Convention

Objectives

UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change (1992)

Kyoto Protocol (l997)

Article 2: Stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system...within a time-frame
sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food
production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
Industrialized countries have agreed to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by, on
average, 5.2 percent during the commitment period 2008-20 I 2, relative to 1990.

UN Convention on Biological
Diversity (l992)

Conserve biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable
 sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by
appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies,
takirg into account all rights over those resources and technologies, and by appropriate funding.

Vienna Convention for the
Protection of the Ozone
Layer (1985)

Protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting or likely to result
from human activities which modify or are likely to modify the ozone layer.

Montreal Protocol (1987) as
adjusted and amended in
London (1990), Copenhagen
(1992), and Vienna (l995)

Protect the ozone layer by taking precautionary measures to control equitably total global
emissions of substances that deplete it, with the ultimate objective of their elimination on the
 basis of developments In scientific knowledge, taking into account technical and economic
  considerations and bearing in mind the developmental needs of developing countries.

UN Conventien to Combat
Desertification (1994)

Combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious
drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels,
supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an
integrated approach that is consistent with Agenda 2 I, with a view to contributing to the
achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.

UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea (1982)

Establish a legal order for the seas and oceans that will facilitate international communication,
and promote the peaceful uses of the seas and oceans, the equitable and efficient utilization of
their resources, the conservation of their living resources, and the study, protection and
preservation of the marine environment.

UN Agreement on Straddling
Fish Stocks and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks (l995)

Supplements the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention by reinforcing the management and
enforcement powers of high seas fisheries management bodies and of their members. It
introduces precautionary management methodology and requires that ecological and
biodiversity concerns be addressed in management of these stocks.

Global Program of Action for
the Protection of the Marine
Environment from Land-
Based Activities (1995)

Developed under UNEP's auspices, this program sets forth the approach by which nations can
cooperate and build institutional capacity to achieve the aims of specific international marine
agreements, such as the Law of the Sea, regional seas agreements, MARPOL, the Basel
 Convention, and the London Convention. It offers guidance for nations to establish targets to
address a host of marine pollution issues.

UN Convention on the Law
of the Non-Navigational Uses
of International Watercourses
(1997)

Provides a legal framework to ensure the utilizatien, conservation, management and protection
of international watercourses and the promotion of optimal and sustainable utilization for
present and future generations.

Convention on the Prior
Informed Consent (PIC)
Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and
Pesticides in International
Trade (1998)

Developed to provide notice and consent procedures surrounding the international trade in
chemicals and pesticides by facilitating information about their characteristics, and by providing
for a national decisionmaking process on their import and export.