Essential Documents in International Environmental Law

Part 1 Fundamental Soft-law Documents
1. Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (1972) _
2. UN General Assembly Resolution 37/7 on a World Charter for Nature (1982) _
3. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development(Rio Declaration) (1992) _
4. “Transforming our World”: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015) _

Part 2 Oceans, Seas and Freshwater
I. Protection of the Marine Environment
5. London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972) _
5A. Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1996) _
6. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (1973) _
6A. Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (1978) _
7. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) (excerpt) _
II. International Regulation of Freshwater Resources
8. Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1992) _
8A. Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1999) _
9. UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourse (1997)
Part 3 Atmosphere
I. Transboundary Air Pollution
10. Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (1979) _
10A. Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions (1994) _
11. Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Air Quality (1991) _
II. Protection of the Ozone Layer
12. Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985) _
12A. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) _
III. Climate Change
13. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) _
13A. Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1997) _
14. Paris Agreement (2015) _

Part 4 Species, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
I. Protection of Species
15. International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946) _
16. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973) _
17. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979) _
18. Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (1995) _
II. Protection of Spaces
19. Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971) _
20. Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) _
21. Antarctic Treaty (1959) _
21A. Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991) _
III. Biodiversity
22. Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) _
22A. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2000) _
22B. Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) _

Part 5 Dangerous Substances and Activities
23. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989) _
24. Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (1992) _
25. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (1998) _
26. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001) _
27. Convention on Nuclear Safety (1994) _
28. Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (1997) _

Part 6 Others
I. Lands and Forests
29. UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (1994) _
II. Environmental Awareness and Governance
30. Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (1991) _
31. UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (1998) _
III. Environmental Liability and Responsibility
32. International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (1992) _
33. Draft Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (2001) _