Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution see Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides see Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution
Concerning the Control of
Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Persistent see Protocol to the 1979
Organic Pollutants Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution on
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 see Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution on
the Reduction of Sulphur
Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 see Protocol to the 1979
Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution on
Further Reduction of Sulphur
Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic see Protocol to the 1979
Compounds Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution
Concerning the Control of
Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary
Fluxes
Antarctic-Environmental see Protocol on Environmental
Protocol Protection to the Antarctic
Treaty
Antarctic Treaty opened for signature - 1
December 1959
entered into force - 23 June
1961
objective - to ensure that
Antarctica is used for peaceful
purposes only (such as
international cooperation in
scientific research); to defer
the question of territorial
claims asserted by some nations
and not recognized by others; to
provide an international forum
for management of the region;
applies to land and ice shelves
south of 60 degrees South
latitude
parties - (44) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Hungary,
India, Italy, Japan, North
Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela
Basel Convention on the Control note - abbreviated as Hazardous
of Transboundary Movements of Wastes
Hazardous Wastes and Their opened for signature - 22 March
Disposal 1989
entered into force - 5 May 1992
objective - to reduce
transboundary movements of
wastes subject to the Convention
to a minimum consistent with the
environmentally sound and
efficient management of such
wastes; to minimize the amount
and toxicity of wastes generated
and ensure their environmentally
sound management as closely as
possible to the source of
generation; and to assist LDCs
in environmentally sound
management of the hazardous and
other wastes they generate
parties - (143) Albania,
Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d�Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Finland,
France, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Guinea, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (3)
Afghanistan, Haiti, US
Biodiversity see Convention on Biological
Diversity
Convention for the Conservation note - abbreviated as Antarctic
of Antarctic Seals Seals
opened for signature - NA
entered into force - NA
objective - NA
parties - (16) Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, Chile, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland,
Russia, South Africa, UK, US
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (1) NZ
Convention on Biological note - abbreviated as
Diversity Biodiversity
opened for signature - 5 June
1992
entered into force - 29 December
1993
objective - to develop national
strategies for the conservation
and sustainable use of
biological diversity
parties - (180) Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d�Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (7)
Afghanistan, Kuwait, Libya,
Thailand, Tuvalu, US, Yugoslavia
Climate Change see United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol see Kyoto Protocol to the United
Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
Convention on Fishing and note - abbreviated as Marine
Conservation of Living Life Conservation
Resources of the High Seas opened for signature - 29 April
1958
entered into force - 20 March
1966
objective - to solve through
international cooperation the
problems involved in the
conservation of living resources
of the high seas, considering
that because of the development
of modern technology some of
these resources are in danger of
being overexploited
parties - (38) Australia,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Burkina Faso, Cambodia,
Colombia, Denmark, Dominican
Republic, Fiji, Finland, France,
Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands,
Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
South Africa, Spain,
Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK,
US, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (21)
Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia,
Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Lebanon,
Liberia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan,
Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia
Convention on Long-Range note - abbreviated as Air
Transboundary Air Pollution Pollution
opened for signature - 13
November 1979
entered into force - 16 March
1983
objective - to protect the human
environment against air
pollution and to gradually
reduce and prevent air
pollution, including long-range
transboundary air pollution
parties - (48) Armenia, Austria,
Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland,
France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Malta,
Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,
UK, US, Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (2) Holy See,
San Marino
Convention on the Conservation note - abbreviated as Antarctic-
of Antarctic Marine Living Marine Living Resources
Resources opened for signature - NA
entered into force - NA
objective - NA
parties - (30) Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, EU,
Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, India, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Namibia,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru,
Poland, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uruguay
Convention on the International note - abbreviated as Endangered
Trade in Endangered Species of Species
Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) opened for signature - 3 March
1973
entered into force - 1 July 1975
objective - to protect certain
endangered species from
overexploitation by means of a
system of import/export permits
parties - (152) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d�Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea,
Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (3) Ireland,
Kuwait, Lesotho
Convention on the Prevention of note - abbreviated as Marine
Marine Pollution by Dumping Dumping
Wastes and Other Matter (London opened for signature - 29
Convention) December 1972
entered into force - 30 August
1975
objective - to control pollution
of the sea by dumping and to
encourage regional agreements
supplementary to the Convention
parties - (78) Afghanistan,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chile,
China, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong
(associate member), Hungary,
Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Libya,
Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico,
Monaco, Morocco, Nauru,
Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint
Lucia, Seychelles, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, South Africa,
Spain, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tonga, Tunisia,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu,
Yugoslavia
Convention on the Prohibition note - abbreviated as
of Military or Any Other Environmental Modification
Hostile Use of Environmental opened for signature - 10
Modification Techniques December 1976
entered into force - 5 October
1978
objective - to prohibit the
military or other hostile use of
environmental modification
techniques in order to further
world peace and trust among
nations
parties - (68) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,
Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,
Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominica, Egypt,
Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ,
Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua
New Guinea, Poland, Romania,
Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao
Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Solomon Islands,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tajikistan,
Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,
Yemen
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (15) Bolivia,
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iran,
Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia,
Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua,
Portugal, Syria, Turkey, Uganda
Convention on Wetlands of note - abbreviated as Wetlands
International Importance opened for signature - 2
Especially as Waterfowl Habitat February 1971
(Ramsar) entered into force - 21 December
1975
objective - to stem the
progressive encroachment on and
loss of wetlands now and in the
future, recognizing the
fundamental ecological functions
of wetlands and their economic,
cultural, scientific, and
recreational value
parties - (123) Albania,
Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d�Ivoire, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,
Latvia, Lebanon, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yugoslavia, Zambia
Desertification see United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification in those
Countries Experiencing Serious
Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species see Convention on the
International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Flora
and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification see Convention on the
Prohibition of Military or Any
Other Hostile Use of
Environmental Modification
Techniques
Hazardous Wastes see Basel Convention on the
Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and Their Disposal
International Convention for note - abbreviated as Whaling
the Regulation of Whaling opened for signature - 2
December 1946
entered into force - 10 November
1948
objective - to protect all
species of whales from
overhunting; to establish a
system of international
regulation for the whale
fisheries to ensure proper
conservation and development of
whale stocks; and to safeguard
for future generations the great
natural resources represented by
whale stocks
parties - (41) Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Brazil, Chile, China,
Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica,
Finland, France, Germany,
Grenada, Guinea, India, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Kenya, South
Korea, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman,
Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines,
Senegal, Solomon Islands, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US
International Tropical Timber note - abbreviated as Tropical
Agreement, 1983 Timber 83
opened for signature - 18
November 1983
entered into force - 1 April
1985; this agreement expired
when the International Tropical
Timber Agreement, 1994, went
into force
objective - to provide an
effective framework for
cooperation between tropical
timber producers and consumers
and to encourage the development
of national policies aimed at
sustainable utilization and
conservation of tropical forests
and their genetic resources
parties - (54) Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Burma, Cameroon, Canada,
China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Cote d�Ivoire,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana,
Honduras, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines,
Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US,
Venezuela
International Tropical Timber note - abbreviated as Tropical
Agreement, 1994 Timber 94
opened for signature - 26
January 1994
entered into force - 1 January
1997
objective - to ensure that by
the year 2000 exports of
tropical timber originate from
sustainably managed sources; to
establish a fund to assist
tropical timber producers in
obtaining the resources
necessary to reach this
objective
parties - (58) Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Burma, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Central
African Republic, China,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cote d�Ivoire, Denmark,
Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Portugal, Spain,
Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (1) Ireland
Kyoto Protocol to the United note - abbreviated as Climate
Nations Framework Convention on Change-Kyoto Protocol
Climate Change opened for signature - 16 March
1998, but not yet in force
objective - to further reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by
enhancing the national programs
of developed countries aimed at
this goal and by establishing
percentage reduction targets for
the developed countries
parties - (32) Antigua and
Barbuda, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia,
Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Fiji,
Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea,
Honduras, Jamaica, Kiribati,
Lesotho, Maldives, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niue,
Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Samoa,
Trinidad and Tobago,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (64)
Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Chile, China, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Egypt, Estonia, EU, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece,
Indonesia, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South
Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Niger,
Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Seychelles,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine,
UK, US, Vietnam, Zambia
Law of the Sea see United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Marine Dumping see Convention on the Prevention
of Marine Pollution by Dumping
Wastes and Other Matter (London
Convention)
Marine Life Conservation see Convention on Fishing and
Conservation of Living Resources
of the High Seas
Montreal Protocol on Substances note - abbreviated as Ozone
That Deplete the Ozone Layer Layer Protection
opened for signature - 16
September 1987
entered into force - 1 January
1989
objective - to protect the ozone
layer by controlling emissions
of substances that deplete it
parties - (175) Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cameroon, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Nuclear Test Ban see Treaty Banning Nuclear
Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere,
in Outer Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection see Montreal Protocol on
Substances That Deplete the
Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to note - abbreviated as Ship
the International Convention Pollution
for the Prevention of Pollution opened for signature - 17
From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) February 1978
entered into force - 2 October
1983
objective - to preserve the
marine environment through the
complete elimination of
pollution by oil and other
harmful substances and the
minimization of accidental
discharge of such substances
parties - (115) Algeria, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma,
Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Estonia,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong
Kong (associate member),
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon,
Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yugoslavia
Protocol on Environmental note - abbreviated as Antarctic-
Protection to the Antarctic Environmental Protocol
Treaty opened for signature - 4 October
1991
entered into force - 14 January
1998
objective - to provide for
comprehensive protection of the
Antarctic environment and
dependent and associated
ecosystems; applies to the area
covered by the Antarctic Treaty
parties - (27) Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Chile, China, Ecuador,
Finland, France, Germany, India,
Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru,
Poland, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, UK, US, Uruguay
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (16) Austria,
Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Greece,
Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea,
Papua New Guinea, Romania,
Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention note - abbreviated as Air
on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
Pollution Concerning the opened for signature - 31
Control of Emissions of October 1988
Nitrogen Oxides or Their entered into force - 14 February
Transboundary Fluxes 1991
objective - to provide for the
control or reduction of nitrogen
oxides and their transboundary
fluxes
parties - (28) Austria, Belarus,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU,
Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Russia,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (1) Poland
Protocol to the 1979 Convention note - abbreviated as Air
on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Pollution Concerning the Compounds
Control of Emissions of opened for signature - 18
Volatile Organic Compounds or November 1991
Their Transboundary Fluxes entered into force - 29
September 1997
objective - to provide for the
control and reduction of
emissions of volatile organic
compounds in order to reduce
their transboundary fluxes so as
to protect human health and the
environment from adverse effects
parties - (20) Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (7) Canada,
EU, Greece, Norway, Portugal,
Ukraine, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention note - abbreviated as Air
on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
Pollution on Further Reduction opened for signature - 14 June
of Sulphur Emissions 1994
entered into force - 5 August
1998
objective - to provide for a
further reduction in sulfur
emissions or transboundary
fluxes
parties - (23) Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, EU, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (5) Bulgaria,
Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention note - abbreviated as Air
on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Pollutants opened for signature - 24 June
1998, but not yet in force
objective - to provide for the
control and reduction of
emissions of persistent organic
pollutants in order to reduce
their transboundary fluxes so as
to protect human health and the
environment from adverse effects
parties - (6) Canada,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Sweden, Switzerland
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (30) Armenia,
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, EU, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Moldova, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Ukraine, UK, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention note - abbreviated as Air
on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
Pollution on the Reduction of opened for signature - 8 July
Sulphur Emissions or Their 1985
Transboundary Fluxes by at entered into force - 2 September
Least 30% 1987
objective - to provide for a 30%
reduction in sulfur emissions or
transboundary fluxes by 1993
parties - (22) Austria, Belarus,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany,
Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Russia, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Ukraine
Ship Pollution see Protocol of 1978 Relating to
the International Convention for
the Prevention of Pollution From
Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon note - abbreviated as Nuclear
Tests in the Atmosphere, in Test Ban
Outer Space, and Under Water opened for signature - 5 August
1963
entered into force - 10 October
1963
objective - to obtain an
agreement on general and
complete disarmament under
strict international control in
accordance with the objectives
of the United Nations; to put an
end to the armaments race and
eliminate incentives for the
production and testing of all
kinds of weapons, including
nuclear weapons
parties - (113) Afghanistan,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, The
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad,
China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji,
Finland, Gabon, The Gambia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Laos,
Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Morocco, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San
Marino, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia,
Zambia
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (17) Algeria,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon,
Chile, Ethiopia, Haiti, Libya,
Mali, Pakistan, Paraguay,
Portugal, Somalia, Tanzania,
Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen
Tropical Timber 83 see International Tropical
Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94 see International Tropical
Timber Agreement, 1994
United Nations Convention on note - abbreviated as Law of the
the Law of the Sea (LOS) Sea
opened for signature - 10
December 1982
entered into force - 16 November
1994
objective - to set up a
comprehensive new legal regime
for the sea and oceans; to
include rules concerning
environmental standards as well
as enforcement provisions
dealing with pollution of the
marine environment
parties - (135) Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile,
China, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Djibouti,
Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial
Guinea, EU, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Laos,
Lebanon, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Monaco,
Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda,
Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (35)
Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Bhutan, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cambodia, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Colombia, Republic of the Congo,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, El
Salvador, Ethiopia, Hungary,
Iran, North Korea, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco,
Niger, Niue, Qatar, Rwanda,
Swaziland, Switzerland,
Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE
United Nations Convention to note - abbreviated as
Combat Desertification in Those Desertification
Countries Experiencing Serious opened for signature - 14
Drought and/or Desertification, October 1994
Particularly in Africa entered into force - 26 December
1996
objective - to combat
desertification and mitigate the
effects of drought through
national action programs that
incorporate long-term strategies
supported by international
cooperation and partnership
arrangements
parties - (172) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino,
Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Framework note - abbreviated as Climate
Convention on Climate Change Change
opened for signature - 9 May
1992
entered into force - 21 March
1994
objective - to achieve
stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere
at a low enough level to prevent
dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate
system
parties - (186) Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,
Cote d�Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but
not yet ratified - (2)
Afghanistan, Liberia
Wetlands see Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance
Especially As Waterfowl Habitat
(Ramsar)
Whaling see International Convention for
the Regulation of Whaling
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