MEAs are international instruments states enter into, addressing particular environmental issues. They play a vital role in the development of overall environmental frameworks from the global, regional, national to sub-national levels of governance and cooperation. Some MEAs are legally-binding such as Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Some are voluntary agreements among nations, among these are the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention).
Most of these MEAs are outcomes of international conventions that parties (governments), and non-parties (civil society, scientists, private sector, indigenous people, etc.) participate in. Together, they forge agreements and pledge to take action to solve environmental issues. International frameworks are adopted at country level resulting into policies, plans, programs and activities implemented across sectors of the society.
The Philippines’ Wildlife Act (RA 9147), National Integrated Protected Areas System (RA 7586 and 11038), Clean Air Act (RA 8749), Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (8371), Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act (RA 9168), Toxic Substances & Hazardous & Nuclear Wastes Control Act (RA 6969), are some of the policy outcomes arising from our country’s commitments in various global treaties.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) represents the Philippines in many of these MEA meetings. Other government agencies participate in international conventions related to trade, transboundary crime, sustainable development, health, human rights, geopolitical matters, among others.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Biodiversity

The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the DENR is the focal agency representing the Philippines in several MEAs related to biodiversity conservation. It negotiates on the country’s behalf, measures and actions that aim to tackle drivers of biodiversity loss. Country positions and commitments are drafted in consultation with various stakeholders, including scientific and technical experts.