Framework of Multilateral
Environmental Agreements
(MEAs)
Barbara Ruis
Tirana, Albania, 22-24 June 2010
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What are Multilateral Environmental
Agreements? (MEAs)
International legal instruments that:
 have environmental protection/sustainable
development as their goal
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are concluded between a large number of
states or international organizations as parties
concluded in written form
governed by international law
can be embodied in a single instrument or in
two or more related instruments (framework
agreements)
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Milestones in the evolution of MEAs
The 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Development:
 first attempt to address inter-relationships of environment
and development at global level
 adopted first global action plan for environment
 established the United National Environmental Programme
(UNEP)
 accelerated development of modern MEAs: more than 60%
of existing MEAs are adopted after 1972
The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED):
 national and international policies redirected towards
integration of environmental, economic and development
objectives
 Agenda 21 and Rio Declaration adopted
 development of new international regimes stimulated
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Multilateral Environmental Agreements process
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MEAs are developed through a thorough negotiation
process among concerned countries.
The result is a mutually agreed upon treaty adopted
via a high-level related conference, and signed by the
signatories (states);
“Party”/ country ratifies (accepts, approves or
accedes) the convention
After ratification of a fixed/ defined number of
signatories the convention enters into force
Once a Party has finlized uts ratification process, it is
subject to all its provisions.
Article 122 Constitution of the Republic of Albania
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Core MEA clusters
BIODIVERSITY
LAND
SEAS
CHEMICALS &
HAZARDOUS
WASTE
ATMOSPHERE
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MEA Clusters: Biodiversity
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Consists of MEAs related to protection
and conservation of biodiversity
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Main conventions:
CBD / Cartagena Protocol
CITES
RAMSAR
CMS
World Heritage
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MEA clusters: Land
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MEAs focusing on protecting land from
negative “altering”/land-use
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Main convention:
UN Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD)
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MEA Clusters: Atmosphere
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MEAs aimed at protection of
atmosphere from pollutants
Main instruments:
 Vienna Convention / Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete Ozone Layer
 UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change / The Kyoto Protocol
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MEA Clusters: Marine Environment
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Conventions relevant to marine environment:
UNCLOS/ Fish Stocks Agreement
 Global Program of Action for the
Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land-Based Activities (GPA)
 17 Regional Seas Conventions and A
number of Protocols on land-based sources
of pollution of marine environment
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MEA clusters: Chemicals & Hazardous
waste
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Deal with hazardous impacts of wastes and
chemical pollution
Main Conventions:
 Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal
 Rotterdam Convention on the Prior
Informed Consent for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International
Trade (PIC)
 Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs)
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MEA Implementation
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Implementation - a process of converting international
commitments and requirements into national law and
policy in order to induce behavioral change of target
groups, i.e. those actors causing the problem in question.
Compliance - refers to whether the countries adhere to
the agreement provisions and undertake implementation
measures, including procedural measures (e.g. national
reporting).
Enforcement - Formal (national and international)
procedures and actions by which compliance is
compelled or non-compliance deterred.
Effectiveness - whether a MEAs resolved a problem that
caused its creation.
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Institutional elements of core MEAs (1)
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Conference of Parties (COP)
 Ultimate decision-making body on implementation
and development of their respective MEAs
Secretariat
 Supports COP and performs a number of varied
functions depending on the mandate of the MEA
Executive and subsidiary bodies
 Generally advisory in nature, report to COPs on
scientific, technical, or financial matters or on
implementation progress; internal or external,
standing bodies or ad hoc with a limited mandate
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Institutional elements of core MEAs (2)
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Clearinghouses
 Facilitate exchange of information (websites,
databases operated usually by the
Secretariats)
Implementation actors on national level
 Represented by the national authorities
and/or institutions, training and information
centres
Financial mechanisms
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Financial mechanisms
 Regime
Budgets - MEAs can establish one of more
of mandatory or voluntary trust funds, most often
administered by the international organizations that
provide the Secretariats. Budgets are proposed by
Parties and approved by the COPs
 Development Assistance - Funds can be provided
via foundations (e.g. UN Foundation), bilateral
arrangements, private sector donors and NGOs
 Other multilateral financing mechanisms - Global
Environment Facility, The Kyoto Protocol climaterelated mechanisms, the World Bank
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THANK YOU !
barbara.ruis@unep.org
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