Selected International Environmental Agreements

Air Pollution see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30% Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes Antarctic-Environmental Protocol see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty Antarctic Treaty opened for signature 1 December 1959 entered into force 23 June 1961 objective to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, such as, for international cooperation in scientific research, and that it does not become the scene or object of international discord parties (42) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal note abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes opened for signature 22 March 1989 entered into force 5 May 1992 objective to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate parties (81) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Comoros, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zaire, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (9) Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Thailand, United States, Venezuela Biodiversity see Convention on Biological Diversity Convention on Biological Diversity note abbreviated as Biodiversity opened for signature 5 June 1992 entered into force 29 December 1993 objective to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity parties (111) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (64) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Yemen, former Yugoslavia Climate Change see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas note abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation opened for signature 29 April 1958 entered into force 20 March 1966 objective to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited parties (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (21) Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (Canada signed on behalf of Taiwan), Tunisia, Uruguay Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution note abbreviated as Air Pollution opened for signature 13 November 1979 entered into force 16 March 1983 objective to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution parties (39) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, former Yugoslavia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (2) Holy See, San Marino Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) note abbreviated as Endangered Species opened for signature 3 March 1973 entered into force 1 July 1975 objective to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits parties (130) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (5) Cambodia, Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho, Vietnam Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) note abbreviated as Marine Dumping opened for signature 29 December 1972 entered into force 30 August 1975 objective to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention parties (76) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, former Yugoslavia, Zaire Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques note abbreviated as Environmental Modification opened for signature 10 December 1976 entered into force 5 October 1978 objective to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations parties (63) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (17) Bolivia, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, Zaire Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) note abbreviated as Wetlands opened for signature 2 February 1971 entered into force 21 December 1975 objective to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value parties (83) Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinadad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia, Zambia Desertification see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa Endangered Species see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Environmental Modification see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques Hazardous Wastes see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling note abbreviated as Whaling opened for signature 2 December 1946 entered into force 10 November 1948 objective to protect all species of whales from overfishing; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks parties (39) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands (Netherlands also extended the convention to Netherlands Antilles), New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles (withdrawing effective 30 June 1995), Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (1) Austria former parties (10) Belize, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, Jamaica, Mauritius, Panama, Philippines, Uruguay International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 note abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83 opened for signature 18 November 1983 entered into force 1 April 1985; this agreement will expire when the International Tropical Timber Ageement, 1994 goes into force objective to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources parties (52) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote dIvoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 note abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94 opened for signature 26 January 1994, but not yet in force objective to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective parties (3) Fiji, Japan, Liberia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (11) Cameroon, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Togo, United States Law of the Sea see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) Marine Dumping see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) Marine Life Conservation see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer note abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection opened for signature 16 September 1987 entered into force 1 January 1989 objective to protect the ozone layer by controling emissions of substances that deplete it parties (148) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal (Portugal has also extended the protocol to Macau), Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (1) Morocco Nuclear Test Ban see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water Ozone Layer Protection see Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) note abbreviated as Ship Pollution opened for signature 17 February 1978 entered into force 2 October 1983 objective to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances parties (91) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty note abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol opened for signature 4 October 1991, but not yet in force objective to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems parties (14) Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (27) Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes note abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides opened for signature 31 October 1988 entered into force 14 February 1991 objective to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes parties (25) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (3) Belgium, Greece, Poland Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes note abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds opened for signature 18 November 1991, but not yet in force objective to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects parties (11) Austria, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (12) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, United States Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions note abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 opened for signature 14 June 1994, but not yet in force objective to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes parties (0) countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (28) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30% note abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 opened for signature 8 July 1985 entered into force 2 September 1987 objective to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993 parties (21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine Ship Pollution see Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water note abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban opened for signature 5 August 1963 entered into force 10 October 1963 objective to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons parties (125) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Western Samoa, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (11) Algeria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Vietnam Tropical Timber 83 see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 Tropical Timber 94 see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) note abbreviated as Law of the Sea opened for signature 10 December 1982 entered into force 16 November 1994 objective to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment parties (72) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Fiji, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (91) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Western Samoa United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa note abbreviated as Desertification opened for signature 14 October 1994, but not yet in force objective to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements parties (1) Mexico countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (104) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - some late changes not included under country entries United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change note abbreviated as Climate Change opened for signature 9 May 1992 entered into force 21 March 1994 objective to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system parties (119) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvulu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified (54) Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Ukraine, Yemen, former Yugoslavia Wetlands see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) Whaling see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

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