International Environmental Treaties

The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty that aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

The REDD+ Agreement is an international treaty that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is an international treaty that aims to promote the sustainable management of fisheries.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is an international treaty that aims to promote the sustainable management of water resources.

The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment, adopted in 1972, was the first international document to explicitly recognize the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental human right.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is a legally binding international treaty that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 1992, is a legally binding international treaty that aims to conserve biodiversity, ensure the sustainable use of biological resources, and promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted in 1987, is an international agreement that aims to reduce the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in 1971, is an international agreement that aims to promote cooperation on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It provides a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The MARPOL Convention, adopted in 1973, is an international agreement that aims to reduce air pollution from ships. It provides a framework for national action and international cooperation to prevent and control pollution of the marine environment by ships.

MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) is an international convention that aims to prevent pollution from ships by regulating the discharge of oil, sewage, garbage, and other harmful substances into the marine environment.

The UNFCCC was the first international environmental treaty that addressed climate change. It set the goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. It also aims to increase the ability of countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change and make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

The Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a market-based mechanism that allows countries to trade emissions permits. It enables countries that have surplus emission permits to sell them to countries that need them, thereby reducing the overall cost of achieving emission reduction targets.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is an international agreement that aims to phase out the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases. It was adopted in 2016 and entered into force in 2019.