Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

Title (French)

Convention sur la protection et l'utilisation des cours d'eau transfrontières et des lacs internationaux

Title (Spanish)

Convención sobre la protección y utilización de cursos de agua transfronterizos y lagos internacionales

Title (Other)

Übereinkommen zum Schutz und zur Nutzung grenzüberschreitender Wasserläufe und internationaler Seen

Place of adoption

Helsinki

Depository

UN United Nations

Language

English, French, Russian

Entry into force

Oct 6, 1996

Subject

Water

Keyword

Precautionary principle

Abstract

Objectives: To strengthen national and international actions aimed at the protection and ecologically sound management of transboundary waters. Summary of provisions: (a) Definition of important terms used in the Convention, such as “transboundary Water”, “transboundary impact”, “Riparian Parties” (art. 1) (b) Statement of provisions of common application to parties. These include the duty to prevent, control and reduce pollution of waters which have a transboundary range; to exercise economy and rational management in respect of such waters; to practice equity in the use of transboundary waters; and to avoid the transfer of pollution from one location to another; to undertake precautionary measures, so as to avert possible pollution of transboundary waters; to employ the polluters-pays principle as one measure to discourage the pollution of transboundary waters, to employ cooperative endeavours among the Riparian Parties, in the control of water pollution (art. 2) (c) Specification of prevention, control and reduction measures in respect of transboundary water pollution. The relevant provisions (art. 3) impose obligations in relation to the emission of pollutants, the management of point sources of pollution, the application of suitable technology to discharge of hazardous substances, the treatment of municipal waste water, the control of deposits of noxious matter from diffuse sources affecting water, and the adoption of environmental impact assessment as part of a strategy to maintain the ecological balance; (d) Requirement of cooperation in research and development, among the parties to bring about effective measures to control for transboundary water pollution (arts. 5 and 12); (e) Requirement of bilateral and multilateral cooperation among Riparian Parties, so as to facilitate control of transboundary water pollution (art. 9); (f) Prescription of effective monitoring of measures for the control of transboundary water pollution (arts. 4 and 11); (g) Stipulation of the duty to consult and to give warning, among the Parties, in relation to transboundary water pollution (arts. 6, 10, 13, 14 and 16), and to assist one another in effecting control of such pollution (art. 15); (h) Provisions of machinery for review of measures taken under the Convention, and for its administration (arts. 7, 18 and 19); (i) Provisions for the settlement of disputes (art. 22). The Convention has following Annexes: Annex I: Definition on the term “best available technology”; Annex II: Guidelines for developing best environmental practices; Annex III: Guidelines for developing water-quality objectives and criteria; Annex IV: Arbitration. (Source: UNEP Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment, 2005)

Full text

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Website

treaties.un.org

* [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature

References - Treaties

Enables

Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

Treaty | Multilateral | London | Jun 17, 1999

Keyword: Basin/catchment/watershed, PIC-prior informed consent, Toxicity/poisoning, Access-to-information, Pollution control, Environmental indicators, Right to clean/healthy environment, International relations/cooperation, Hazardous substances, EIA, Research, Management/conservation, Polluter pays principle, Institution, Surface water, Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution, Precautionary principle, Local government, Monitoring, Transboundary effects, Waste disposal, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Sustainable development, Water supply, Resource/damage valuation, Public participation, Data collection/reporting, Education, Groundwater, Freshwater resources management

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001306)

Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and to the 1992 Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents

Treaty | Multilateral | Kiev | May 21, 2003

Keyword: Access-to-information, Enforcement/compliance, Access-to-justice, Dispute settlement

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001372)

Amended by

Amendments to Articles 25 and 26 of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

Treaty | Multilateral | Madrid | Nov 28, 2003

Keyword: Public participation, Institution, Basin/catchment/watershed, Research, Transboundary effects, Water supply, PIC-prior informed consent, Precautionary principle, Local government, Toxicity/poisoning, Polluter pays principle, Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Management/conservation, Resource/damage valuation, Monitoring, Right to clean/healthy environment, Freshwater resources management, EIA, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Education, International relations/cooperation, Groundwater, Pollution control, Hazardous substances, Environmental indicators, Sustainable development, Surface water, Waste disposal

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001630)

Cited by

La Charte de l'Eau du Bassin du Niger

Treaty | Multilateral | Niamey | Apr 30, 2008

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-146761)

Convention on the Protection of the Rhine

Treaty | Multilateral | Bern | Apr 12, 1999

Keyword: Precautionary principle, Polluter pays principle, River basin institution, Groundwater, Biodiversity, Water supply, Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution, Navigation, Pollution control, Ecosystem preservation, Protection of species, Protection of habitats, Sustainable development, PIC-prior informed consent, Monitoring, Hazardous substances, Hydropower generation, Emission standards, Dispute settlement, Basin/catchment/watershed, Data collection/reporting, Authorization/permit, Freshwater resources management

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001307)

Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters

Treaty | Multilateral | Aarhus | Jun 25, 1998

Keyword: Public participation, Data collection/reporting, Education, Dispute settlement, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Access-to-information

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001276)

Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Cooperation in the Field of Protection and Sustainable Development of the Dniester River Basin

Treaty | Bilateral | Rome | Nov 29, 2012

Keyword: Transboundary effects, Alien species, Erosion, EIA, Public participation, Migratory species, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Groundwater, Sustainable use, Waterworks, Public health, Polluter pays principle, Precautionary principle, Basin/catchment/watershed, Surface water, Ecosystem preservation, Aquatic animal products, Effluent waste water/discharge, Emissions

Source: FAO, FAOLEX; IUCN (ID: TRE-160050)

Other references

Literature

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