Ramsar Convention: An international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It came into effect in India in 1982. Wetlands of international importance are designated as Ramsar sites. The Montreux Record lists wetlands where ecological changes are occurring. As of 2022, India has 54 Ramsar sites.

CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, established in 1975, regulates international trade to ensure it doesn’t threaten species’ survival. It has 184 parties and is administered by UNEP.

Bonn Convention: Also known as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), this treaty focuses on the protection of migratory species. It has two appendices listing endangered and threatened species.

IUCN: The International Union for Conservation of Nature, founded in 1948, is a global authority on environmental conservation. It maintains the IUCN Red List, assessing species’ extinction risks.

Global Tiger Forum: An intergovernmental organization founded in 1993 to protect tigers globally, headquartered in New Delhi, India.

Rio Earth Summit: The 1992 UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro focused on environmental conservation, resulting in key documents like the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and Forest Principles.

UNCCD: The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, established in 1994, aims to combat land degradation and desertification globally.

UNFCCC: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, established in 1994, aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations. It led to the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.

UNCBD: The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted in 1992, focuses on the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use, and fair benefit-sharing from genetic resources.

UNEP: The United Nations Environment Programme, founded in 1972, coordinates global environmental activities and hosts secretariats for several environmental conventions.

Montreal Protocol: A 1987 treaty to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances. It’s the first treaty ratified by all UN member states.

Kyoto Protocol: A 1997 treaty under the UNFCCC aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It entered into force in 2005.

Stockholm Convention: A 2001 treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), effective since 2004, to protect human health and the environment.

Vienna Convention: A 1985 agreement to protect the ozone layer, leading to the Montreal Protocol.

Basel Convention: A 1989 treaty regulating the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous wastes.

Cartagena Protocol: A 2000 Biosafety Protocol under the CBD, effective since 2003, regulating the safe handling of living modified organisms.

UN-REDD: A 2008 UN program to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Nagoya Protocol: A 2010 protocol under the CBD for access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, effective since 2014.

Kigali Agreement: A 2016 amendment to the Montreal Protocol, focusing on phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Minamata Convention: A 2013 treaty to protect human health and the environment from mercury, effective since 2017.

Rotterdam Convention: A 1998 treaty on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade, effective since 2004.

COP27: The 2022 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at advancing global climate action, especially for developing nations.