Lecture 3 - International Environmental Governance

• Evolved from 1972 UN conference on the human evironment -> UNEP (UN Environment Program)
• UNEP has 58 nations on rotating basis. Assesses state of env, workinng on program priorities, support/collaboration with secretariats of MEA's
• MEA's - sectoral MEA's developed post stockholm. 87 - Montreal protocol for protection of ozone, 1973-1975 - CITES, UN convention on climate changae (UNFCCC), and UN Convention on Biological diversity CBD, and Ageda 21 and the Rio declaration.
• UNFCCC- 1994, own secretariat coordination reporting, data, scientific effort, kyoto and CDM. CDM's involve executive emmission reduction projects in developing countries to earn CER's
• CBD - conservation of biological diversity , sustainable use of components of biological diversity, fair and equitable sharig out of the benefits of genetic resources. CBD work themes include ag biodiversity, forests, inland waters, Islands, Marine and coastal, Mountains. CBD working themes are taxonomy, ecosystems approach, climate change and biodiversity, access and benefit sharing, traditional knowledge, biodiversity for development, alient species, protected areas, tourism etc.
• CBD operation - 193 parties (everyone except US). regular conferences, central contact point in each country, biodiversity strategic action plans, national reports every 4 years.  Example Tuvalu main issues are sea level rise, licensed foreign fishing exploiting exclusive economic zone (EEZ), invasive foreignn species, lack of capacity and resources. Implementation dependant on support - CBD technical support, UNDP GEF etc. Attempting to train local communities to engage as they have few staff/tiny administration.
• Basel convention - ship breaking, e-wastes, mercury and metals, asbestos, illegal dumping.  170 parties, requires prior consent. Wastes must be disposed of in environmentally sound manner. Disputes through ICJ. Convention has model template for implementation. IMplementation, tracking and enforcement always a challenge.  Watched the video on Basel and Greenpeace tracking a TV to nigeria. Challenge is that developing nations need this type of trade to survive however the e-waste is then not managed and creates massive hazardous waste.
• Complianec measures for MEA's varies - There is usually an onus on diplomacy and prevention of non-compliance.
• National imp/compliance - usually national imp plan. nat authority for MEA, legal framework, national enforcement. Can be command and control responsive legislation (where industry is engaged), liability based, economic instruments, or volentary approaches (education, technical, promotion of industry standards).
• Reporting , monitoring and verification can help states track compliance. For example at request of various parties the CITES secretariat has conducted verification - ie tigers. Parties typically urged to report non compliance particularly when lack of capacity is the cause.
• Enforcement - CITES - Interpol and world customs databases are good sources. National customs have powers to charge. ICJ is principle court for disputes. Example - Australia v Japan re: whaling. ICJ has established a special chamber of environmental matters 1993. There is a protocol established for negotiatig MEA's. ICEAC - facilitates the settlement of environmental disputes submitted by states, natural persons or legal persons.
• UNDP based on merging of UN expanded program of technical assistance (1949) and the UN special fund (1958). Works closely with UNEP