Clear marble on brown rock.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Most environmental problems are transboundary and require international cooperation. The aim of Multilateral Environmental Agreements is to ensure efficient, collective actions on a global level.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements are international agreements that are intended to promote international cooperation to address global environmental challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste. 

Strong Swedish engagement 

Sweden has ratified a large number of Multilateral Agreements, and the Swedish EPA works actively to develop and strengthen implementation of many of them. 

In this work, the Swedish EPA’s experts support the government by providing expert knowledge and participating in negotiations in expert groups and conferences of the parties. Our experts also participate in the EU preparatory negotiations, which shape the positions of the EU. During conferences of the parties, EU normally speaks for all its member states.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements

The list represent a selection of the Multilateral Agreements that Swedish EPA are involved in.

Aarhus Convention

The Aarhus Convention is a UN convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.
Man skriver på sin laptop i en verkstad

Air Convention, CLRTAP

Long-range transboundary air pollution knows no borders. This was the starting point of the United Nations Air Convention, entered into force in 1983.
A group photo from the air convention's 40th anniversary.

Basel Convention

In one of the most comprehensive global environmental agreements, the members gather in a joint effort to improve management of hazardous waste.
A boy walks among garbage and holds a cardboard box, Nicaragua

Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD

Adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the CBD aims to contribute to turning the negative trend in loss of biological diversity and the extinction of animals and plants.
A bumblebee sits on a pink flower.

Global agreement to end plastic pollution

Plastic pollution harms wildlife and disturbs ecosystems. This agreement addresses the whole plastic lifecycle, from production to waste management.
Plastic pollution in the ocean.

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, POPs

As toxic POPs can be transported over long distances across borders, international cooperation is necessary to reduce and eliminate production, usage, and emissions.
Swedish Lapland, Kungsleden.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC

Climate change due to temperature rise is one of the greatest threats to humanity. Rapid reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions is the only way forward.
A high wave in the sea.

Vienna Convention

Signed in 1985, this convention is intended to protect human health and the environment from hazardous effects of modifications of the ozone layer.
The sun is setting over the clouds.

Contact

Do you want to know more about the MEAs? Send an email to Helén Klint, helen.klint@naturvardsverket.se