List of Environment Conventions & Protocols - UPSC

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Multiple questions are asked from the environment section of the UPSC examination in
both prelims and mains. International Environmental Conventions and Protocols are one
of the most important sections of Environment & Ecology of UPSC Mains GS III. Get the
list of important environmental conventions and protocols in this article.

Important International Environmental Agreements

The table below gives the list of important environmental conventions of the world:

List of Environmental Conventions

Name Year of
Establishment

Ramsar Convention 1971

Stockholm Convention 2001

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 CITES 1973

Convention on Biological Diversity 1992

Bonn Convention 1979

Vienna Convention 1985

Montreal Protocol 1987

Kyoto Protocol 1997

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992

(UNFCCC)

Rio Summit 1992

UNCCD 1994

Basel Convention 1989

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 2000

UN-REDD 2008

Nagoya Protocol 2010

COP24 2018

COP21 2016

Kigali Amendment 2016

Minamata Convention 2013

Rotterdam Convention 1998

COP25 2019

These International Environment conventions and protocols constitute an important part

of the UPSC Syllabus for both, prelims and mains examination. Candidates can get brief
information about each of them further below in this article.

Brief about Environmental Conventions

1. Ramsar Convention

It is called the Convention on Wetlands

It was adopted in the city of Iran, Ramsar in 1971.
It came into force in 1975.

Read more about Ramsar Convention, and Ramsar Wetland Sites in India from the links
below:

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2. Stockholm Convention

It is a convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

It was adopted in 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland.
It came into force in 2004.

Read more about the Stockholm Convention at the linked article.

3. CITES

It is a convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora
It was adopted in 1963.
It came into force in 1975.

Read more about CITES at the linked article.

4. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

It is a convention for the conservation of biological diversity.

It was adopted in 1992
It came into force in 1993.

Read more about the Convention on Biological Diversity at the linked article.

5. Bonn Convention

It is a convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

It was adopted in 1979.
It came into force in 1983.

Read more about the Bonn Convention at the linked article.

6. Vienna Convention

It is a convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer.

It was adopted in 1985.
It came into force in 1988.

Read more about the Vienna Convention at the linked article.

7. Montreal Protocol

It is an international environment protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone

Layer.
It was adopted in 1987.
It came into force in 1989.

Read more about the Montreal Protocol at the linked article.

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8. Kyoto Protocol

It is an international protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It was adopted in 1997.
It came into force in 2005.

Read more about the Kyoto Protocol at the linked article.

9. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

It is an international environmental treaty governing actions to combat climate

change through adaptation and mitigation efforts directed at control of emission of
GreenHouse Gases (GHGs) that cause global warming.
It was adopted in 1992.
It came into force in 1994.

Read more about the UNFCCC at the linked article.

10. Rio Summit

It is a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

It was held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Read more about Rio Summit at the linked article.

11. UNCCD

It is a United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

It was adopted in 1994.
It came into force in 1996.

Read more about UNCCD at the linked article.

12. Basel Convention

It is a convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous

Wastes and their Disposal.
It was adopted in 1989.
It came into force in 1992.

Read more about the Basel Convention at the linked article.

13. Cartagena Protocol

It is an international environmental protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on

Biological Diversity.
It was adopted in 2000.
It came into force in 2003.

Read more about Cartagena Protocol at the linked article.

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14. UN-REDD

It is a United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and

Forest Degradation.
It was created in 2008.

Read more about the UN-REDD at the linked article.

15. Nagoya Protocol

It is an international environment protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the

Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
It was adopted in 2010.
It came into force in 2014.

Read more about Nagoya Protocol at the linked article.

16. COP24

It is the 24th meeting of the conference of parties (COP) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
It took place in 2018.

Read more about COP24 at the linked article.

17. COP21

It is the 21st meeting of the conference of parties (COP) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
It took place in 2018.

Read more about COP21 at the linked article.

18. Kigali Agreement

It is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

It was adopted in 2016.
It came into force in 2019.

Read more about the Kigali Agreement at the linked article.

19. Minamata Convention

It is an international environmental treaty intended to protect health and the

environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
It was adopted in 2013.
It came into force in 2017.

Read more about the Minamata Convention at the linked article.

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20. Rotterdam Convention

It is an international environmental convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC)

Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
It was adopted in 1998.
It came into force in 2004.

Read more about the Rotterdam Convention at the linked article.

21. COP25

It is the 25th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It took place in 2019.

Read more about COP25 at the linked article.

UPSC Previous Year Questions on Environmental Conventions &

Protocols
Aspirants can see what kind of questions are asked in Prelims with reference to
international environmental conventions.

UPSC Prelims 2019 Question

# Consider the following statements:

1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to

protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the
Government of India based on the recommendations of the Ramsar Convention.
3. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the
drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

UPSC Prelims 2018 Question

# “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by

(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(b) The UNEP Secretariat

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