'Compliance' means the fulfilment by the contracting parties of their obligations under a multilateral environmental agreement and any amendments to the multilateral environmental agreement (Source: Guidelines on Compliance with and Enforcement of MEAs, 2002)

The systems adopted under MEAs to promote compliance (e.g. UNFCCC compliance refers to a country/company/ individual fulfilment of his emissions and reporting commitments). The components of compliance mechanisms can be analysed into four categories: a) performance information; b) multilateral institutional procedures; c) non-compliance response measures; and d) dispute settlement procedures. (Source: Compliance mechanisms under selected MEAs, 2008 and Glossary of Int. Climate Policy Terms, Koch et al./HIIE, 2001)