🌐 Chapter 09 · Topic 05 · International Conventions

Ozone & Other Conventions

Vienna Convention (1985), Montreal Protocol (1987), Kigali Amendment (2016), Ramsar Convention (1971), World Heritage Convention (1972), UNCLOS — complete UPSC & PSC notes.

🛡️ Vienna Convention (1985) & Montreal Protocol (1987)

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985):
- First international agreement on ozone protection; a framework convention — set the stage but no binding targets
- Entered into force 1988; 197 parties (universal ratification)
- Established principle of international cooperation on ozone protection
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987):
- Adopted: Montreal, Canada, 1987; entered into force 1989
- 197 parties — the only UN treaty to achieve universal ratification
- Mandated phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, halons, HCFCs, etc.)
- Developed countries phased out CFCs by 1996; developing countries by 2010
- Called the most successful environmental treaty in history
- Prevented an estimated 2 million skin cancer cases per year
- Secretariat: UNEP, Nairobi
Kigali Amendment (2016):
- Adopted: Kigali, Rwanda, October 2016; entered into force January 2019
- Phase-down of HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) — zero ODP but high GWP
- Could prevent 0.5°C of warming by 2100
- India ratified in 2021; HFC phase-down by 85% by 2047

🌊 Ramsar Convention (1971)

Full name: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Adopted: Ramsar, Iran, 1971; entered into force 1975; Secretariat: Gland, Switzerland
172 parties; oldest modern intergovernmental environmental agreement
Objective: conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources
Ramsar Sites = wetlands of international importance listed under the convention
Criteria for listing: ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological importance
India has 85 Ramsar Sites (as of 2024) — largest number in South Asia
India’s first Ramsar Sites (1981): Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan)
2 February = World Wetlands Day — commemorates Ramsar Convention signing
“Wise use” principle = sustainable use of wetlands for the benefit of humankind

⭐ India’s Ramsar Sites: India has 85 Ramsar Sites covering over 1.3 million hectares. Notable sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) — largest coastal lagoon in Asia; Loktak Lake (Manipur) — only floating national park (Keibul Lamjao); Wular Lake (J&K) — largest freshwater lake in India; Sundarbans (West Bengal); Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh); Harike Wetland (Punjab). Uttar Pradesh has the most Ramsar Sites of any Indian state.

🏛️ World Heritage Convention (1972)

Full name: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
Adopted: Paris, 1972; administered by UNESCO; Secretariat: Paris, France
194 parties
Establishes the World Heritage List — sites of outstanding universal value
Two categories: Cultural Heritage (monuments, buildings, sites) and Natural Heritage (natural features, geological formations, habitats)
India has 42 World Heritage Sites (as of 2024) — 34 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed
India’s natural World Heritage Sites: Kaziranga, Manas, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers, Western Ghats, Great Himalayan National Park, Khangchendzonga
World Heritage in Danger List — sites facing serious threats

🌊 UNCLOS (1982)

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — adopted 1982; entered into force 1994
Called the “Constitution of the Oceans”
Establishes: Territorial Sea (12 nautical miles), Contiguous Zone (24 nm), Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm), Continental Shelf
Provisions for marine environmental protection, marine scientific research, deep-sea mining
India ratified UNCLOS in 1995
International Seabed Authority (ISA) — established under UNCLOS; regulates deep-sea mining; HQ: Kingston, Jamaica

✅ Revision Checklist — Ozone & Other Conventions

✅ Vienna Convention = 1985 = framework for ozone protection = 197 parties
✅ Montreal Protocol = 1987 = binding phase-out of ODS = 197 parties = universal ratification
✅ Montreal Protocol = most successful environmental treaty = prevented 2 million skin cancer cases/year
✅ Developed countries phased out CFCs by 1996; developing by 2010
✅ Kigali Amendment = 2016 = phase-down HFCs = 0.5°C warming prevented
✅ India ratified Kigali 2021; HFC phase-down 85% by 2047
✅ Ramsar Convention = 1971 = Ramsar, Iran = wetlands = Gland secretariat
✅ Ramsar = oldest modern intergovernmental environmental agreement
✅ India = 85 Ramsar Sites = largest in South Asia
✅ India’s first Ramsar Sites (1981) = Chilika Lake + Keoladeo Ghana
✅ 2 February = World Wetlands Day
✅ World Heritage Convention = 1972 = UNESCO = Paris = cultural + natural heritage
✅ India = 42 World Heritage Sites = 34 cultural + 7 natural + 1 mixed
✅ UNCLOS = 1982 = “Constitution of the Oceans” = EEZ = 200 nautical miles
✅ ISA = International Seabed Authority = Kingston, Jamaica = deep-sea mining