Introduction

Today, the world faces a myriad of pressing environmental challenges, ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to pollution and habitat destruction. In response, international environmental initiatives have played a pivotal role in addressing these issues, guided by foundational documents like the Stockholm Declaration and conventions such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Outer Space Treaty. Frameworks like the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol have targeted specific environmental threats, such as ozone depletion, while agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the UNFCCC have aimed to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. Milestone events like the Earth Summit and initiatives like Agenda 21 have provided platforms for international collaboration and policy development, emphasizing sustainable development and environmental stewardship on a global scale.

Objectives

After going through this unit you will be able to:

1. know about current environmental issues;

2. explain various international initiatives such as Montreal Protocol, Kyoto protocol, UNFCCC etc.