Environmental Issues and Convention

Top 5 indoor Plants that help in combating Air Pollution

A research from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has revealed that if you want to solve the problem of air pollution at your home then you should plant these 5 plants in your house. These five plants are; Areca Palm, Mother-in-law's tongue, Golden Pothos, Chrysanthemum (Guldudi) and Money Plant.

Ecology and Ecosystem: A Complete Overview

The Environment is our basic life support system which provides the air for breathing, the water for drinking, the food for eating and the land for a living. It is collectively portrayed all the external forces and conditions, which influences the life, nature, growth and maturity of living organism, whereas ‘Ecology’ is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment.

Causes and Effects of Degrading Natural Resources

Environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth, deterioration of the environment through disproportionate consumption of natural assets, and continuous destruction of environment and eradication of wildlife.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20 (Portuguese pronunciation or Earth Summit 2012 was the 3rd international conference on sustainable development aimed at reconciling the economic and environmental goals of the global community, hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 22 June 2012. Rio+20 was a 20-year follow-up to the 1992 Earth Summit / United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in the same city.

The Montreal Protocol & the Vienna Convention

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989. Since then, it has undergone seven revisions, in 1990 (London), 1991 (Nairobi), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1993 (Bangkok), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing).

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) was signed in Washington DC on 2nd December 1946. The purpose of the Convention sets out the ability of the IWC to establish regulations "such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of the Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of whale resources."

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

It was created and adopted by governments at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, when world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for "sustainable development" – to meet current needs while ensuring a living planet for future generations. Signed by 193 governments the CBD sets out commitments for maintaining the world's biodiversity which directly supports the livelihoods of billions and underpins global economic development.

Bonn Convention, Washington and the Ramsar Convention

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or the Bonn Convention, not to be confused with the Bonn Agreement) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), also known as the Washington Convention, adopted in 1963. Ramsar convention is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.

Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone layer depletion, is simply the wearing out (reduction) of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. Depletion begins when CFC’s get into the stratosphere. Ultra violet radiation from the sun breaks up these CFCs. The breaking up action releases Chlorine atoms. Chlorine atoms react with Ozone, starting a chemical cycle that destroys the good ozone in that area.

IUCN Red data Book

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. From its small beginning, The IUCN Red List has grown in size and complexity and now plays an increasingly prominent role in guiding conservation activities of governments, NGOs and scientific institutions. The introduction in 1994 of a scientifically rigorous approach to determine risks of extinction that is applicable to all species, has become a world standard.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development has continued to evolve as that of protecting the world’s resources while its true agenda is to control the world’s resources. So Environmentally sustainable economic growth refers to economic development that meets the needs of all without leaving future generations with fewer natural resources than those we enjoy today.

Soil Pollution

In a general sense, soil pollution is the existence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil in high enough concentrations to be of risk to human health and/or ecosystem. Additionally, even when the levels of contaminants in soil are not of risk, soil pollution may occur simply due to the fact that the levels of the contaminants in soil exceed the levels that are naturally present in soil (in the case of contaminants which occur naturally in soil).

Global Warming

Global Warming is the increase of Earth's average surface temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation CFCs, and other pollutants, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth. Earth's climate is mostly influenced by the first 6 miles or so of the atmosphere which contains most of the matter making up the atmosphere.