Assignment

Topic:
1) International Agreements for Pollution
control / Environmental protection.
2) International Trade & Environmental
role of UNO in Environmental protection.
Submitted to:
Sir Zulfiqar Hussain
Submitted by:
M. Nouman Yasin
Roll No. ECON51F20R020
BS(Economics)
5th semester(Regular)

Department of Economics

University of Sargodha
Topic #1
International Agreements for
Pollution control / Environmental protection.

What is an international environmental agreement?

International environmental agreements (IEAs) are signed treaties that regulate or
manage human impact on the environment in an effort to protect it.

A convention can refer to an actual meeting or conference between parties where

they reach an agreement on the final terms of a treaty. However, it is also broadly
used to describe wide-scale agreements between governments.

1# The Kyoto Protocol:

TARGET:
The Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(the 'Kyoto Protocol') was adopted at the third session of the Conference of the
Parties (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997.
The protocol complements the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and
promotes the realization of its goal by establishing legally binding obligations for
developed countries for greenhouse gas emissions.

IMPLEMENTATION/MEANING:

In the Kyoto Protocol's first obligation period of 2008-2012, developed countries

(38 countries) committed to reduce a total of 5% of its greenhouse gas emissions
from the 1990 level by 2012. EU internal according to burden sharing, Finland's
obligation in the first commitment period was to keep emissions at the 1990 level.

In the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol 2013-2020, the EU's goal
is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% of the 1990 level by 2020.
According to the EU's internal burden sharing, Finland's obligation is on the other
during the commitment period is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least
16% from the 2005 level by 2020.
2# Paris Climate Agreement:
TARGET:
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It
was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered
into force on 4 November 2016.
The goal of the agreement is to strengthen worldwide climate action including:
By limiting the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees
Celsius relative to pre-industrial times and aiming for actions to limit warming to
1.5 degrees Celsius relative to in pre-industrial times, by improving the ability to
adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and the ability to adapt flexibly to
the changing climate and by promoting development towards low greenhouse gas
emissions in a way that does not threaten food security and by matching financial
flows to a low-emission development course and development that flexibly adapts
to a changing climate. In terms of reducing emissions, the goal of the agreement is
to reach the peak of the growth of global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as
possible and then reduce emissions rapidly so that man-made greenhouse gas
emissions and sinks are in balance this century in the second half.

IMPLEMENTATION/MEANING:

A common goal of reducing emissions by at least 40% by 2030 has been approved
in the EU. A joint long-term goal of reducing emissions by 80−95% by 2050 has
been approved in the EU. Finland, together with several other EU member states,
has been demanding that all countries must urgently step up their actions in
accordance with the Paris Agreement to achieve the goals. The emission reduction
targets and measures announced so far by the parties to the Paris Agreement are
not sufficient to limit the rise in temperature in Paris in accordance with the
objective of the agreement.

3# Vienna Convention for the Protection of

the Ozone Layer:
TARGET:

The Convention was adopted by the Conference on the Protection of the Ozone
Layer and open for signature at Vienna from 22 March 1985 to 21 September
1985, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 22 September
1985 until 21 March 1986.The goal of the agreement, together with the Montreal
Protocol, is to gradually end the production and consumption of substances that
weaken the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, taking into account scientific
development, economic and technical aspects and the needs of developing
countries. The parties to the agreement cooperate on the ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere in thinning-related research and information exchange.

IMPLEMENTATION/MEANING:

The agreement has produced excellent results so far. The parties to the agreement
have already reduced the consumption and production of ozone-depleting
substances by more than 98 percent in total, and decisions have been made on
complete bans and phase-out schedules for the substances. Despite numerous
challenges, developing countries are have reduced the consumption and production
of ozone-depleting substances even faster than the agreed schedules. Since
substances that weaken the ozone layer are also strong greenhouse gases, carbon
dioxide emissions corresponding to more than 135 gig tons have been prevented
thanks to the Montreal Protocol.

4# Montreal Protocol:

TARGET:

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global
agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that
deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of
ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed 16 December
1987 in Montreal and entered into force in 1989.
.
IMPLEMENTATION/MEANING:

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring
the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or
amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most
recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a
batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol.
Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful
greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

5# Convention on Biological Diversity (i.e. the

so-called CBD Convention):
TARGET:
The Convention on Biological Diversity, was opened for signature at the Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 5, 1992 and entered into force at the
end of 1993. The main goal of the agreement is the protection of Earth's
ecosystems, animal and plant species and their genetic factors the protection of
diversity, the sustainable use of natural resources and the fair and equitable
distribution of the benefit obtained from the use of heritage material. The goal of
the protocol is to ensure that living genetically modified organisms are transferred,
processed and used in cross border transfers in accordance with the precautionary
principle in a way that does not cause harm to biodiversity and its sustainable for
use, also taking into account the risks to human health.
IMPLEMENTATION/MEANING:
The CBD agreement has been ratified by 196 parties. The year 2010 at the meeting
of the parties, it was decided that the impoverishment of nature must be stopped by
2020. To support the implementation of the ambitious goal, a strategic plan for the
years 2011−2020 was approved. It includes 20 goals (the so-called Aichi goals). A
strategic plan to monitor implementation, countries regularly draw up national
biodiversity strategies and action programs (NBSAP). The most important task for
2019 and 2020 is to prepare an international biodiversity plan for the period after
2020.
The protocol has been effectively implemented with the help of an operational
strategy program. Key issues are risk assessment, socioeconomic reviews and new
genome editing methods. Both for risk assessment and socio-economic reviews
have been developed and evaluation guidelines are being developed. There are
already 170 parties (February 2019).

6# Minamata Convention on Mercury:

TARGET:
The Convention was adopted on 10 October 2013 at Kumamoto (Japan) on the
occasion of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on
Mercury held from 7 to 11 October 2013. The goal of the agreement is to protect
human health and the environment from emissions of mercury and mercury
compounds caused by human activity.

IMPLEMENTATION/MEANING:
Limiting mercury-containing products has been important due to both human
exposure and improper waste disposal environmental load to reduce. Limiting the
use of mercury through agreements has been possible in applications for which
substitute products are available globally. On a global level, the most mercury risks
are long-range airborne emissions, the largest source of which is coal burning. The
agreement aims to promote the application of the best available technology and
environmentally best practices in terms of emissions to reduce. In addition, efforts
are being made to create national programs for the gradual cessation of mercury
emissions. In some areas, the EU has stricter restrictions on mercury than what is
required by the convention.

7# COP 27:
TARGET/ Goals:

On 20 November, the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), that took place in
the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh

 Mitigation: All parties, especially those in a position to “lead by example”,

are urged to take “bold and immediate actions” and to reduce emissions to
limit global warming well below 2°C.

 Adaptation: Ensure that COP27 makes the “crucially needed progress”

towards enhancing climate change resilience and assisting the world’s most
vulnerable communities.

 Finance: Make significant progress on climate finance, including the

delivery of the promised $100 billion per year to assist developing countries.
  Collaboration: As the UN negotiations are consensus-based, reaching
agreement will require “inclusive and active participation from all
stakeholders”

Topic #2
International Trade and
Environmental Role of UNO in Environmental
protection.

 Introduction:
It is now widely accepted that Climate change is not only an environmental
issue but a development issue as well and if strong measures are not taken to
tackle the issue, the world will have to face terrible consequences.
International trade has a critical role to play in environmental protection and
the effort to mitigate climate change. According to Adam Wolff, trade
policies are powerful tools to increase resource efficiency, scale-up
investment in clean and resilient infrastructure, and accelerate climate-
friendly innovation.

 Positive effect of International Trade on

Environment:
Trade allows countries to attain more of what they want, including
environmental protection. Trade might lead to international pressures to
increase environmental standards, or to beneficial technological and
managerial innovations. Multinational corporations tend to bring clean state-
of-the-art production techniques from higher-standard countries of origin to
host countries where such standards are not yet known. Furthermore, trade
economists believe that openness to trade encourages continual innovation
 both in technology and in management practice; such innovation likely will
be applied to environmental concerns as well as to pure economic goals.

 Negative effect of International Trade on

Environment:
 Expanded International trade tends to increase the scale of production for the
world as a whole, meaning that the total volume of pollution and
environmental damage is likely to increase. Trade also necessarily involves
energy use for transportation, with resulting air pollution and other
environmental impacts. There can also be indirect environmental effects of
trade, for example when peasant farmers are displaced by larger-scale export
agriculture onto marginal lands such as hillsides and forest margins. Specific
kinds of trade, such as trade in toxic wastes or endangered species, have
obvious environmental impacts.

 Relationship between WTO and

Environment:
The World Trade Organization is deeply connected with climate change. There are
several rules in the WTO that have an implication on the relationship between
trade and climate change, as well as measures relating to climate change that may
be constrained by the rules of the WTO. The rules include those relating to tariffs,
the non-discrimination principle, standards, subsidies, and intellectual property.

1. Sustainable development and environmental

protection are the goals of the WTO:
Sustainable development and protection and preservation of the environment are
two objectives that are fundamental to WTO. These goals go hand in hand with
WTO’s objective to reduce trade barriers and eliminate discriminatory treatment in
international trade relations. WTO creates an obligation on member states to ensure
proper trade incentives in order to promote eco-friendly technologies.
2. Trade liberalization: 
In order to achieve its goal of sustainable development and protection of the
environment, WTO strives to liberalize the trade of environmental goods by
providing a stable environment which enhances the possibility of innovation. It
was in the 1992 Rio Summit, 2002 Johannesburg Summit, and the 2005 UN World
Summit that the contribution of trade towards sustainable development and the
environment was recognized.

3. WTO rules aimed towards protecting the

environment:
WTO’s goal of sustainable development along with environmental protection can
also be seen in its rules. The fundamental principles of non-discrimination,
transparency, and predictability provide the member states a framework to address
environmental concerns. Some of the agreements which specifically highlight such
principles are:

 Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (ensures discriminatory

technical regulations are not implemented).
 The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (sets basic rules
for food safety; animal and plant health).
 GATT.

5. Support of WTO Institutions:

The WTO also supports its environmental goals through specialized committees.
Some of the major committees which facilitate sustainable development and
environment are:

 Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) (a forum for dialogue on

trade and the environment).
 Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (which deals with regulations,
standards, testing and certification procedures).
Topic # 3
What are Pesticides and its impact
on Environment:

What are Pesticides?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has defined pesticide as:
Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying or
controlling any pest, including vectors of human or animal disease, unwanted
species of plants or animals, causing harm during or otherwise interfering with the
production, processing, storage, transport, or marketing of food, agricultural
commodities, wood and wood products or animal feedstuffs, or substances that
may be administered to animals for the control of insects, arachnids, or other pests
in or on their bodies.
Pesticides are commercial products containing toxic chemicals which are
deliberately sprayed onto crops in order to deter unwanted pests, such as insects,
rodents, fungi and weeds. They encompass a wide variety of chemical products,
including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, among many others.
But while the ability of pesticides to boost crop yields has made them instrumental
in producing enough food to satisfy the global population, a surprising percentage
(98% of insecticides and 95% of herbicides) do not actually reach their intended
their target. Instead, they infiltrate the wider environment, representing just one
of many sources and types of agricultural pollution, each of which can have
devastating impacts on the world.

Effect of Pesticides:
Pesticides have several effects on our environment. These effects can be enlisted as
the following:

Poor quality soil:

Although pesticides are meant to help plant growth, over time they can inhibit it.
That’s because the chemicals contained within them can reduce the proportion of
organic matter in soil, weakening its ability to retain moisture and reducing its
overall quality. Not only does this directly damage biodiversity, but it also leads to
lower crop yields in the future as it can persist in the environment for many years,
building up to unsafe levels in the long run.
Contaminated water supplies:
Pesticides can infiltrate streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, coastal waters and
subterranean supplies through several means: it could leach down through the soil,
be carried into waterways via agricultural run-off after heavy precipitation or else
spilled during transportation, storage and application. As well as harming aquatic
organisms, it can also contaminate drinking water intended for humans. In fact, the
UK has performed research using the latest and most sophisticated
techniques to show that pesticide content in many rivers and groundwater reserves
has reached unsafe levels.

Air pollution:
Before it has even had a chance to settle upon the intended crop, a percentage of
pesticides is carried away on the breeze. They can also evaporate at a later time or
date. Depending on the ambient conditions (temperature, humidity and wind
direction), different compounds can behave in different ways and can potentially
be carried hundreds of miles away. Certain of these substances are contaminants in
their own right, while others can react with particles in the air to form other
pollutants such as ground-level ozone.

Bee decline:
Although pesticides are intended to target specifically pest plants, animals and
fungi, other species can often get caught in the crossfire. Bees are a notorious
example of this, with some of the most commonly used pesticides (such as
neonicotinoids) now known to cause irreparable damage to bee populations. Due to
their vital role as a pollinator, the decline of the global bee population is seriously
concerning news for biodiversity around the world.

Animal ecosystems:
The use of pesticides can also unintentionally wipe out other plant species which
serve as vital sources of food to a variety of different animals. These animals are
then forced to either relocate away from their natural habitat in order to find
sustenance, or else starve. At the same time, animals which eat plants or insects
treated with pesticides could see the substances bio accumulate in their bodies, thus
contaminating the entire food chain.