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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
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
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
  • Access and benefit sharing
  • Food
  • Food security
  • Genetic resources
  • Genetic resources for food and agriculture
  • Multilateral system
  • Mutually agreed terms
  • Plant genetic resources
  • Plant production
Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
  • Climate change
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Emissions trading
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
Nagoya Protocol
Nagoya Protocol
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding, thereby contributing to the conservation of biological diversity and the
  • Access and benefit sharing
  • Access to genetic resources
  • Benefit sharing
  • Funds
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Information exchange
  • 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 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003.
  • Agrobiodiversity
  • Biosafety
  • Biotechnology
  • Genetic resources
  • Genetically modified organisms
  • Health
  • Imports
  • Information exchange
  • Living modified organisms
  • Prior informed consent
  • Wildlife trafficking
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 on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The Convention was opened for signature on 10 December 1982 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This marked the culmination of more than 14 years of work involving participation by more than 150 countries representing all regions of the world, all legal and political systems and the spectrum of socio/economic development. At the time of its adoption, the Convention embodied in one instrument traditional rules for the uses of the oceans and at the same time introduced new legal concepts and regimes and addressed new concerns. The Convention also provided the framework for further development of specific
  • Access rights
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Invasive alien species
  • Marine debris
  • Marine fishery
  • Ship-based marine pollution
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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