IGOs Flashcards
What is UNCLOS?
(UN Convention on the Laws of The Seas)
Defines the rights of nations to use the ocean
EEZ Zone 200 miles off coast + allows state to dev, manage, conserve and exploit it’s resources
UNCLOS Positives
Limit environmental damage
E.g. Illegal for ships to wash tanks with sea water if just delivered oil
UNCLOS Negatives
Allows HIC’s to overfish surplus in LIC’s fishing waters so doesn’t benefit small scale fishing communities e.g. in Africa
Banned whale hunting, but not all countries oblige e.g. Japan say it’s part of their culture
Montreal Protocol
Regulates ozone depleting substances e.g. CFCs
(CFCs used in fridges etc..)
Montreal Protocol Positives
98% of ODS have been phased out globally
Helps LICs comply by providing multilateral fund so they can afford to develop beyond ODS (Proved successful, many LICs have exceeded targets)
Extremely successful as involves every country, no negatives
Helsinki Rules
International guideline regulating how rivers and their groundwaters that cross national boundaries should be used
Helsinki Rules Positives
Implemented to help manage Colorado River which has been successful + benefited stakeholders
E.g. 80% water allocated for agriculture which meets needs of USA growing population. Also supplies farmers with low-cost water
Helsinki Rules Negatives
Rules not legally enforceable
UN created a more inclusive set of rules which is more widely used, does this make Helsinki Rules obsolete?
Doesn’t address all aquifers, only those connected to a river
Antarctica Treaty
Treaty signed by 50+ nations to protect Antarctica as a continent of ‘peace and science’
Antarctica Treaty Positives
Protects biodiversity e.g. seals and whales, along with their natural habitats
Antarctica Treaty Negatives
Unknown how relevant it will stay with growing demand for land and resources
Countries e.g. USA, China are expressing growing interest in exploiting the resources there e.g. coal
CITES
International treaty aiming to stop the buying and selling of endangered species
CITES Positives
Lists most endangered animals in need of protection e.g. elephants, pandas
Reduced ivory trade and protects African Elephants
Prompted China to place a ban on the domestic trade of ivory
CITES Negatives
Doesn’t protect ecosystems that the species live in, so species still dying due to deforestation e.g. in the Amazon
LICs unable to afford the monitoring needed to enforce this
Local communities against ban of ivory trade as that’s their main income and alternate jobs e.g. tourism don’t pay as well
What are SAPs?
Structural Adjustment Loans used by the IMF and World Bank on developing countries who can’t afford to pay back loans
How do SAPs have a negative impact on developing countries?
As a result of conditions, many countries have sacrificed economic sovereignty, increasing their dependence on trade etc..
What are the conditions of SAPs?
In order to get a loan from the IMF as a developing country they must comply with certain conditions:
-Reduce government spending
-Privatise industries and reduce government roles, increasing prices
-Devalue their currency
How are IMF high interest rate loans harmful?
If an LIC can’t afford to pay back the loan they land in high levels of debt and can’t afford to quickly pay it back so it keeps accumulating
