Transcript ALL ABOUT GREEN

ALL ABOUT
GREEN
MISHA GUPTA
PGDM 2
IB PRESENTATION
WHAT IS GREEN
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Green, the color of life, renewal, nature, and energy, is
associated with meanings of growth, harmony, freshness,
safety, fertility, and environment .
The color green has healing power and is understood to be
the most restful and relaxing color for the human eye to view .
The color green affects us physically and mentally in several
different ways. Green is soothing, relaxing, and youthful .
The green color is often used to indicate safety in the
advertising of drugs and medical products. Green is directly
related to nature and energy, so it is also commonly used to
represent and promote ‘green’ products.
Green gemstones are believed to help create balance,
promote change or growth, increase feelings of hopefulness
and optimism, and break the emotional demands of others.
GREEN IN RELIGIONS
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Green is the national color of Ireland and is
commonly associated with good luck, leprechauns,
clovers .
Green also has close ties with Islam .
Green is the sacred color of Islam and is a sign of
respect and veneration.
In the Muslim world, Green signifies the Prophet
Muhammad
In England green has heroic meanings and is
connected to the stories of Robin Hood.
In China Green represents disgrace .
In North Africa Green symbolizes corruption.
In Japan Green signifies eternal life.
OTHER MEANINGS OF GREEN
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The term “green-eyed monster” refers to a jealous person
and the term “green with envy” stands for feelings of
jealousy and envy.
The phrase “green room” refers to the room in a theater or
television studio where the guests, experts, or performers go
to relax.
The term “greenback” refers to the United States dollar bill.
Olive green and several green shades and tints used in
camouflage gear have a strong military meaning.
Too much green can cause people to become placid,
lazy, slow, moody, depressed, and lethargic. Too little green
can cause feelings of apathy and fear of rejection.
USE OF GREEN IN POPULAR
CULTURE
A
traffic light switched to Green means 'GO'.
 Christmas colors are Red and Green.
 Currently much of the world is concerned with
conserving energy, 'Going Green' and developing
sources of 'Green Energy‘ .
 Green is the color associated with the Astrological
sign of Cancer.
 In Eastern philosophy Green is associated with the
Heart Chakra at the center of the chest which rules
our ability to love and empathize .
 In the movie business, a project which is approved
gets 'Green Lighted‘ .
A STEP TOWARDS GREEN
TOMORROW
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We all want to protect our planet, but we're mostly too
busy or too lazy to put up big change that would improve
our lifestyle and save the environment . These are 7 simple
habits to implement in your everyday life which will make a
difference .
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs .
Donate .
Turn off your devices .
Walk or cycle .
Detergent .
leaky faucets .
Rainwater .
GLOBAL CONCERNS
 What
are we doing wrong? Mostly the
problem is destruction of habitat by:
 industrial pollution
 mining
 farming
 transporting species into habitats where
they had not been
 What
are some of the consequencies ?
 One billion people have inadequate
sanitation
 One and a half billion people (mostly in
large cities of newly industrialized countries)
breath air that is dangerously unhealthy
 Hundreds of millions of poor farmers
struggle to make a living on poor land
 Whole countries are on the verge of famine
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human species needs food and water.
We need energy. But we also need to protect
the ecosystem niches that make survival of our
species possible. Beyond that, we need to
protect the niches for other species too. Why
do niches need protection?
 It's not nice to try to fool Mother Nature
 Environmental hazards are dangerous
 Moral obligation
 The United Nations World Conservation
Monitoring Center predicts that 25% of all the
earth's species of mammals may become
extinct in the next 30 years. Over 10% of the
bird species face extinction in that time.
ENVIRONMENTALISM AND POLITICS
 World
population is now at 6 billion. Over
a 100-years, the world population has
tripled and the growth seems to be
continuing at the same rate. How long
can the human species sustain such
growth?
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The really frightening prospect is the rapid pace of
industrialization in many Third World countries where
unregulated industries expand to serve the growth of
the already huge populations .
. China has 1.2 billion people. India has about 1 billion
people. What will world pollution be like when countries
like these become fully industrialized and modernized?
In May 2002, the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP) released an extensive report saying that, “there
was a growing gap between the efforts to reduce the
impact of business and industry on nature and the
worsening state of the planet” and that “this gap is due
to the fact that only a small number of companies in
each industry are actively integrating social and
environmental factors into business decisions.” (The
actual quote is from a U.N. News Centre article, 15 May
2002 that introduces the report.)
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One sharp example of environmental problems caused
by multinational corporations, is the drive to extract oil
from Nigeria .
The interests of the various big polluters, such as the
auto, mining, oil and chemical corporations influenced
the Kyoto Global Climate Change Conference
outcome.
And with biotechnology and genetically engineered
food production, companies are accused of following a
profit motive even as they promote the technology as a
means to address world hunger.
With increased consumerism, there has been a rise in the
number of environmental groups campaigning on
various issues such as environmentally friendly products.
STATISTICS
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estimated cost of global environmental
damage caused by human activity in 2008 is $6.6
trillion, which is equivalent to 11 percent of global
GDP, according to a study released by the UNbacked Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
and the UN Environment Programme Finance
Initiative (UNEP FI).
 The study also finds that the top 3,000 public
companies were responsible for $2.15 trillion, or
about one-third, of all global environmental
damage.
 The UN groups say the study, conducted by
Trucost, is an initial effort to quantify in monetary
terms the environmental harm caused by business
and the possible future consequences for investor
portfolios, fund returns and company earnings.
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key finding of the study reveals that the
most environmentally damaging business sectors
are utilities, oil and gas producers, as well as
industrial metals and mining.
 Those three accounted for almost a trillion dollars
worth of environmental harm in 2008.
 “This report sends a powerful message that the
environment is also the business of business.
Polluters must pay. Safeguarding the environment
and using our natural assets efficiently entail
collective action.
 Cohesive policy and regulation is required to fully
account for externalities and speed up the
integration of material environmental issues into
investment decisions .
OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
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Earth’s atmosphere is divided into three regions,
namely troposphere, stratosphere and
mesosphere (see Figure 9.1). The stratosphere
extends from 10 to 50 kms from the Earth’s surface.
This region is concentrated with slightly pungent
smelling, light bluish ozone gas. The ozone gas is
made up of molecules each containing three
atoms of oxygen; its chemical formula is O3. The
ozone layer, in the stratosphere acts as an efficient
filter for harmful solar Ultraviolet B (UV-B) rays .
EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION
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Effects on Human and Animal Health:
Increased penetration of solar UV-B radiation
is likely to have high impact on human health
with potential risks of eye diseases, skin
cancer and infectious diseases.
Effects on Terrestrial Plants: In forests and
grasslands, increased radiation is likely to
change species composition thus altering the
bio-diversity in different ecosystems. It could
also affect the plant community indirectly
resulting in changes in plant form, secondary
metabolism, etc.
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Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems: High levels of radiation
exposure in tropics and subtropics may affect the
distribution of phytoplanktons, which form the
foundation of aquatic food webs. It can also cause
damage to early development stages of fish, shrimp,
crab, amphibians and other animals, the most severe
effects being decreased reproductive capacity and
impaired larval development.
Effects on Bio-geo-chemical Cycles: Increased solar UV
radiation could affect terrestrial and aquatic bio-geochemical cycles thus altering both sources and sinks of
greenhouse and important trace gases, e.g. carbon
dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbonyl sulfide
(COS), etc. These changes would contribute to
biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks responsible for the
atmosphere build-up of these greenhouse gases.
 Effects
on Air Quality: Reduction of stratospheric
ozone and increased penetration of UV- B
radiation result in higher photo dissociation rates of
key trace gases that control the chemical reactivity
of the troposphere. This can increase both
production and destruction of ozone and related
oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, which are
known to have adverse effects on human health,
terrestrial plants and outdoor materials.
OZONE DEPLETION COUNTER
MEASURES
 International
cooperation, agreement
(Montreal Protocol) to phase out
ozone depleting chemicals since 1974
 Tax imposed for ozone depleting
substances.
 Ozone friendly substitutes- HCFC (less
ozone depleting potential and shorter
life) .
 Recycle of CFCs and Halons .
GLOBAL WARMING
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the last 100 years, it was found out
that the earth is getting warmer and
warmer, unlike previous 8000 years when
temperatures have been relatively
constant. The present temperature is 0.3 0.6 oC warmer than it was 100 years ago.
 SOURCES OF GREEN HOUSE ARE :
 Carbondioxide
 methane
GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIALS
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GWPs measure the influence greenhouse gases have on the
natural greenhouse effect, including the ability of greenhouse
gas molecules to absorb or trap heat and the length of time,
greenhouse gas molecules remain in the atmosphere before
being removed or broken down. In this way, the contribution
that each greenhouse gas has towards global warming can be
assessed.
Each greenhouse gas differs in its ability to absorb heat in the
atmosphere. HFCs and PFCs are the most heat-absorbent.
Methane traps over 21 times more heat per molecule than
carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat
per molecule than carbon dioxide. Conventionally, the GWP of
carbon dioxide, measured across all time horizons, is 1. The
GWPs of other greenhouse gases are then measured relative to
the GWP of carbon dioxide. Thus GWP of methane is 21 while
GWP of nitrous oxide is 270.
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greenhouse gases have much higher GWPs
than carbon dioxide, but because their
concentration in the atmosphere is much lower,
carbon dioxide is still the most important
greenhouse gas, contributing about 60% to the
enhancement of the greenhouse effect.
GLOBAL WARMING IMPLICATIONS
 Rise
in global temperature
 Rise in sea level
 Food shortages and hunger
 India could be more at risk than other
countries
LOSS OF BIO DIVERSITY
 Biodiversity
refers to the variety of life on
earth, and its biological diversity.
 Biodiversity actually boosts ecosystem
productivity where each species, no
matter how small, all have an important
role to play and that it is in this
combination that enables the ecosystem
to possess the ability to prevent and
recover from a variety of disasters.
LINK BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIO
DIVERSITY
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Climate change is affecting species already threatened
by multiple threats across the globe. Habitat fragmentation
due to colonization, logging, agriculture and mining etc.
are all contributing to further destruction of terrestrial
habitats.
Individual species may not be able to adapt. Species most
threatened by climate change have small ranges, low
population densities, restricted habitat requirements and
patchy distribution.
Ecosystems will generally shift northward or upward in
altitude, but in some cases they will run out of space – as
10C change in temperature correspond to a 100 Km
change in latitude, hence, average shift in habitat
conditions by the year 2100 will be on the order of 140 to
580 Km.
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Coral reef mortality may increase and erosion may be
accelerated. Increase level of carbon dioxide
adversely impact the coral building process
(calcification).
Sea level may rise, engulfing low-lying areas causing
disappearance of many islands, and extinctions of
endemic island species.
Invasive species may be aided by climate change.
Exotic species can out-compete native wildlife for
space, food, water and other resources, and may also
prey on native wildlife.
Droughts and wildfires may increase. An increased risk
of wildfires due to warming and drying out of
vegetation is likely.
Droughts and wildfires may increase. An increased risk
of wildfires due to warming and drying out of
vegetation is likely.
CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM AND
RESPONSE
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The United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change, UNFCCC
The convention’s overall objective is the
stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in
the atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
climate system.”
The deciding body of the climate convention is
the Conference of Parties (COP).
At the COP meetings, obligations made by the
parties are examined and the objectives and
implementation of the climate convention are
further defined and developed.
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The Kyoto Protocol
Negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) were
completed December 11, 1997, committing the industrialized
nations to specify, legally binding reductions in emissions of six
greenhouse gases. The 6 major greenhouse gases covered
by the protocol are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur xafluoride (SFhe 6).
The Protocol states that developed countries are committed,
individually or jointly, to ensuring that their aggregate
anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of
greenhouse gases do not exceed amounts assigned to each
country with a view to reducing their overall emissions of such
gases by at least 5% below 1990 levels in the commitment
period 2008 to 2012.
The amounts for each country are listed as percentages of
the base year, 1990 and range from 92% (a reduction of 8%)
for most European countries--to 110% (an increase of 10%) for
Iceland.
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The Kyoto Protocol does call on all Parties (developed
and developing) to take a number of steps to
formulate national and regional programs to improve
"local emission factors," activity data, models, and
national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and
sinks that remove these gases from the atmosphere. All
Parties are also committed to formulate, publish, and
update climate change mitigation and adaptation
measures, and to cooperate in promotion and transfer
of environmentally sound technologies and in scientific
and technical research on the climate system.
Who is bound by the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol has to be signed and ratified by 55
countries (including those responsible for at least 55% of
the developed world's 1990 carbon dioxide emissions)
before it can enter into force. Now that Russia has
ratified, this been achieved and the Protocol will enter
into force on 16 February 2005.
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Indian Response to Climatic Change Under the
UNFCCC, developing countries such as India do
not have binding GHG mitigation commitments
in recognition of their small contribution to the
greenhouse problem as well as low financial
and technical capacities. The Ministry of
Environment and Forests is the nodal agency for
climate change issues in India. It has constituted
Working Groups on the UNFCCC and Kyoto
Protocol. Work is currently in progress on India's
initial National Communication (NATCOM) to
the UNFCCC. India ratified the Kyoto Protocol in
2002 .
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
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Solid wastes are traditionally described as residual
products, which represent a cost when one has to
resort to disposal.
Management of waste encompasses a complex
set of potential impacts on human health and
safety, and the environment. The impacts,
although the type of hazards may be similar,
should be distinguished for three distinct types of
operation:
handling and storage at the waste producer
collection and transportation
sorting, processing and disposal.
 Why
Solid Waste Management?
 Solid waste management becomes necessary and
relevant when the structure of the society changes
from agricultural with low-density and widespread
population to urban, high-density population .
 industrialization has introduced a large number of
products which nature cannot, or can only very
slowly, decompose or digest .
 Hence, certain industrial products contain
substances which, due to low degradability or
even toxic characteristics, may build up in nature
to levels representing a threat to humanity’s future
use of the natural resources - that is, drinking water,
agricultural soil, air and so on.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
INCLUDES
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studies and estimates on waste composition
and amounts
studies on collection techniques
studies on processing and disposal facilities
studies on prevention of pollution of the
natural environment
studies on occupational health and safety
standards
feasibility studies.
Activity
Waste description
Industry
Product residues
Default products
Wholesale
Default products
Retail
Transport packaging
Default products
Organics (from food processing)
Food waste
Consumer
Transport packaging
Retail packaging (paper, glass, metal, plastics, etc.)
Kitchen waste (organics)
Hazardous waste (chemicals, oil)
Bulky waste (used furniture) etc.
Garden waste
Construction and
Concrete, bricks, iron, soil, etc.
demolition
Infrastructure activities
Park waste
Street cleaning waste
Clinkers, ashes and flue gas from energy production
Sewage sludge
Hospital waste
Waste processing
Rejects from sorting facilities
Clinkers, ashes and flue gas cleaning products from
incineration
STAGES OF SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
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separation at source into specific waste fraction
depending on material characteristics
temporary storage at the waste producer in bins,
sacks, containers or in bulk
collection and transportation by vehicle:
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manual, horse team, motorized and so on
open platform, closed truck body, compacting
unit and so on
transfer station: compaction and reloading to
larger transport units
recycling and/or waste processing facilities
waste processing:
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manual or mechanical sorting out into different
material fractions for recycling
processing of presorted waste fractions to
secondary raw materials
processing for new (raw) materials
incineration for volume reduction and/or energy
recovery
anaerobic digestion of organics for production
of soil conditioner, fertilizer and energy (biogas)
composting of organics for production of soil
conditioner and fertilizer
 waste
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disposal:
landfill, which should be designed and located to
prevent migration of polluted water (landfill
leachate), especially into drinking water resources
(groundwater resources, wells and rivers).
SUSTAINABLE DEVELPOMENT
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Sustainable development is often defined as
'development that meets the needs of the
present, without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs'.
Sustainable development encompasses three
basic and inter-related objectives:
• Economic security and prosperity
• Social development and advancement
• Environmental sustainability
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Sustainable development demands that we seek ways
of living, working and being that enable all people of
the world to lead healthy, fulfilling, and economically
secure lives without destroying the environment and
without endangering the future welfare of people and
the planet.
Sustainable development as applied to energy and
environment should consider the following:
inputs - such as fuels and energy sources, land and raw
materials - are non-renewable they should be used up
only as far as they can be substituted in future
where they are renewable they should be used up at
a rate within which they can be renewed,
outputs - in production and consumption - should not
overstrain ecosystems or the assimilation capacity of
the ecosphere.
CARBON TRADING
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Carbon trading is currently the central pillar of the
Kyoto Protocol and other international
agreements aimed at slowing climate change.
Carbon trading has both proponents and critics
but is increasingly coming in for criticism, not least
because CO2 emissions in industrialised countries
have continued to rise rather than drastically drop
as a result of energy infrastructure changes.
FERN believes that carbon trading is a dangerous
distraction from the important task of ending
industrial use of fossil fuel and moving to a low
carbon future
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FERN focuses its campaigns on highlighting actions
that the EU must take at home to ensure its carbon
footprint is drastically reduced and it achieves its
stated aim of keeping climate change below 2C.
FERN also believes that carbon trading becomes
even more dangerous when it involves carbon
offset projects - as is currently the case for all existing
and planned carbon trading or 'cap-and-trade'
schemes.
As the EU debates climate and energy measures for
2030, FERN releases new evidence which shows that
calculating emissions by lumping carbon emissions
from fossil fuels together with those created by
terrestrial sources hinders efforts to combat climate
change.
 FERN's
contribution to the EU's upcoming
discussion on the 2015 climate agreement. It
highlights the importance of fighting the root
causes of deforestation, of addressing forest
governance, and of dealing with reducing
fossil fuel consumption through direct
regulatory policies rather than through carbon
markets.
WHAT MAKES A PRODUCT GREEN ?
GREEN PRODUCTS
GREEN TECHNOLOGY
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The term "technology" refers to the application of
knowledge for practical purposes .
The field of "green technology" encompasses a
continuously evolving group of methods and
materials, from techniques for generating energy
to non-toxic cleaning products.
The present expectation is that this field will bring
innovation and changes in daily life of similar
magnitude to the "information technology"
explosion over the last two decades. In these early
stages, it is impossible to predict what "green
technology" may eventually encompass.
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The goals that inform developments in this rapidly growing field
include:
Sustainability - meeting the needs of society in ways that can
continue indefinitely into the future without damaging or
depleting natural resources. In short, meeting present needs
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.
"Cradle to cradle" design - ending the "cradle to grave" cycle of
manufactured products, by creating products that can be fully
reclaimed or re-used.
Source reduction - reducing waste and pollution by changing
patterns of production and consumption.
Innovation - developing alternatives to technologies - whether
fossil fuel or chemical intensive agriculture - that have been
demonstrated to damage health and the environment.
Viability - creating a center of economic activity around
technologies and products that benefit the environment,
speeding their implementation and creating new careers that
truly protect the planet.
GREEN TECHNOLOGY AREAS
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Energy
Perhaps the most urgent issue for green technology, this
includes the development of alternative fuels, new means of
generating energy and energy efficiency.
Green building
Green building encompasses everything from the choice of
building materials to where a building is located.
Environmentally preferred purchasing
This government innovation involves the search for products
whose contents and methods of production have the smallest
possible impact on the environment, and mandates that these
be the preferred products for government purchasing.
Green chemistry
The invention, design and application of chemical products
and processes to reduce or to eliminate the use and
generation of hazardous substances.
Green nanotechnology
PRESENT TECHNOLOGIES
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3-D PRINTER
3D printers are nothing new – but how about
a printer that can whip up entire life-size stone
buildings?! That’s exactly what designer
Enrico Dini‘s prototype D-Shape printer does.
Instead of ink, the device uses layers of sand,
and Dini reports that the process is four times
faster than conventional building, costs about
one-third to one-half the price of Portland
cement, and creates much less waste.
 TRANSPARENT
SOLAR SPRAY
 Photovoltaic panels transform the sun’s rays into
energy we can use, but they’re bulky and not the
most attractive in terms of design. Well one
Norwegian company called EnSol AS has cast
aside the notion that PVs need to take up extra
space — or even be in a solid state. They’ve
developed a remarkable new spray-on solar film
consisting of metal nanoparticles embedded in a
transparent composite matrix that allows you to
turn ordinary windows into solar panels. The best
part? The spray is clear so you can still see right
through your windows!
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 POWELEAP
HARNESS
ENERGY WITH
FOOT STEPS
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While other green tech companies look to outside
sources like the sun and wind when they think about
alternative power, POWERleap decided to
completely flip the script by tapping the energy
inside – of ourselves! Their piezoelectric floor tiling
system that converts the energy from human foot
traffic into electricity could be applied to train
stations, sidewalks or even inside homes to harness
the wasted energy from our footsteps into power for
the grid.
ISO 14000 : ENVIRONMENT
STANDARDS
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The ISO 14000 family addresses various
aspects of environmental management .
It provides practical tools for companies and
organizations looking to identify and control
their environmental impact and constantly
improve their environmental performance.
ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14004:2004 focus on
environmental management systems. The
other standards in the family focus on specific
environmental aspects such as life cycle
analysis, communication and auditing.
ISO 14001:2004
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ISO 14001:2004 sets out the criteria for an
environmental management system and can be
certified to. It does not state requirements for
environmental performance, but maps out a
framework that a company or organization can
follow to set up an effective environmental
management system. It can be used by any
organization regardless of its activity or sector.
Using ISO 14001:2004 can provide assurance to
company management and employees as well as
external stakeholders that environmental impact is
being measured and improved.
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benefits of using ISO 14001:2004 can include:
 Reduced cost of waste management
 Savings in consumption of energy and materials
 Lower distribution costs
 Improved corporate image among regulators,
customers and the public
 Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) also
benefit from ISO 14001:2004. However,
implementing an environmental management
system in SMEs can be challenging. The
publication ISO 14001, Environmental
Management Systems - An easy to use checklist for
small business, will help SMEs to achieve the
benefits of implementing an environmental
management system based on ISO 14001.
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14001 helps meet legal requirements and
improve environmental performance but new
version should take a broader perspective - users
say
 A recent survey of the environmental
management system standard ISO 14001 covering
its future content and its current benefits, which
received over 5000 responses, found that it is
particularly useful in meeting legal requirements
and improving environmental performance.
However, a clearer focus on preventing pollution,
eco efficiency and life cycle thinking should be
provided in the next version of the standard.
INTERNATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONVENTIONS AND
PROTOCOLS
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United nations framework convention on climate
change .
The KYOTO protocol to convention on climate
change .
Convention on biological diversity .
Cartagana protocol on biosafety .
Vienna convention for the protection of ozone layer .
Montreal protocol on substances that deplete ozone
layer .
Basel convention on the control of transboundary
movement of hazardous wastes .
International convention to combat drought and
desertification .
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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change
The Ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change is to achieve the
stabilisation of atmospheric greenhouse gas
concentrations at a level which would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
climate system within a time frame sufficient to allow
ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to
ensure that food production is not threatened and to
enable economic development to proceed in a
sustainable manner. The convention was adopted on 9
May 1992 and was opened for signature at the Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. Mauritius
signed the Convention at the Earth Summit and was
the first country to ratify it.
 2.The
Kyoto Protocol to the Convention on Climate
change
 The Kyoto Protocol puts an obligation on
industrialised countries to reduce their greenhouse
gas emissions by at least 5% below 1990 level in the
commitment period 2008 - 2012.
 3.Convention on Biological Diversity
 The objectives of this convention are the
conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable
use of its components and the fair and equitable
sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of
genetic resources, including appropriate access to
genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of
relevant technologies, taking into account all rights
over those resources and to technologies.
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4.The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
The objective of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is
to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of
protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and
use of living modified organisms resulting from modern
biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,
taking also into account risks to human health, and
specifically focusing on transboundary movements.
5.Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer provides for Parties to protect human health and
the environment against adverse effects resulting or
likely to result from human activities which modify the
ozone layer.
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6.The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer
The Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer is a Protocol under the Vienna Convention. This
protocol controls the production and consumption of the
most commercially and environmentally significant ozonedepleting substances. One feature that makes the Montreal
Protocol unique is Article 6 which requires the Protocol's
control measures to be renewed at least every four years .
7.United Nations Convention to combat Desertification
The objection of the Convention is to combat desertification
and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing
these scourges particularly in Africa. The Convention lays
basic principles for long-term integrated strategies that focus
simultaneously, in affected areas, an improved productivity of
land and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable
management of land and water resources, leading to
improved living conditions, in particular at community level.
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8. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and the Disposal entered into force on 5 May 1992. The main
objectives of the Basel Convention are:(i) to reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to
a minimum consistent with their environmentally sound management;
(ii) to treat and dispose of hazardous wastes and other wastes as close as possible
to their source of generation in an environmentally sound way;
(iii) to minimize the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes (in terms
both of quantity and potential hazard).
The Basel Convention represents new norms, rules and procedures in law
governing the movements and disposal of hazardous wastes at international as
well as national levels. In this context, this instrument represents the intention of
the international community to solve this global environmental problem in a
collective manner. A regulatory system for the monitoring and control of the
transboundary movements of hazardous wastes has been set up and is displayed
in the full text of the Convention. Some of the key elements of the regulatory
system of the Basel Convention are the prior informed consent, the prohibition to
export to a country which is not Contracting Party to the Convention, legal
provisions for duty to re-import and the responsibility of the States involved in the
transboundary movements.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ACTS
 Atomic
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Energy Act
One of the first U.S. environmental initiatives
was the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. This act
set into motion a means to monitor and
regulate the use of commercialized atomic
energy. It is chiefly concerned with
radioactive waste and nuclear safety for
both industrialized and military use.
 Clean
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Air Act
The Clean Air Act of 1970 was the United State's first
attempt to regulate air quality standards. The act
itself sets general standards, which are themselves
periodically reviewed, for air purity over United States
soil. The act was vastly amended in 1990 with the
intention of putting a greater responsibility on market
forces such as industry and commercialism to ensure
air quality.
 Clean
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Water Act
Much like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act of
1972 asserts certain standards for U.S. Water quality;
standards that are upheld by testing and
maintenance requirements. The act has been
amended several times to include the perils of toxic
pollutants and oil spills.
 Endangered
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Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is a U.S. initiative
dedicated to the recovery and preservation of
threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the
United States. The law also includes the protection of
the habitats in which endangered species live.
 National
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Environmental Policy Act
This landmark act of 1970 ignited the modern
environmental protection movement. The act
spawned broad environmental regulations and
established the first President's Council on
Environmental Quality. A paramount characteristic of
this act was that it allowed for federal agencies to
conduct inspections to assess the environmental
collateral from all federally funded programs. In the
years following this act, many states initiated similar
protocols.
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The Kyoto Protocol
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The Kyoto Protocol was a response to a worldwide
acknowledgment of greenhouse gas emissions and their
effects on global warming. The protocol is a well-known
international accord that sets limits on the amount of
greenhouse gases that industrialized countries produce.
Hence the name, the Kyoto protocol was adopted in
Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997. It also supplements the
United Nations framework Convention on Climate Change
that was adopted in 1992.
Montreal Protocol
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The Montreal Protocol was adopted in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada. Signed by 150-plus countries, this international
agreement was created to limit the output of substances
such as chlorofluorocarbons and others that damage the
stratospheric ozone layer.
 Nuclear
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Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 was
created during the heart of the Cold War. It was
created to limit and control the spread of nuclear
weapons and materials, which threaten the Earth, its
ecosystems and all lifeforms. In 1995 the treaty was
extended to indefinite status and has been signed by
more than 175 nations.
COPENHAGEN MEET DENMARK
The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
raised climate change policy to the highest political
level. Close to 115 world leaders attended the highlevel segment, making it one of the largest gatherings
of world leaders ever outside UN headquarters in New
York. More than 40,000 people, representing
governments, nongovernmental organizations,
intergovernmental organizations, faith-based
organizations, media and UN agencies applied for
accreditation.
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It significantly advanced the negotiations on the
infrastructure needed for effective global climate
change cooperation, including improvements to the
Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol.
Significant progress was made in narrowing down
options and clarifying choices needed to be made on
key issues later on in the negotiations.
It produced the Copenhagen Accord, which
expressed clear a political intent to constrain carbon
and respond to climate change, in both the short and
long term.
The Copenhagen Accord contained several key
elements on which there was strong convergence of
the views of governments. This included the long-term
goal of limiting the maximum global average
temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees
Celsius above pre-industrial levels, subject to a review
in 2015. There was, however, no agreement on how
to do this in practical terms. It also included a
reference to consider limiting the temperature
increase to below 1.5 degrees - a key demand made
by vulnerable developing countries. Other central
elements included:
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Developed countries' promises to fund actions to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to
the inevitable effects of climate change in
developing countries. Developed countries
promised to provide US$30 billion for the period
2010-2012, and to mobilize long-term finance of a
further US$100 billion a year by 2020 from a variety
of sources.
Agreement on the measurement, reporting and
verification of developing country actions,
including a reference to "international consultation
and analysis", which had yet to be defined.
The establishment of four new bodies: a mechanism
on REDD-plus, a High-Level Panel under the COP to
study implementation of financial provisions, the
THE CONVENTION
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Recognized that there was a problem.
Sets a lofty but specific goal.
Puts the onus on developed countries to lead the
way.
Directs new funds to climate change activities in
developing countries.
Keeps tabs on the problem and what's being done
about it.
Charts the beginnings of a path to strike a delicate
balance.
Kicks off formal consideration of adaptation to
climate change.
BIG COMPANIES GOING GREEN
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Bank of America
Bank of America is proving that eco-friendly
operations can coexist with business growth.
According to their corporate website, the company
reduced paper use by 32% from 2000-2005, despite a
24% growth in their customer base! Bank of America
also runs an internal recycling program that recycles
30,000 tons of paper each year, good for saving
roughly 200,000 trees for each year of the program’s
operation. As if that weren’t enough, the company
also offers employees a $3,000 cash back reward for
buying hybrid vehicles.
General Electric
 General Electric’s presence on this list might
surprise you, but the steps they have taken toward
green operations are undeniable. Since 2006, the
company has sold over $12 billion of its
Ecomagination products (including solar panels).
For those who are still upset at GE’s polluting of the
Hudson River with polychlorinated biphenyls, the
company is also making headway on an ambitious
cleanup of that area. Barring further setbacks, the
river should be cleaned up to a much better state
in just a couple of years!
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 Dupont
 Dupont
is another company that has drawn the ire
of green advocates for many, many years.
However, it now seems that they are taking strides
toward more sustainable operations. In addition to
drastically lowering its emissions of airborne
carcinogens and greenhouse gases, Dupont has
appointed an ex-Greenpeace head as an adviser
to the board. And true to its word, the company
successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions
during the 90′s by 63% – far ahead of the timetable
set forth in the controversial Kyoto Protocol.
 McDonalds
 Time
was not long ago when McDonalds wouldn’t
have come within striking distance of making this
list. However, the increasing public shift toward
greener living has sent a clear signal to the powers
that be at the popular fast-food chain. Instead of
ravaging the natural habitats of animals,
McDonalds now works in close collaboration with
PETA on systematically reforming its business
practices to be more humane and friendly to the
environment in which they operate.
LINKS AND SOURCES
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http://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-thecolor-green/
http://www.color-wheel-artist.com/meanings-ofgreen.htmL
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/re
ading-7-ways-to-protect-theenvironment.php#.U838nkm6ZMs
http://www.globalissues.org/article/55/corporatio
ns-and-the-environment
http://environment.gov.mu/English/Pages/Conventio
ns/International-Conventions.aspx
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http://www.ehow.com/list_6506519_listenvironmental-protocols.html
http://www.ilo.org/oshenc/part-vii/environmentalpollution-control/item/514-solid-wastemanagement-and-recycling
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http://www.fern.org/campaign/carbontrading/what-carbon-trading
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/environment/
THANK YOU