ACME
Applying CLEANER PRODUCTION to MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS
Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs)
SESSION 3
United Nations Environment Program
Division of Technology Industry and Economy
Swedish International Development Agency
OUTLINE
Objectives of this session
1/ Background information
> Why do we need Multilateral Environmental Agreements?
2/ Main clusters
> What topics do MEA deal with?
> How industries are concerned?
3/ Organisation of MEA
> How are they developed and organised?
4/ Implementation
> How could we strengthen MEA?
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BACKGROUND
What are MEAs ?
Many global environmental issues don’t stop at the border:
> they are caused by sources thousands of kilometers away;
> they can have a regional or even a global impact.
MEAs are international legal instruments that:
> have a goal of environmental protection (sustainable development);
> take measures to remedy, mitigate or otherwise deal with global
and/or regional environmental concerns;
> are concluded between a large number of states or international
organizations as Parties;
> can be embodied in a single instrument or more related instruments;
> are governed by international law;
> are concluded in written form.
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BACKGROUND
Milestones in the evolution of MEAs
1972 - Stockholm Conference on the Human Development
> First attempt to address relationship between environment and
development at global level;
> Adopted first global action plan for the environment;
> Established UNEP.
1992 - Rio Conference on Environment and Development
> National and international policies redirected towards integration
of environmental, economic and social objectives;
> 2 main outputs: Rio Declaration and Agenda 21;
> Accelerated the development of modern MEAs: more than 60%
of present MEAs established after 1992.
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BACKGROUND
Number of parties to MEAs
Stockholm Conference (1972)
Rio Conference (1992)
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MAIN CLUSTERS
Scope of MEAs: 5 topics
BIODIVERSITY
LAND
SEAS
CHEMICALS &
HAZARDOUS
WASTE
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ATMOSPHERE
MAIN CLUSTERS
Biodiversity / Land / Seas
MEAs related to protection and conservation of BIODIVERSITY.
> Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);
> Others include CITES, CMS, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands etc.
MEAs focussing on protecting LAND from “negative altering”.
> UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD);
> 3 Rio Conventions linked to climate change and biodiversity.
MEAs relevant to the regional seas & MARINE ENVIRONMENT.
> 17 Regional Seas Conventions;
> Global Program of Action for the protection of the marine
environment from land-based activities (GPA).
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MAIN CLUSTERS
Atmosphere / Wastes & chemicals
MEAs aimed at protection of the ATMOSPHERE from
pollutants.
> Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer;
> UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) and
the linked Kyoto Protocol.
MEAs dealing with hazardous WASTES & CHEMICAL pollution.
> Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movement of
hazardous wastes and their disposal;
> Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent for certain
hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade;
> Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
3 MEAs with direct relevance to industrial activities.
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ORGANISATION
From negotiation to ratification
How are MEA’s developed ?
> A negotiation process between countries involved;
> Often initiated and facilitated/moderated by UNEP;
> Resulting in a mutual agreed and signed protocol during a highlevel tailored conference.
How do MEAs come into force ?
> Initial agreement (international legal instrument) are signed
between the signatories (states);
> MEAs include provision on number of ratification from signatories
needed to come into force;
> Once a country (or “Party”) ratifies, accepts, approves or accedes
an MEA, it is subject to the provisions under the MEA.
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ORGANISATION
Key concepts
Non-binding instruments
“ Set out important issues and priorities, foster
discussion and attention, and stimulate new thinking
and development of legally binding instruments. ”
Legally binding instruments
“ Sets commitments in form of legally binding targets
and time-tables. ”
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ORGANISATION
How do MEAs work ?
IMPLEMENTATION
> Converting international commitments into national measures.
COMPLIANCE
> Countries adhere to the agreement provisions and undertake
implementation measures (e.g. national reporting).
ENFORCEMENT
> Formal (national or international) procedures and actions by
which compliance is compelled or noncompliance deterred.
EFFECTIVENESS
> Whether a MEA resolves a problem that caused its creation.
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ORGANISATION
Institutional elements
COP – Conference of Parties
> Decision-making body on implementation and development of MEAs.
Secretariat
> Support to COP (provided by an international organization).
Executive and subsidiary bodies
> Generally advisory in nature, report to COP on scientific, technical,
or financial matters.
Clearinghouses
> Facilitate exchange of information (websites, databases, etc.).
Implementation actors on national level
> Represented by the national authorities and/or institutions,
training and information centers.
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ORGANISATION
Financial mechanisms
Regime budgets
> Mandatory or voluntary trust funds administered by the Secretariats;
> Proposed by Parties and approved by the COP.
Development assistance
> Funds provided via foundations (e.g. UN Foundation), bilateral
arrangements, private sector donors and NGOs.
> World Bank.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
> A co-financing mechanism to address global environmental issues;
> GEF focal areas : biodiversity, climate change, international waters,
ozone depletion, POPs, land degradation.
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IMPLEMENTATION
Strengths & weaknesses of MEA’s
STRENGTHS

> Joint strategy to deal with global issues;
> Clearly defines who should do what;
> Conflict settlement instruments;
> Provides increased attention to preventive - precautionary approach.
WEAKNESSES

> Lack of synergy among MEAs;
> Inadequate funding for many MEAs;
> Lack of performance indicators;
> Inadequate coordination among MEA’s at national level;
> No international enforcement mechanisms in most MEAs.
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IMPLEMENTATION
How to strengthen MEAs ?
How to overcome the perceived weaknesses ?
> More integrated application for specific targets groups (e.g. industry);
> Utilization of other concepts/methodologies (e.g. Cleaner Production).
How can Cleaner Production contribute to MEAs ?
> Wider use of prevention as the strategy of environmental protection;
> Issue linkage and providing positive incentives for compliance and
implementation of MEAs;
> Strengthening synergies among MEAs;
> Adding flexibility to the agreements.
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IMPLEMENTATION
What can Cleaner Production do ?
What are the advantages of cross-cutting capacity building
activities of Cleaner Production initiatives and MEAs ?
> Policy advice;
> Technical and financial assistance;
> Assessment and management of pollution;
> Education and awareness;
> Information exchange;
> Strengthened participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making;
> International partnership.
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CONCLUSION
End of session 3
Thank you for your attention…
Any questions?
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