1872: The Swiss gov’t. proposed an international commission to protect migratory birds.
1900: Convention for the Preservation of Animals, Birds and Fish in Africa, which was signed in London by the European colonial powers with the intent to protect African game species, particularly to limit the export of ivory which was leading to severe hunting p ressure on the African elephant.
1900: European littoral states sign treaty to regulate transportation of toxic substances on the Rhine River.
1909: Canada-US Boundary Waters Treaty
1911: The North Pacific Fur Seal Commission was established by USA, Canada, USSR and Japan to regulate harvest of seals in North Pacific.
1918: US-Canada negotiate and sign the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, designed to protect bird species particularly waterfowl that seasonally migrate between the two nations.
1931: First international convention to discuss the regulation of commercial whaling, eventually led (in
1946) to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and the establishment of the International Whaling Commission, a permanent body responsible for negotiating & setting policy re- the harvest and preservation of whales.
1940: Convention on Nature Protection and W ildlife Conservation in the Western Hemisphere.
1946: Founding of the United Nations and W orld Bank, centerpieces for an international effort to promote world peace and post-war reconstruction. T hese institutions subsequently played lead ing roles in international environmental cooperation, through the World Bank, UN-IMCO, FAO, UNDP, WHO, and later, UNEP and UNESCO.
1950: International Convention to Protect Birds
1954: International Convention for the Prevention of P ollution of the Sea by O il, signed in London, the culmination of 28 years of negotiations by Western European and North American nations.
1958: International Maritime Consultative Organization (UN-IMCO) established, assuming principal responsibility for negotiating international agreements on ocean pollution.
1962/69: Amendments to the International Convention on Oil Pollution.
1971: RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
1972: UNESCO-sponsored Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which designates W orld Heritage Sites.
1972: Oslo Convention for the Prevention of M arine P ollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft.
1972: Great Lakes Water Qaulity Agreement (US - Canada). Key agreements on marine pollution in the North Sea and E ast Atlantic.
1972: Stockholm-United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. Outputs: Stockholm Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment: 26 principles, intended as a foundation for future developments in international environmental cooperation. Action Plan for the Human Environment: consisting of 109 recommendations for govt and intergovt action across the full range of environmental policy issues, ranging from species conservation, forests and atmospheric and marine pollution, to development policy, technology transfer and impact of environment on trade. Resolved to establish United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Environment Fund.
1972: London Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (restricts toxic & nuclear waste dumping at sea).
1973: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) (restricts release/dumping of oil, garbage, sewage, ballast waters, etc.).
1974: Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-based Sources, intended to control land-based pollution to the North Sea.
1974: Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea.
1975/80: Mediterranean Action Plans: control marine and land-based pollution.
1973: Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
1974/84: First and Second UN Population Conferences: contentious events that, nonetheless, helped to focus attention and coordinate support for implementation of family planning programs in many countries.
1979: Convention on Long-Range, Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). Negotiated between Canada, the US and European countries primarily in response to concerns about acid rain, this was the first major
international effort to regulate air pollution.
1980: World Conservation Strategy. Coordinated by IUCN/WWF/UNEP, this was a major effort sponsored by non-government agencies to promote national conservation programs in LDCs.
1982: UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Established 200 mile territorial jurisdictions over coastal waters.
1982: Whaling moratorium adopted by IWC.
1983: International Tropical Timber Agreement (formation of ITTO: Int. Tropical Timber Organization)
1985: Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions.
1985: Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, established initial targets for gradual reductions in CFC production.
1987: Montreal Protocol (London Amendments, 1990) on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, established specific time-tables for reductions and phase-out of CFC’s by the turn-of-the-century, and established financial mechanism (Ozone Fund) to assist LDCs and former Soviet Bloc nations in phase-out.
1987: Our Common Future published (Report of the W orld Commission on Environment & Development/Brundtland Commission)
1988: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change formed by UNEP & WMO.
1989: Basel Convent. on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
1990: Kingston Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Caribbean
1991: Protocol on Environmental Protection of Antarctica, established a moratorium on mineral and related exploration and development for 50 years.
1991: Canada-US Air Quality Agreement, reducing emissions that cause acid rain
European Union: Major progress on international environmental efforts, with 280 items of environmental
legislation ranging across a range of policy areas, including toxics, water quality, waste management, air
pollution, wildlife protection and noise pollution.
1992: Rio-United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. Outputs:
Rio Declaration: statement of key principles for environment & development
Agenda 21: detailed list of recommendations
Statement of Forest Principles (scaled down from Forest Convention)
Biodiversity Convention (signed by 153 countries, but not US)
Climate Change Convention
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Established UN Commission on Sustainable Development to review progress of Rio efforts
1993: North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, established as side agreement to North American Free Trade Agreement with the intent of addressing environmental problems and arbitrating related conflicts that arise through international trade between Mexico, US and Canada.
1994: UN Convention to Combat Desertification (particularly in Africa).
1994: 3rd International Population Conference, Cairo, established broad consensus over need to make women’s issues - health, education, employment, rights & empowerment - as central to concerns of family planning, fertility management and social development.
1995: Beijing International Conference on Women & Development
1996: Protocol to the 1972 London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
1997: International agreement to reduce the production, storage and use of land mines.
1997: Kyoto Protocol on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases: Established first binding, numerical targets for reducing greenhouse gases.
1998: Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent for Trade in Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides
1999: World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle crashed by environmental protests.
1999: Canada-US Pacific Salmon Treaty renewed
2000: Ozone Annex to the 1991 Canada-US Air Quality Agreement, reducing emissions that cause smog (especially NO-x)
2001: Cartegena (BioSafety-GMO) Protocol to UN Convention on Biological Diversity
2001: UN-Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (DDT, PCBs, dioxin, furans)
2001: Bonn Framework Agreement for the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Convention on Climate Change
2002: Rio + 10: UN World Summit for Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
2005: Kyoto Protocol of 1997 comes into force
2006: Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
2007: UNFCC-Bali Conference on Climate Change: post-Kyoto road-map
1900: Convention for the Preservation of Animals, Birds and Fish in Africa, which was signed in London by the European colonial powers with the intent to protect African game species, particularly to limit the export of ivory which was leading to severe hunting p ressure on the African elephant.
1900: European littoral states sign treaty to regulate transportation of toxic substances on the Rhine River.
1909: Canada-US Boundary Waters Treaty
1911: The North Pacific Fur Seal Commission was established by USA, Canada, USSR and Japan to regulate harvest of seals in North Pacific.
1918: US-Canada negotiate and sign the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, designed to protect bird species particularly waterfowl that seasonally migrate between the two nations.
1931: First international convention to discuss the regulation of commercial whaling, eventually led (in
1946) to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and the establishment of the International Whaling Commission, a permanent body responsible for negotiating & setting policy re- the harvest and preservation of whales.
1940: Convention on Nature Protection and W ildlife Conservation in the Western Hemisphere.
1946: Founding of the United Nations and W orld Bank, centerpieces for an international effort to promote world peace and post-war reconstruction. T hese institutions subsequently played lead ing roles in international environmental cooperation, through the World Bank, UN-IMCO, FAO, UNDP, WHO, and later, UNEP and UNESCO.
1950: International Convention to Protect Birds
1954: International Convention for the Prevention of P ollution of the Sea by O il, signed in London, the culmination of 28 years of negotiations by Western European and North American nations.
1958: International Maritime Consultative Organization (UN-IMCO) established, assuming principal responsibility for negotiating international agreements on ocean pollution.
1962/69: Amendments to the International Convention on Oil Pollution.
1971: RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
1972: UNESCO-sponsored Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which designates W orld Heritage Sites.
1972: Oslo Convention for the Prevention of M arine P ollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft.
1972: Great Lakes Water Qaulity Agreement (US - Canada). Key agreements on marine pollution in the North Sea and E ast Atlantic.
1972: Stockholm-United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. Outputs: Stockholm Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment: 26 principles, intended as a foundation for future developments in international environmental cooperation. Action Plan for the Human Environment: consisting of 109 recommendations for govt and intergovt action across the full range of environmental policy issues, ranging from species conservation, forests and atmospheric and marine pollution, to development policy, technology transfer and impact of environment on trade. Resolved to establish United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Environment Fund.
1972: London Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (restricts toxic & nuclear waste dumping at sea).
1973: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) (restricts release/dumping of oil, garbage, sewage, ballast waters, etc.).
1974: Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-based Sources, intended to control land-based pollution to the North Sea.
1974: Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea.
1975/80: Mediterranean Action Plans: control marine and land-based pollution.
1973: Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
1974/84: First and Second UN Population Conferences: contentious events that, nonetheless, helped to focus attention and coordinate support for implementation of family planning programs in many countries.
1979: Convention on Long-Range, Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). Negotiated between Canada, the US and European countries primarily in response to concerns about acid rain, this was the first major
international effort to regulate air pollution.
1980: World Conservation Strategy. Coordinated by IUCN/WWF/UNEP, this was a major effort sponsored by non-government agencies to promote national conservation programs in LDCs.
1982: UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Established 200 mile territorial jurisdictions over coastal waters.
1982: Whaling moratorium adopted by IWC.
1983: International Tropical Timber Agreement (formation of ITTO: Int. Tropical Timber Organization)
1985: Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions.
1985: Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, established initial targets for gradual reductions in CFC production.
1987: Montreal Protocol (London Amendments, 1990) on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, established specific time-tables for reductions and phase-out of CFC’s by the turn-of-the-century, and established financial mechanism (Ozone Fund) to assist LDCs and former Soviet Bloc nations in phase-out.
1987: Our Common Future published (Report of the W orld Commission on Environment & Development/Brundtland Commission)
1988: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change formed by UNEP & WMO.
1989: Basel Convent. on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
1990: Kingston Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Caribbean
1991: Protocol on Environmental Protection of Antarctica, established a moratorium on mineral and related exploration and development for 50 years.
1991: Canada-US Air Quality Agreement, reducing emissions that cause acid rain
European Union: Major progress on international environmental efforts, with 280 items of environmental
legislation ranging across a range of policy areas, including toxics, water quality, waste management, air
pollution, wildlife protection and noise pollution.
1992: Rio-United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. Outputs:
Rio Declaration: statement of key principles for environment & development
Agenda 21: detailed list of recommendations
Statement of Forest Principles (scaled down from Forest Convention)
Biodiversity Convention (signed by 153 countries, but not US)
Climate Change Convention
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Established UN Commission on Sustainable Development to review progress of Rio efforts
1993: North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, established as side agreement to North American Free Trade Agreement with the intent of addressing environmental problems and arbitrating related conflicts that arise through international trade between Mexico, US and Canada.
1994: UN Convention to Combat Desertification (particularly in Africa).
1994: 3rd International Population Conference, Cairo, established broad consensus over need to make women’s issues - health, education, employment, rights & empowerment - as central to concerns of family planning, fertility management and social development.
1995: Beijing International Conference on Women & Development
1996: Protocol to the 1972 London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
1997: International agreement to reduce the production, storage and use of land mines.
1997: Kyoto Protocol on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases: Established first binding, numerical targets for reducing greenhouse gases.
1998: Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent for Trade in Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides
1999: World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle crashed by environmental protests.
1999: Canada-US Pacific Salmon Treaty renewed
2000: Ozone Annex to the 1991 Canada-US Air Quality Agreement, reducing emissions that cause smog (especially NO-x)
2001: Cartegena (BioSafety-GMO) Protocol to UN Convention on Biological Diversity
2001: UN-Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (DDT, PCBs, dioxin, furans)
2001: Bonn Framework Agreement for the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Convention on Climate Change
2002: Rio + 10: UN World Summit for Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
2005: Kyoto Protocol of 1997 comes into force
2006: Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
2007: UNFCC-Bali Conference on Climate Change: post-Kyoto road-map
