Enviormental Protocols

Environmental Protocols


Environmental Protocols
Kyoto Protocol (the objective, countries agree, year of beginning)
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
Under the Treaty, countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Kyoto Protocol offers them an additional means of meeting their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms.
The Kyoto mechanisms are:
* Emissions trading – known as “thecarbon market" 
* Clean development mechanism (CDM)
* Joint implementation (JI).
The mechanisms help stimulate green investment and help Parties meet their emission targets in a cost-effective way.
Date: 2011-12-17 14:54 (UTC)

Participation in the Kyoto Protocol, as of December 2011:
* Brown = Countries that have signed and ratified the treaty (Annex I & II countries in darkbrown)
* Blue = No intention to ratify at this stage (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2011).
* Dark blue = Canada, which withdrew from the Protocol in December 2011 (Vaughan, 2011);
* Grey = no position taken or position unknown.
Montreal Protocol (the objective, countries agree, year of beginning)
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the OzoneLayer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) 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). It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2050. 
Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional internationalco-operation
What is IMECA, values and risks
The IMECA(Indice Metropolitano de la Calidad del Aire) is calculated using the measurements of average times of the chemicals ozone(O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particles lower than 10 micrometers (PM10). The IMECA is calculated using the measurements of the quality of the air by SIMAT (Sistema de MonitoreoAtmosférico de la Ciudad de México).
* Good. When the index is between 0 and 50 IMECAS. The quality of air is considered satisfactory and the air pollution makes minimal or no risk for the health.
* Regular. When the index is between 51 and 100 IMECAS. The quality of air is acceptable, however some contaminants could have a moderate effect in the health for a small fraction of thepopulation that has high sensitivity to some contaminants.
* Bad. When the index is between 101 and 150. In this value, some sensitive groups can have effects over the health. Some people can present effects to minor concentrations than the rest as is the case with people with breathing or heart problems, children and old people. The public in general could not present risks when the IMECA is inthis interval.
* Very bad. When the index is between 151 and 200. In this situation everybody can experience negative health effects. Members of sensible groups can present serious issues. This interval activates the phases Precontingencia and Contingencia Fase of the Programa de Contingencias Ambientales Atmosféricas(PCAA) del Valle de México.
* Extremely bad. When the index is more...