The history of international environmental law - Introduction to International Environmental Law - page 40

1971 The only global environmental agreement that deals with a particular

ecosystem (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat) is adopted in Ramsar, Iran.

1974 The Nordic Environmental Protection Convention and the

Convention on the Protection of the Baltic Sea are signed.

1979 The fi rst extensive regional convention limiting air pollution is

concluded (Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pol-
lution); the framework convention model (with the subsequent
protocols added to a framework treaty) are introduced.

1982 The Whaling Commission, based on the Whaling Convention signed

in 1946, prohibits commercial whaling (although the original inten-
tion was sustainable and organized whaling).

1985
and
1987

The fi rst treaty regime addressing a global environmental problem,
the ozone regime, starts with the Vienna Convention and the
Montreal Protocol.
1989 The fi rst of the chemicals conventions (The Basel Convention on the
Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal) is adopted in Basel, Switzerland.
1991 Eight Arctic governments (fi ve Nordic countries, USSR/Russia,
Canada and USA) commence the Arctic Environmental Protection
Strategy.
1991 The parties to the Antarctic Treaty decide to prohibit mining and sign
an Environmental Protection Protocol.

1991 The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Trans-

boundary Context is signed in Espoo.

1992 The Rio Earth Summit, UNCED (Stockholm 1972 Conference 20-

year follow-up conference) produces conventions on climate change
and biodiversity and adopts the Rio Principles and the Agenda 21
environmental strategy (and the Forest Principles).

1992 The New Baltic Sea Convention is signed.

1997 The Kyoto Protocol is adopted; the industrial countries legally commit

to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions.

1998 The Convention to promote environmental democracy (access to

information, public participation in decision-making and access to
justice in environmental matters) is adopted in Aarhus, Denmark.

2000 The Protocol on Biosafety is adopted in Montreal, Canada.

2001 The global POPs Convention, aimed at controlling and reducing

persistent organic pollutants, is adopted and opened for signature in
Stockholm.

2002 The World Summit on Sustainable Development, the ten-year follow-

up conference to the Rio Earth Summit takes place in Johannesburg,
South Africa; it produces a declaration and a plan of implementation.

2003 The Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is adopted

to the Espoo Convention in Kiev, Ukraine.

2003 The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Envi-

ronment of the Caspian Sea is adopted in Tehran.