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Asia and the Pacific

Asia and the Pacific

Legal Instruments

Title Legal Status About agreement Logo
The Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (Apia Convention) Apia Convention - Entry into force: 25 Jun 1990 The Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific obliges States in general terms to create protected areas to safeguard representative samples of ecosystems, and places of scenic, geological, aesthetic, historical, cultural or scientific importance. The Convention also prohibits the taking or killing of fauna (including eggs and shells) unless the taking is controlled by the competent authorities of the State concerned or unless in pursuance of 'duly authorised' scientific investigations. Region: Asia and the Pacific Number of parties: 0

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ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution Entry into force: 9 Nov 2003 To prevent and monitor transboundary haze pollution resulting from land and/or forest fires. Region: Asia and the Pacific; Number of parties: 0

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Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northeast Pacific (Antigua Convention) Thu, 26 August 2010 It establishes a regional cooperation framework to encourage and facilitate the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources of the countries of the Northeast Pacific for the benefit of present and future generations of the region. Entry into force: 26 Aug 2010 Region: Asia and the Pacific Number of parties: 0

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Convention for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (Noumea Convention) Entered into force in 1990 The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the primary regional organization concerned with environmental management and sustainable development in the Pacific and serves as the Secretariat for three Conventions. The 1976 Convention on the Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (the Apia Convention), came into force in 1990. Its operation was suspended in 2006. The 1986 Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific region (the Noumea Convention) entered into force in 1990. It has two Protocols. The 1995 Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region (the Waigani Convention) entered into force in 2001.

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Convention on the Conservation of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Environment (Jeddah Convention) Entered into force in 1985 The Action Plan for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden was established in 1982 and later revised in 1995 and 2005. In addition, the PRTSGA member states adopted the Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (Jeddah Convention) and the attached Protocol concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency in 1982, which entered into force in 1985. Two additional protocols were adopted in 2005 concerning protection form land-based activities and conservation of marine biodiversity- establishment of a regional network of protected areas. More recently another protocol concerning facilitation of movement of personnel and equipment during emergency was adopted in 2009.

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Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) Tehran Convention - Entry into force: 12 Aug 2006 The Tehran Convention is the first regional legally binding instrument signed by all five Caspian littoral states. It serves as an overarching governance framework which lays down the general requirements and the institutional mechanism for environmental protection and sustainable development in the Caspian Sea region. The effective implementation of the Tehran Convention and its Protocols will support the protection of the marine environment and with it of the livelihoods, health and well-being of present and future generations around the Caspian Sea. Region: Asia and the Pacific Number of parties: 0

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Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution (Kuwait Convention) (Kuwait Convention - Adopted: 24 April 1978 & Entered into Force: 1 July 1979 (UNEP 2001) Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution Contracting Parties: State of Bahrain, Iran, Republic of Iraq, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

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Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) Adopted in September 1994 The Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP) was adopted in September 1994 as a part of the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Implementation of NOWPAP contributes to the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) in the Northwest Pacific region. Has 4 Member States, namely the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation as a part of the UNEP Regional Seas Programme.

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South Asian Seas Action Plan (SASAP) adopted in March 1995. The South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) is acting as the Action Plan secretariat. It focuses on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), oil-spill contingency planning, human resource development and the environmental effects of land-based activities. Although there is no regional convention yet, SASAP follows existing global environmental and maritime conventions and considers Law of the Sea as its umbrella convention.

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The Focal Point for all these at UN Environment is Ms. Kanako Hasegawa