List of Important Environment Treaties, Conventions & Protocols

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Here is a list of all major environmental treaties, conventions, and protocols that came into existence since the beginning of the 20th century. This will also help you to derive an idea about the development of major environment-related legislation in different countries of the world.

Environment Treaties, Conventions & Protocols
Name	Signed	Objective	Additional Information
Paris Agreement	2015	It is a legally binding treaty on climate change. Its long-term aim is to limit the global average temperature to well below 2°Celsius (preferably 1.5°Celsius) above pre-industrial levels	It is an agreement within UNFCCC It has been signed by 195 parties as of May 2021 The United States withdrew from the Agreement under Trump’s leadership in 2020. However, it rejoined in 2021 under Joe Biden’s government
Minamata Convention	2013	An international treaty designed for the protection of the environment and human health from the harmful effects of mercury and its compounds	Came into force in 2017 As of June 2021, 128 parties have signed this global treaty This treaty comes under the aegis of United Nations Environment program (UNEP) It deals with entire life cycle of mercury from its mining to trade, storage and disposal
Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)	2010	As the name suggests, it deals with implementation of one of the three CBD objectives that is fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources leading to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity	Came into force in 2014 As of October 2020, 127 UN member countries along with European Union has ratified the protocol
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants	2001	Eliminate or Restrict the Use and Production of Persistent Organic Pollutants	Came into force in 2004 Convention ratified by 183 countries & European Union The convention initially recognized 12 POPs called the “dirty dozen” responsible for adverse effects on environment under its three categories-pesticides, industrial chemicals and by-products. In 2017, 17 more POPs were added
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety	2000	It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity which aims to protect the biological diversity from the risks posed by genetically modified organisms	Adopted as a result of significant bio-technological advancements Deals with movement of Living Modified Organisms also called LMOs (developed using the modern technology) from one nation to another Provision of Advanced Informed Agreement before agreeing to import LMOs Setting up of Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) to enable information exchange on LMOs
Rotterdam Convention	1998	Promotion of shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals. It promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling, safe handling and dissemination of information to the purchaser regarding any restriction or ban	Came into force in 2004 As of October 2018, 158 UN member countries, Cook Islands, the State of Palestine, and the European Union United States not a member state
Kyoto Protocol	1997	The treaty extended the objectives of UNFCCC. Set emission targets for state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and the human-made carbon dioxide is responsible for it	Came into force in 2005 192 members (As of 2020) Canada withdrew in 2012 & United States never ratified It is based on the principal of common but differentiated responsibilities
Convention of Desertification	1994	To Combat Desertification and Mitigate the Effects of Drought through National Action Programs particularly in dryland areas where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and people are found	It is one of the three Rio Convention. Other two are Convention on Biological Diversity and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Convention on Biological Diversity	1993	Three main Objectives: Conservation of Biological Diversity Sustainable Use of Components of Biological Diversity Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from genetic resources	Also known as Biodiversity Convention and key document on sustainable development Under the aegis of UNEP 196 States are party to this treaty The most important treaty on biodiversity. It is responsible for conservation of biological diversity globally Cartagena Protocol (2000) and Nagoya Protocol (2010) are supplementary agreements to this multilateral treaty
Agenda 21	1992	Action agenda for the UN that can be executed at local, national and global level	It is non-binding in nature. Result of Rio Earth Summit 1992. “21” in Agenda-21 denotes 21^st Century.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change	1992	To Stabilize Greenhouse Gas Concentration in Atmosphere and combat dangerous human interference with the climate system	Came to force in 1994 Established a secretariat in Bonn (Germany) Signed in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) at UN Conference on Environment & Development (UNCED), also known as Earth Summit Kyoto Protocol was the first implementation under UNFCCC
Bamako Convention	1991	It bans the importation into Africa and the control of trans boundary movement and management of hazardous waste (including radioactive) within Africa.	Treaty of African Nations Failure of Basel Convention (Reduction of movement of hazardous was in least developed countries) led to negotiation of Bamako Convention in Mali in 1991
Basel Convention	1989	To Reduce the Movements of Hazardous Waste between nations, specifically transfer of Hazardous Waste from Developed to Least Developed Countries (LDCs).	Does not address radioactive substances As of 2018, 199 states and the SAARC are parties to the convention
Brundtland Report	1987	The report is credited for redefining “economic development” in terms of “sustainable development”.	It is officially titled as “Our Common Future” Called Brundtland Report after the then chair of World Commission of Environment & Development which was responsible for publication of this report under the aegis of the United Nations
Montreal Protocol	1987	Agreement to Protect the Ozone Layer by phasing out Production and Consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) like Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)	Structured around several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons responsible for depleting the ozone layer All ODS under this protocol contains either chlorine or bromine. Substances with fluorine do not deplete ozone layer Nitrous Oxide, despite being an ODS, not yet included under this protocol
Vienna Convention	1985	Established framework for international cooperation in addressing ozone depletion.	Multilateral Environment Agreement which was agreed in 1985 and eventually came into force in 1988 It laid down principles agreed upon by many parties but it did not take control actions for protection of ozone layer. Thus, the issue was in Montreal Protocol
Nairobi Declaration	1985	Agreement Between the Parties to work for the Prosperity of Western Indian Ocean Region	Came into force in 1996 UN Environment’s Regional Seas Programme
Bonn Convention	1979	Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals	Came into force in 1983 States and range states form where the migratory birds passes are brought together Contains two appendixes – Appendix 1 deals with endangered species and Appendix 2 deals with species requiring conservation
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea	1982	For Rights & Responsibilities of Nations for Use of Ocean Water and established Guidelines for Marine Natural Resources	Divides marine spaces into five maritime zones (Internal waters, terrestrial waters, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone and High seas)
Barcelona Convention	1976	Protection of Mediterranean Sea from Pollution	Came into force in 1978 Amended and renamed in 1995 as C0nvention for the protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
World Heritage Convention	1972	Defines the kind of natural & cultural sites which can be considered as World Heritage Site under UNESCO	Operational guidelines for implementation of the World Heritage Convention were issued in 1988
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands	1971	Framework for Conservation of Wetlands & their Resources, especially as Waterfowl Habitat	United Kingdom has largest number of Ramsar Sites (175) Bolivia has largest area of listed wetlands Ramsar Sites in India
Benzene convention	1971	Prevention from Toxic Substances arising from Benzene	Initiated by International Labour organization
CITES Convention	1963	CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is a multilateral treaty for ensuring that international trade in specimens of wildlife animals and plants do not endanger their survival	Also known as the Washington Convention Came into force in 1975 Drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Geneva Protocol	1925	Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare	Registered under League of Nations Treaty Series Main elements of the protocol are now considered a part of customary international law

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