**Table: International Environmental Conventions and India's Initiatives** | **Convention/Conference** | **Year** | **Objective** | **India's Commitments** | **Ongoing Projects/Schemes/Programs** | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Stockholm Conference** | 1972 | Address global environmental issues and establish principles for sustainable development. | Established the Department of Environment in 1980; evolved into the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). | - **National River Conservation Plan (NRCP):** Aims to improve water quality of rivers through pollution abatement.
- **National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA):** Focuses on comprehensive management of the Ganga basin. | | **United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)** | 1992 | Stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. | Ratified the convention; actively participates in annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs). | - **National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):** Comprises eight missions, including the National Solar Mission and National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency.
- **State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC):** State-level plans aligning with NAPCC objectives. | | **Kyoto Protocol** | 1997 | Legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. | As a developing nation, India did not have binding targets but hosted Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. | - **Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects:** India hosts numerous CDM projects, promoting sustainable development and earning carbon credits. | | **Paris Agreement** | 2015 | Limit global temperature increase to well below 2°C, with efforts to stay within 1.5°C. | Pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070; updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2022 to include: | - **International Solar Alliance (ISA):** Initiative to promote solar energy globally, headquartered in India.
- **UJALA Scheme:** Promotes energy efficiency through the distribution of LED bulbs. | | **Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)** | 1992 | Conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. | Developed the National Biodiversity Action Plan; enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002. | - **National Biodiversity Authority (NBA):** Implements the Biological Diversity Act and advises the government on conservation.
- **State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs):** Facilitate implementation at the state level. | | **United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)** | 1994 | Combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs. | Formulated the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification in 2001. | - **Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP):** Focuses on restoring ecological balance by harnessing, conserving, and developing degraded natural resources.
- **Desert Development Programme (DDP):** Aims to mitigate the adverse effects of desertification. | | **Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol** | 1985 & 1987 | Protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances responsible for ozone depletion. | Phased out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2010; working towards phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2030. | - **Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules:** Regulates the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.
- **HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP):** Guides the phase-out of HCFCs in a structured manner. | | **Ramsar Convention** | 1971 | Conservation and wise use of wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation. | Designated 75 wetlands as Ramsar sites, covering a surface area of 1,326,677 hectares. | - **National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA):** Aims at holistic conservation and restoration of wetlands and lakes. | | **Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)** | 1973 | Ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. | Established regulatory frameworks to control trade in endangered species. | - **Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB):** Combats organized wildlife crime.
- **Project Tiger:** Aims at tiger conservation in India. | | **Basel Convention** | 1989 | Control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. | Enacted regulations to manage hazardous waste movement and disposal. | - **Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016:** Provides a regulatory framework for managing hazardous wastes. | --- **Conclusion:** India has proactively aligned its environmental policies with international conventions, implementing a range of projects and schemes to address global environmental challenges. These initiatives reflect India's dedication to sustainable development and its role in global environmental governance.