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Leading the promotion and defense of different initiatives to protect the planet, environmental protocols have the trust and commitment of the international community to comply with the different most relevant environmental obligations. Within this international community, various organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, try to resolve important issues related to biological diversity, chemical products and wastes, climate, atmosphere and, in general, protection and preservation. enviroment.
Continue reading this Green Ecologist article to learn more about the environmental protocols: what they are and examples.
What are environmental protocols
The environmental protocols establish agreements and initiatives aimed at regulation of different environmental problems that affect both the health of people and the survival of other living beings and their habitats. These protocols can be conceived as national and international agreements, with the aim of improving the environmental living conditions of a specific region or, on the contrary, worldwide.
Each and every one of the different environmental protocols that human beings have drawn up throughout history have legal support, that is, they are based on the application of different laws and regulations that guarantee the correct fulfillment of the objectives that are established. have detailed in each protocol.
Thus, various international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), are in charge of managing and reviewing the legal and mandatory compliance with environmental protocols, by all the countries that have participated and are committed to the objectives of said environmental protocols.
Here are some examples of the most important and prominent environmental protocols, many of which are essential in the ultimate goal of protecting the environment, living beings and planet Earth as a whole.
Examples of environmental protocols
Numerous and various environmental protocols have been established to date, with the purpose of protecting life on Earth and ensure survival of future generations of the different species that inhabit the planet. These environmental protocols include:
- Madrid Protocol (Spain, 1991) on the protection of the Environment of the Antarctic Treaty. In this other Green Ecologist article we talk about the Antarctic Treaty: what it is and what it establishes.
- Cartagena Protocol (Colombia, 1999) on Biotechnological Safety. Here you can learn more about this: Cartagena Protocol: what is the objective and signatory countries.
- Gothenburg Protocol (Germany, 1999) on the reduction of acidification, eutrophication and ozone in the troposphere.
- Aarhus Protocol (Denmark, 1998) regarding heavy metals.
- Helsinki Protocol (Finland, 1985) for the reduction of sulfur emissions.
- Montreal Protocol (Canada, 1989) on substances that deplete the ozone layer. If you want more information about this, you can enter this other post on the Montreal Protocol: what it is, participating countries and objectives.
- Kyoto Protocol (Japan, 1997) on climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Kyoto Protocol on climate change
The famous and world famous Kyoto Protocol It is an environmental protocol that was drafted by the UNFCCC or the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is an agreement made between several countries or nations, that is, it is international. Specifically, 187 countries from all over the world pledged to reduce emissions of 6 of the main GHGs o greenhouse gases that cause the great acceleration of global warming: methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and three fluorinated industrial gases, which are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The Kyoto Protocol was drawn up in the city of the same name (Kyoto, Japan) in 1990, although it did not enter into force until 2005.
To learn more about this, we recommend reading this other article in which we explain in more detail what the Kyoto protocol consists of.
The Gothenburg Protocol
The international initiative carried out by the Gothenburg Protocol (Germany) in 1999, its objective was to reduction of acidification and eutrophication, as well as the ozone present in the troposphere.
It came into force in 2005, becoming one of the most prominent environmental protocols focused on the control and reduction of gas emissions such as sulfuric dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC). and ammonia (NH3); caused by different anthropogenic activities, which carry dangerous harmful effects on health, natural ecosystems, and crops.
Madrid Protocol - environmental protection in Antarctica
Within the environmental protocols focused on the protection and conservation of a single specific region of the planet, the Madrid Protocol. It is a complementary protocol to the one previously signed Antarctic Treaty, which focuses on expanding the environmental protection of the continent of Antarctica, with special interest in the ecosystems associated with the white continent.
The Madrid Protocol was signed in the Spanish capital in 1991, entering into force in 1998 and pending review for the future 2048. Among its main objectives are the prohibition of all exploitation of mineral resources in Antarctica (except for scientific research), as well as the evaluation and monitoring of each and every one of the different activities carried out on the continent, including tourism.
If you want to read more articles similar to Environmental protocols: what they are and examplesWe recommend that you enter our category of Projects, associations and NGOs.
Bibliography- Environmental Protocol. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Recovered from http://www.unece.org/unece/search?q=environmnetal+protocol
- Yuste, C. (06/05/2019) Pollution, water and energy, the great environmental challenges of Spain. EFE Agency: Green- Environment. Retrieved from https://www.efeverde.com/noticias/contaminacion-agua-energia/
- Drafting EFE: Green (06/21/2019) They demand greater consensus on environmental policy. EFE Agency: Green- sustainable mobility. Retrieved from https://www.efeverde.com/noticias/reclaman-mayor-consenso-politica-medioambiental/
