; first = Chilika + Keoladeo (1981)
✅ 2 February = World Wetlands Day
✅ World Heritage Convention = 1972 = UNESCO = India = 42 sites
✅ UNCLOS = 1982 = “Constitution of Oceans” = EEZ = 200 nm
✅ ISA = International Seabed Authority = Kingston, Jamaica
✅ India’s ISA = International Solar Alliance = Gurugram = 120+ members