Global and regional targets and monitoring programmes DownloaD Graphic 2
Issue Targets Monitoring
Biodiversity loss
Climate change
Degradation and loss of forests
Indoor air pollution
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Land contamination and pollution
Land degradation/desertification
Large-scale marine fisheries
Long-range air pollution
POPs
Stratospheric ozone protection
Water and sanitation
Water security
Targets Monitoring
No targets No regular monitoring
Quantitative, time-bound targets; not legally binding Some monitoring takes place, but is less than complete
Legally-binding, quantitative, time-bound targets Relevant monitoring taking place globally
Exception: Long-range air pollution assigned yellow;
legally-binding targets in Europe only
Source: GEO-4 Chapters 2-5
The last 20 years has also seen a growth in the
number of intergovernmental processes and scien-
tific assessments. As a result, a diversity of multilat-
eral environmental agreements (MEAs) have been
adopted.
However, some international negotiations have
stalled over questions of equity and responsibility
sharing. Action has been limited on some issues,
for example, on climate change, persistent organic
pollutants, fisheries management, invasive alien spe-
cies and species extinction.
Mechanisms to address transboundary environmental issues, such as acid rain or
dust and sandstorms, are still not in place, despite these problems assuming serious
dimensions.
Credit: sinopictures/viewchina/StillPictures
44 VITAL GEO GRAPHICS