International Treaties
This page provides summaries of international treaties that USAID works to support through its programming. These treaties, as well as relevant protocols, resolutions, and programs, are grouped by themes: biodiversity and conservation, climate change, chemicals, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to conserve biological diversity, to promote the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and to promote the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. These components are implemented through the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization and The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
International Plant Protection Convention
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was developed to protect the world's plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests and diseases harmful to plants and agricultural systems, while promoting safe trade in plant and plant-based products.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) seeks to protect endangered plant and animal species from the threats of international trade through a system of permits and certificates.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification aims to protect and restore our land and ensure a safer, just, and more sustainable future by mitigating the impacts of land degradation, address desertification and the effects of drought to protect food, water, shelter, and economic opportunity to all people.
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
The objective of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter is to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matter.
United Nations Environment Programme Resolution to End Plastic Pollution
The United Nations Environment Programme adopted the resolution to End Plastic Pollution to develop an international agreement for the reduction of plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is a framework convention that lays out principles related to ozone depletion and its impacts agreed upon by many parties without requiring countries to take control actions to protect the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is the implementation mechanism under the Vienna Convention and aims to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) that deplete it, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.
Chemicals
Minamata Convention on Mercury
The objective of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
Basel Convention
The overarching objective of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes through the reduction of hazardous waste generation, the promotion of environmentally sound hazardous waste management, and the regulation of the transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
Rotterdam Convention
The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade aims to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of specified hazardous chemicals, such as certain pesticides and industrial chemicals, to protect human and environmental health, while also contributing to the environmentally sound use of those hazardous chemicals through information exchange and facilitating import and export decisions.
Stockholm Convention
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from long-lasting chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and requires parties to adopt a range of control measures to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the release of POPs.
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them.
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention
The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention aims to protect the rights of Indigenous and tribal peoples, including their aspirations to exercise control over their own institutions, ways of life and economic development and to maintain and develop their identities, languages, and beliefs.