International Environmental Agreements & Law (16a)

Question 1

International environmental law (IEL)?

Answer 1

= a body of law from the international law that is formed by states for states to control issues arising between states.

Question 2

Aim of IEL? (2)

Answer 2

• Prevent depletion of natural resources.
• Prevent pollution.

Question 3

What does IEL cover? (5)

Answer 3

• Biodiversity.
• Climate change.
• Ozone depletion.
• Desertification
• Air quality.

Question 4

IEL aligned with? (2)

Answer 4

• Human rights.
• Trade.

Question 5

What does MEA stand for?

Answer 5

Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

Question 6

MEAs?

Answer 6

= a number of legally binding international instruments that are used by States to commit to the achievement of specific environmental goals.

Question 7

Agreement?

Answer 7

= an international treaty only when it creates international binding obligations & is governed by international law.

Question 8

Agreements are binding to whom?

Answer 8

States who have come into the agreement.

Question 9

Steps that need to be followed to become “parties”? (4)

Answer 9

• Adoption.
• Signature.
• Ratification.
• Entry into force.

Question 10

Ratification?

Answer 10

= where the agreement’s terms need to be accepted by the local/national/country’s government after agreed during international law meeting.

Question 11

Types of treaties? (2)

Answer 11

• Soft-law.
• Hard-law.

Question 12

How do agreements work?

Answer 12

• States become bound to the terms of the agreement & must implement those terms.

• States often need to amend, adopt policies & legislation.

• States may withdraw from the agreement.

Question 13

Soft-law?

Answer 13

= international agreements that are not legally binding.

Question 14

Hard-law?

Answer 14

= international agreements that are legally binding.

Question 15

Egs of international environmental agreements that SA has signed? (8)

Answer 15

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

• Agenda 21.
• Convention in Biological Diversity (CBD).
• Montreal Protocol.
• UNFCCC.
• Kyoto Protocol.
• Paris Agreement.
• World Heritage Convention.

Question 16

CITES features (ADOPTION YR, AIM,)? (2)

Answer 16

• 1973-1975.
• To manage international trade of foreign species, specifically endangered species to prevent their extinction.

Question 17

Agenda 21 features? (2)

Answer 17

• 1992.
• Promotes global sustainable development.

Question 18

CBD features? (2)

Answer 18

• 1993.
• Promotion of conservation & sustainable use of biodiversity.

Question 19

Montreal Protocol features? (2)

Answer 19

• 1989.
• Pollution & climate change/Phasing out of ozone depletion.

Question 20

UNFCCC features? (2)

Answer 20

• 1992.
• Manage levels of greenhouse gas emissions to deal with climate change.

Question 21

UNFCCC stands for?

Answer 21

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Question 22

Kyoto Protocol features? (2)

Answer 22

• 1997.
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 23

Paris Agreement features? (2)

Answer 23

• 2016.
• Adaptation & mitigation to climate change (more financial side to it).

Question 24

World Heritage Convention features? (2)

Answer 24

• 1972.
• To identify, preserve & protect sites that are important to cultural heritage.