Video Notes: Ozone Protection, Climate Policy, and Minamata Case Studies

Vocabulary flashcards covering major treaties, agencies, disasters, and movements related to ozone protection, climate policy, and environmental justice from the lecture notes.

Montreal Protocol (1987)

International treaty signed by 197 nations to phase out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to protect the ozone layer; UNEP coordinates action; Multilateral Fund helps developing countries switch to alternatives; ozone layer expected to recover by the end of the century.

Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS)

Chemicals (e.g., CFCs) that deplete the ozone layer and are targeted for phase-out under the Montreal Protocol.

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)

UN agency responsible for guiding government environmental action and coordinating global responses to ozone depletion and other environmental threats.

Multilateral Fund

Financial mechanism under the Montreal Protocol that assists developing countries in transitioning away from ODS.

Minamata disaster (1956)

Major methylmercury poisoning event caused by industrial pollution in Minamata Bay, Japan.

Chisso Corporation

Japanese chemical company responsible for dumping mercury into Minamata Bay, causing widespread poisoning.

Minamata disease

Neurological illness caused by methylmercury exposure, leading to serious health impacts.

Stockholm Conference (1972)

First major global environmental conference, highlighting the need for international environmental governance.

Pollution-related Health Damage Compensation Law (1973)

Japanese law providing compensation to victims of Minamata disease and reinforcing corporate accountability.

Minamata Convention (2013)

Global treaty to reduce and ban mercury use and emissions, building on lessons from Minamata.

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

International agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries, introducing mechanisms like Emission Trading, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI).

Emission Trading

Market-based system allowing trading of emission allowances between entities or countries.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Kyoto mechanism enabling developed countries to fund emission-reducing projects in developing countries in exchange for credits.

Joint Implementation (JI)

Kyoto mechanism allowing emission reduction projects between developed countries for credits.

UN-REDD (United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)

UN program promoting forest conservation and management to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; includes monitoring, reporting, verification, and payments.

REDD+

REDD Plus elements under UN-REDD focusing on forest conservation, sustainable management, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks with payments.

Carbon sequestration

Process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon in forests and soils to mitigate climate change.

Carbon credits

Certificates representing a verifiable emission reduction that can be traded or used to meet targets.

Love Canal

US environmental disaster in the 1970s involving toxic waste, spurring environmental justice movements.

W. Eugene Smith photographs (Minamata exposé)

Photojournalist whose Minamata exposé raised global awareness and pressured action on mercury poisoning.

Environmental justice movement

Social movement addressing unequal environmental harms faced by marginalized communities, inspired by cases like Minamata and Love Canal.