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Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)
Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)
The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago. Developed under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), AEWA brings together countries and the wider international conservation community in an effort to establish coordinated conservation and management of migratory waterbirds
  • Conservation of species
  • Economy
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Migratory species
  • Waterbirds
  • Wetlands
Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
To address certain difficulties with the seabed mining provisions contained in Part XI of the Convention, which had been raised, primarily by the industrialized countries, the Secretary-General convened in July 1990 a series of informal consultations which culminated in the adoption, on 28 July 1994, of the Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982. The Agreement entered into force on 28 July 1996. The Agreement was adopted on 28 July 1994 and entered into force on 28 July 1996. It consists of 10 articles
  • Agreements
  • Conventions
  • Implementation
  • Consultation
  • Mining
  • National law
  • Regulations
  • Exploitation
  • Reporting
  • Economy
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) was adopted on 19 June 2023 by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction convened under the auspices of the United Nations. The BBNJ Agreement becomes the third implementing agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Under the overall objective of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas
  • Areas beyond national jurisdiction
  • Environmental conservation
  • Sustainable use
Amendment to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
Amendment to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
Basel Convention
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in 1989 and it came into force in 1992. It is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous wastes and other wastes. The Convention aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes and other wastes.
  • Chemicals
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Hazardous waste
  • Labelling
  • Pesticides
  • Risk assessment
  • Waste
  • Waste exports
  • Waste management
  • Wildlife trafficking
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit"). It remained open for signature until 4 June 1993, by which time it had received 168 signatures. The Convention entered into force on 29 December 1993, which was 90 days after the 30th ratification. The first session of the Conference of the Parties was scheduled for 28 November – 9 December 1994 in the Bahamas. The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a
  • Access and benefit sharing
  • Access to genetic resources
  • Agrobiodiversity
  • Genetic resources
  • Jurisprudence
  • Sustainable development
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more
  • Agrobiodiversity
  • Endangered species
  • Environmental conservation
  • National focal points
  • Species
  • Sustainable use
  • Trade
  • Wildlife trafficking
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”. Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to work towards the wise use of all
  • RAMSAR sites
  • Water resources management
  • Wetlands
Montreal Protocol
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth a€™s fragile ozone Layer. The original Montreal Protocol was agreed on 16 September 1987 and entered into force on 1 January 1989.
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Ozone layer depletion
  • Sound environmental management
  • Sustainable production
  • Sustainable use
Paris Agreement
Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.
  • Climate change
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Emission reduction
  • Emissions
The Beijing Amendment (1999)
The Beijing Amendment (1999)
The Beijing Amendment (1999)The amendment to the Montreal Protocol agreed by the Eleventh Meeting of the Parties (Beijing, 29 November – 3 December 1999) The Beijing Amendment entered into force on 25 February 2002
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Ozone layer depletion
  • Sound environmental management
  • Sustainable production
  • Sustainable use
The Copenhagen Amendment (1992)
The Copenhagen Amendment (1992)
The Copenhagen Amendment (1992): The amendment to the Montreal Protocol agreed by the Fourth Meeting of the Parties (Copenhagen, 23-25 November 1992) The Copenhagen Amendment entered into force on 14 June 1994
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Prevention
  • Sound environmental management
  • Sustainable production
  • Sustainable use
The Kigali Amendment (2016)
The Kigali Amendment (2016)
The Kigali Amendment (2016): The amendment to the Montreal Protocol agreed by the Twenty-Eighth Meeting of the Parties (Kigali, 10-15 October 2016).
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Ozone layer depletion
  • Sound environmental management
The London Amendment (1990)
The London Amendment (1990)
The amendment to the Montreal Protocol agreed by the Second Meeting of the Parties (London, 27–29 June 1990) The London Amendment entered into force on 10 August 1992.
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Ozone layer depletion
  • Sound environmental management
  • Sustainable development
  • Sustainable use
The Montreal Amendment (1997)
The Montreal Amendment (1997)
The Montreal Amendment (1997): The amendment to the Montreal Protocol agreed by the Ninth Meeting of the Parties (Montreal, 15-17 September 1997) The Montreal Amendment entered into force on 10 November 1999
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Ozone layer depletion
  • Sound environmental management
  • Sustainable production
  • Sustainable use
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
  • Climate change
  • Desertification
  • Developing countries
  • Erosion
  • Land
  • Land degradation
  • Semi-arid ecosystems
  • Sub-humid ecosystems
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
  • Adaptation
  • Black carbon
  • Climate change
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Emissions
Vienna Convention
Vienna Convention
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are dedicated to the protection of the earths ozone layer. With 197 parties, they are the most widely ratified treaties in United Nations history, and have, to date, enabled reductions of over 97% of all global consumption of controlled ozone depleting substances (measured in ODP tonnes).
  • Chemicals
  • Ozone depleting potential
  • Ozone layer depletion
  • Sound environmental management
  • Sustainable production
  • Sustainable use

Ramsar and Word Heritage Sites

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