Working towards a Balanced and Inclusive Green Economy
Also in the cluster of atmospheric conventions along with the UNFCCC, the Vienna Convention targets adverse effects resulting from human activities that modify or are likely to damage the ozone layer. Its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted to establish controls on ozone-depleting substances, including phase-out schedules for the production and consumption of such substances. Relevant regulatory frameworks have been established in most countries, having direct impact on diverse industries such as manufacturing, mining and agriculture. Implementation has been supported by a Green Customs70 capacity-building initiative and international network of ozone officers in national governments facilitating the exchange of learning experiences. The Convention on Biological Diversity sets goals and establishes general principles to achieve conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Its Protocols on Biosafety and Access and Benefit Sharing provide global frameworks for the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology, and for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Its Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 commits countries to eliminate, phase out or reform harmful subsidies and promote positive incentive measures such as payments for ecosystem services or promotion of markets for biodiversity-based goods. In addition to such measures, many threats to biodiversity can be tackled through regulatory frameworks that establish environmental standards and liability regimes to eliminate harmful activities. These are explicitly based on principles such as the polluter pays and full cost recovery. The related Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulates international trade in wildlife for conservation and sustainable use purposes. Governments adopt regulatory measures to ensure that trade is not detrimental to the survival of wildlife species and traded specimens are not obtained in contravention of national laws for the protection of fauna and flora. The Rotterdam Convention, focused on international trade of hazardous chemicals to protect human health and the environment, creates legally binding obligations for the implementation of Prior Informed Consent procedures. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) requires member states to take regulatory measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal requires its members to control and reduce transboundary movements of wastes, prevent or minimize their generation and manage them in environmentally sound ways. All three of these conventions from the chemicals cluster clearly deal with human health and environment issues associated with the development of global industries and their supply chains. Multilateral environmental agreements whose scope is mainly regional, such as the regional seas conventions, also have a role to play in fostering the green transition by addressing region-specific problems such as degrading ecosystems and engaging industries – marine and other – most active within the region. In Europe, the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, and the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution provide examples of longstanding agreements that support political and economic collaboration on a regional scale.71
70 See www.greencustoms.org for more information on its work to train customs officials to trace illegal trade and smuggling of ozone depleting substances between countries with different commitments under the Convention and its Protocols.
140 Part IV – Enabling Policies and Measures