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International Environmental
Agreements
Camena Guneratne
Dept. of Legal Studies
Open University
Multilateral Environmental
Agreements
They play an important role in the protection
and management of the global environment.
They strengthen environmental policies and
commitments at the national level.
They provide the framework and the incentives
for transboundary co-operation and burden
sharing in tackling environmental degradation
worldwide.
They raise public awareness of environmental
issues and catalyse action.
Examples of MEAs
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution and its protocols (1979)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (1975)
Convention on the Transboundary Effects of
Industrial Accidents (1992)
Convention on Transboundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1992)
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment
in a Transboundary Context (1991)
Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
Continued .
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
(2001)
Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International
Lakes and its protocols (1992)
United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa
The five biodiversity related
conventions
Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
(Ramsar) 1971
UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection
of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
(World Heritage Convention) 1972
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) 1973
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (CMS/Bonn) 1979
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992
Nature of International
Environmental Agreements
Often sector specific
Eg. Climate change convention deals
with climate change
RAMSAR is site specific - deals
with wetlands
CMS and CITES are subject
specific - deal with endangered species

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Ramsar Convention
Deals with a specific ecosystem
Requires States to declare wetlands
for protection.
Declared wetlands must be protected
in terms of the Convention
TEXT
CITES
Deals with the protection of
endangered species.
Attempts to protect them by
controlling the international trade in
these species, dead or alive
Establishes a permit system to
control trade
Convention on Migratory Species
of Wild Animals
Deals with a particular type of fauna
This requires international co-operation in
order to protect them
Like CITES it contains lists of species
based on the level of threat
Specifies the steps which States have to
take in order to protect them.