Chemical, waste and ozone treaties
Five global treaties, each named after a city, that deal with chemical and pollution dangers to people and nature.
What the paper can ask
- Vienna Convention: signed 22 March 1985 in Vienna, in force 22 September 1988. It is a framework treaty, so the binding cuts came in a later protocol. Every UN member state has ratified it (as of 2026-10-24). (as of 24 Oct 2026)
- Basel Convention: opened for signature in March 1989 in Basel, Switzerland, in force 5 May 1992. The United States signed it but has not ratified it (as of 2026-10-24). (as of 24 Oct 2026)
- Rotterdam Convention: signed 10 September 1998 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in force 24 February 2004. Since 2012 its secretariat has been merged with those of Basel and Stockholm.
- Stockholm Convention: adopted 22 May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden, in force 17 May 2004. It began with 12 substances, nicknamed the 'dirty dozen', and more have been added since.
- Minamata Convention: opened for signature at Kumamoto, Japan on 10 October 2013, in force 16 August 2017. It is named after the Japanese city of Minamata, not the city where it was signed. India ratified it on 18 June 2018.
Latest
Minamata Convention had 153 parties as of September 2025.
Why exams ask
Setters ask the signing years, the in-force dates, which city each treaty is named after, and which treaties share a secretariat.
The full story
Between 1985 and 2013 the world signed five treaties on the ozone layer, wastes and chemicals. Each is named after a city: four after the city where it was adopted or signed (Vienna, Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm) and one after a Japanese city (Minamata). They are run under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) system.
Test yourself
1.The Vienna Convention of 1985 is the framework treaty for the protection of the:
Correct. The Vienna Convention (1985) set the framework; the Montreal Protocol (1987) added the binding phase-out schedules for ozone-depleting substances.
Not quite. The Vienna Convention (1985) set the framework; the Montreal Protocol (1987) added the binding phase-out schedules for ozone-depleting substances. It goes into your error book.
2.The Basel Convention (1989) regulates:
Correct. Basel controls the export and import of hazardous waste, especially dumping in developing countries.
Not quite. Basel controls the export and import of hazardous waste, especially dumping in developing countries. It goes into your error book.
3.The Stockholm Convention of 2001 aims to eliminate:
Correct. The Stockholm Convention (2001, in force 2004) targets POPs such as DDT, PCBs and dioxins, which persist and accumulate in food chains.
Not quite. The Stockholm Convention (2001, in force 2004) targets POPs such as DDT, PCBs and dioxins, which persist and accumulate in food chains. It goes into your error book.