Introduction

Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

A multilateral  Environmental Agreement is an agreement between many countries regarding International environmental governance. Prior to 1972, most international environmental disputes were dealt with at the bilateral level. After 1972’s Stockholm Conference, the number of environmental agreements has been mushroomed.

Most environmental problems have a trans-boundary nature. Because of their global scope they can be addressed effectively through International co-operation. The parties under this agreement takes an active part in the elaboration, ratification & implementation of MEA’s. The trans-border, regional & global environmental problems are resolved through MEA’s.

These agreements have played a vital role in developing countries, in two ways:

i]by influencing their domestic policies

ii] by inducing them to follow the environmental standards.

It requires the countries to develop specific implementation mechanisms & fulfill obligations involving global environmental issues such as CO2 reduction, eco-efficiency, land degradation, energy systems & technological inventions.

Rio Summit held in 1992 which highlighted the issues on environment generated a number of MEA’s. The most significant MEA in support of Sustainable Development is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty which is signed by more than 175 nations.

The  main global MEA include:

1] Those covering biodiversity & wildlife

2] those to protect the atmosphere

3] those dealing with the marine environment

4] those regulating the use of chemicals

5] those dealing with the waste

6] other issues relating to environment

Technical and financial assistance have been incorporated into some MEAs to assist developing countries in complying with the internationally- agreed targets. The most important MEAs containing trade provisions are CITES, the Montreal Protocol, the Basel Convention, the Conventions on Climate Change and Bio-diversity, signed at UNCED.

A range of policy instruments is used to achieve environmental objectives, including permits, quotas, market based instruments, trade measures and positive measures progress has been made since UNCED in additional financing, capacity building and technology transfer related to MEAs.

There should be more coordination between environmental & trade policies at both the national and international levels. The Government should include positive measures in the MEA’s. Challenges like higher compliance cost for developing countries, improving access to environmentally sound technologies, strengthening national capacities& range of policy instruments available to achieve the objectives has to be considered. Main problem with MEA’s is its governance.  Although there are more than 500 MEA’s managed by more than a dozen international agencies share environmental responsibilities & yet international conditions are not improving.