see — International Court of Justice (ICJ)
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
address — Branicka 112, Branik, CS-14700 Prague 4, Czech Republic
telephone — [42] (2) 46 21 40
established — 3 October 1945
aim — to promote the trade union movement
members — (116) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia,Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, TheGambia, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique,Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania,Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zimbabwe
World Food Council (WFC)
address — c/o FAO, Via Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy
telephone — [39] (6) 522821
established — 17 December 1974
aim — to study world food problems and to recommend solutions; ECOSOC organization
members — (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Food Program (WFP)
address — Via Cristoforo Colombo 426, I-00145 Rome, Italy
telephone — [39] (6) 522821
established — 24 November 1961
aim — to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization
members — (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Health Organization (WHO)
address — CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23
established — 22 July 1946
effective — 7 April 1948
aim — UN specialized agency concerned with health matters
members — (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niue,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended),Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members — (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
address — 34 chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 730 9111
established — 14 July 1967
effective — 26 April 1970
aim — to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency
members — (147) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway,Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
address — Case Postale 2300, 41 Av Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 730 81 11
established — 11 October 1947
effective — 4 April 1951
aim — to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a specialized UN agency
members — (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Caribbean Territories,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Tourism Organization (WTO or WToO)
address — Calle Capitan Haya 41, 28020 Madrid, Spain
telephone — [34] (1) 571 06 28
established — 2 January 1975
aim — to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace
members — (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino,Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia,Zimbabwe
associate members — (4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, PuertoRico
observer — (1) Holy See
World Trade Organization (WTrO)
will be added in The World Factbook 1996
Zangger Committee (ZC)
established — early 1970s
aim — to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
members — (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,UK, US
________________________________________________________________________
Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution — Convention on Long-Range Transboundary AirPollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides — Protocol to the 1979 Conventionon Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Controlof Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 — Protocol to the 1979 Convention onLong-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of SulphurEmissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 — Protocol to the 1979 Convention onLong-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction ofSulphur Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds — Protocol to the 1979Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerningthe Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or TheirTransboundary Fluxes
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol — Protocol on EnvironmentalProtection to the Antarctic Treaty
Biodiversity — Convention on Biological Diversity
Climate Change — United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange
Desertification — United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species — Convention on the International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification — Convention on the Prohibition ofMilitary or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental ModificationTechniques
Hazardous Wastes — Basel Convention on the Control ofTransboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Law of the Sea — United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(LOS)
Marine Dumping — Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter; note - also known as the London Convention
Marine Life Conservation — Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas
Nuclear Test Ban — Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in theAtmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection — Montreal Protocol on Substances ThatDeplete the Ozone Layer
Ship Pollution — Protocol of 1978 Relating to the InternationalConvention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973(MARPOL)
Tropical Timber 83 — International Tropical Timber Agreement,1983
Tropical Timber 94 — International Tropical Timber Agreement,1994
Wetlands — Convention on Wetlands of International ImportanceEspecially As Waterfowl Habitat; note - also known as Ramsar
Whaling — International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
Note: Not all of the selected international environmental agreements have abbreviations.
________________________________________________________________________
Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution
see — Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
see — Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
see — Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
see — Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
see — Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
see — Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty
opened for signature — 1 December 1959
entered into force — 23 June 1961
objective — to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, such as, for international cooperation in scientific research, and that it does not become the scene or object of international discord
parties — (42) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UnitedKingdom, United States, Uruguay
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of HazardousWastes and Their Disposal
note — abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
opened for signature — 22 March 1989
entered into force — 5 May 1992
objective — to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate
parties — (81) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile,China, Comoros, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, European Union,Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius,Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United ArabEmirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zaire, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (9) Afghanistan,Bolivia, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Thailand, United States,Venezuela
Biodiversity
see — Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
note — abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature — 5 June 1992
entered into force — 29 December 1993
objective — to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
parties — (111) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada,Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, CotedIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EuropeanUnion, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea,South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria,Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, SriLanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, UnitedKingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (64) Afghanistan,Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana,Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo,Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Poland,Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UnitedArab Emirates, United States, Yemen, former Yugoslavia
Climate Change
see — United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas
note — abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
opened for signature — 29 April 1958
entered into force — 20 March 1966
objective — to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited
parties — (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina,Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland,France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, SierraLeone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,Venezuela, former Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (21) Afghanistan,Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran,Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan,Panama, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (Canada signed on behalf of Taiwan),Tunisia, Uruguay
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
note — abbreviated as Air Pollution
opened for signature — 13 November 1979
entered into force — 16 March 1983
objective — to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution
parties — (39) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, former Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (2) Holy See, SanMarino
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora andFauna (CITES)
note — abbreviated as Endangered Species
opened for signature — 3 March 1973
entered into force — 1 July 1975
objective — to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits
parties — (130) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria,The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon,Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,Liechtenstein, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (5) Cambodia,Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho, Vietnam
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and OtherMatter (London Convention)
note — abbreviated as Marine Dumping
opened for signature — 29 December 1972
entered into force — 30 August 1975
objective — to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention
parties — (76) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, EuropeanUnion, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti,Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, Kiribati, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia,Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname,Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, former Yugoslavia, Zaire
Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use ofEnvironmental Modification Techniques
note — abbreviated as Environmental Modification
opened for signature — 10 December 1976
entered into force — 5 October 1978
objective — to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations
parties — (63) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand,Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain,Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom,United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (17) Bolivia,Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg,Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda,Zaire
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As WaterfowlHabitat (Ramsar)
note — abbreviated as Wetlands
opened for signature — 2 February 1971
entered into force — 21 December 1975
objective — to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value
parties — (83) Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Canada, Chad,Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco,Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,Switzerland, Trinadad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UnitedKingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, formerYugoslavia, Zambia
Desertification
see — United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species
see — Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification
see — Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
Hazardous Wastes
see — Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
note — abbreviated as Whaling
opened for signature — 2 December 1946
entered into force — 10 November 1948
objective — to protect all species of whales from overfishing; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks
parties — (39) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Brazil,Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany,Grenada, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Monaco,Netherlands (Netherlands also extended the convention to NetherlandsAntilles), New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal,Seychelles (withdrawing effective 30 June 1995), Solomon Islands,South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, UnitedStates, Venezuela
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (1) Austria
former parties — (10) Belize, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, Jamaica, Mauritius, Panama, Philippines, Uruguay
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
note — abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
opened for signature — 18 November 1983
entered into force — 1 April 1985; this agreement will expire when the International Tropical Timber Ageement, 1994 goes into force
objective — to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources
parties — (52) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote dIvoire, Denmark,Ecuador, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidadand Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
note — abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94
opened for signature — 26 January 1994, but not yet in force
objective — to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective
parties — (3) Fiji, Japan, Liberia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (11) Cameroon, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Togo, United States
Law of the Sea
see — United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Marine Dumping
see — Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)
Marine Life Conservation
see — Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
note — abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection
opened for signature — 16 September 1987
entered into force — 1 January 1989
objective — to protect the ozone layer by controling emissions of substances that deplete it
parties — (148) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, EuropeanUnion, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, TheFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal (Portugal has also extended theprotocol to Macau), Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, formerYugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (1) Morocco
Nuclear Test Ban
see — Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection
see — Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
note — abbreviated as Ship Pollution
opened for signature — 17 February 1978
entered into force — 2 October 1983
objective — to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances
parties — (91) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador,Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia,Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo,Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States,Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
note — abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
opened for signature — 4 October 1991, but not yet in force
objective — to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems
parties — (14) Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, France,Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden,Uruguay
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (27) Austria,Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan,North Korea, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
note — abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
opened for signature — 31 October 1988
entered into force — 14 February 1991
objective — to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes
parties — (25) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia,Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, UnitedStates
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (3) Belgium,Greece, Poland
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
note — abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
opened for signature — 18 November 1991, but not yet in force
objective — to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects
parties — (11) Austria, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (12) Belgium,Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, France, Greece, Hungary,Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, United States
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution onFurther Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
note — abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
opened for signature — 14 June 1994, but not yet in force
objective — to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes
parties — (0)
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (28) Austria,Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, EuropeanUnion, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UnitedKingdom
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%
note — abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
opened for signature — 8 July 1985
entered into force — 2 September 1987
objective — to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993
parties — (21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
Ship Pollution
see — Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention forthe Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, andUnder Water
note — abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban
opened for signature — 5 August 1963
entered into force — 10 October 1963
objective — to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons
parties — (125) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay,Venezuela, Western Samoa, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (11) Algeria,Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Paraguay, Portugal,Somalia, Vietnam
Tropical Timber 83
see — International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94
see — International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
note — abbreviated as Law of the Sea
opened for signature — 10 December 1982
entered into force — 16 November 1994
objective — to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment
parties — (72) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Fiji, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia,Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius,Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman,Paraguay, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay,Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (91) Afghanistan,Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland,France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran,Ireland, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru,Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa,Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu,Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those CountriesExperiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
note — abbreviated as Desertification
opened for signature — 14 October 1994, but not yet in force
objective — to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements
parties — (1) Mexico
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (104) Algeria,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Croatia,Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia,Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Vincentand the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa,Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,Uzbekistan, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - some late changes notincluded under country entries
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
note — abbreviated as Climate Change
opened for signature — 9 May 1992
entered into force — 21 March 1994
objective — to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system
parties — (119) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma,Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Cook Islands, CostaRica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador,Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France,Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein,Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SanMarino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Solomon Islands,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Tuvulu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (54) Afghanistan,Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burundi, CapeVerde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus,Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala,Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kiribati,Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Moldova,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Rwanda,Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, SouthAfrica, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Ukraine, Yemen, formerYugoslavia
Wetlands
see — Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
Whaling
see — International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
________________________________________________________________________
Weights and Measures
Mathematical Notation
Exponents immediately follow the ^ symbol throughout this appendix.
Mathematical Power Name
10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 one quintillion
10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000 one quadrillion
10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000 one trillion
10^9 or 1,000,000,000 one billion
10^6 or 1,000,000 one million
10^3 or 1,000 one thousand
10^2 or 100 one hundred
10^1 or 10 ten
10^0 or 1 one
10-^1 or 0.1 one-tenth
10-^2 or 0.01 one-hundredth
10-^3 or 0.001 one-thousandth
10-^6 or 0.000 001 one-millionth
10-^9 or 0.000 000 001 one-billionth
10-^12 or 0.000 000 000 001 one-trillionth
10-^15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001 one-quadrillionth
10-^18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 00 one-quintillionth
Metric Interrelationships
Conversions from a multiple or submultiple to the basic units of meters, liters, or grams can be done using the table. For example, to convert from kilometers to meters, multiply by 1,000 (9.26 kilometers equals 9,260 meters) or to convert from meters to kilometers, multiply by 0.001 (9,260 meters equals 9.26 kilometers).
Prefix Symbol Length, weight, or capacity Area Volume
exa E 10^18 10^36 10^54
peta P 10^15 10^30 10^45
tera T 10^12 10^24 10^36
giga G 10^9 10^18 10^27
mega M 10^6 10^12 10^18
hectokilo hk 10^5 10^10 10^15
myria ma 10^4 10^8 10^12
kilo k 10^3 10^6 10^9
hecto h 10^2 10^4 10^6
basic unit - 1 meter, 1 meter^2 1 meter^3 1 gram, 1 liter
deci d 10-^1 10-^2 10-^3
centi c 10-^2 10-^4 10-^6
milli m 10-^3 10-^6 10-^9
decimilli dm 10-^4 10-^8 10-^12
centimilli cm 10-^5 10-^10 10-^15
micro u 10-^6 10-^12 10-^18
nano n 10-^9 10-^18 10-^27
pico p 10-^12 10-^24 10-^36
femto f 10-^15 10-^30 10-^45
atto a 10-^18 10-^36 10-^54
Equivalents
Units Metric Equivalent US Equivalent
acre 0.404 685 64 hectares 43,560 feet^2
acre 4,046,856 4 meters^2 4,840 yards^2
acre 0.004 046 856 4 0.001 562 5 miles^2, kilometers^2 statute
are 100 meters^2 119.599 yards^2
barrel (petroleum, US) 158.987 29 liters 42 gallons
(proof spirits, US) 151.416 47 liters 40 gallons
(beer, US) 117.347 77 liters 31 gallons
bushel 35.239 07 liters 4 pecks
cable 219.456 meters 120 fathoms
chain (surveyor's) 20.116 8 meters 66 feet
cord (wood) 3.624 556 meters^3 128 feet^3
cup 0.236 588 2 liters 8 ounces, liquid (US)
degrees, Celsius (water boils at 100 multiply by 1.8 and add 32degrees C, freezes at to obtain degrees F0 degrees C)
degrees, Fahrenheit subtract 32 and divide water boils at 212 degreesby 1.8 to obtain F, freezes at 32 degrees F)degrees C
dram, avdp. 1.771 845 2 grams 0.0625 5 ounces, avdp.
dram, troy 3.887 934 6 grams 0.125 ounces, troy
dram, liquid (US) 3.696 69 milliliters 0.125 ounces, liquid
fathom 1.828 8 meters 6 feet
foot 30.48 centimeters 12 inches
foot 0.304 8 meters 0.333 333 3 yards
foot 0.000 304 8 kilometers 0.000 189 39 miles, statute
foot^2 929.030 4 centimeters^2 144 inches^2
foot^2 0.092 903 04 meters^2 0.111 111 1 yards^2
foot^3 28.316 846 592 liters 7.480 519 gallons
foot^3 0.028 316 847 meters^3 1,728 inches^3
furlong 201.168 meters 220 yards
gallon, liquid (US) 3.785 411 784 liters 4 quarts, liquid
gill (US) 118.294 118 milliliters 4 ounces, liquid
grain 64.798 91 milligrams 0.002 285 71 ounces, avdp.
gram 1,000 milligrams 0.035 273 96 ounces, avdp.
hand (height of horse) 10.16 centimeters 4 inches
hectare 10,000 meters^2 2.471 053 8 acres
hundredweight, long 50.802 345 kilograms 112 pounds, avdp.
hundredweight, short 45.359 237 kilograms 100 pounds, avdp.
inch 2.54 centimeters 0.083 333 33 feet
inch^2 6.451 6 centimeters^2 0.006 944 44 feet^2
inch^3 16.387 064 centimeters^3 0.000 578 7 feet^3
inch^3 16.387 064 milliliters 0.029 761 6 pints, dry
inch^3 16.387 064 milliliters 0.034 632 0 pints, liquid
kilogram 0.001 tons, metric 2.204 623 pounds, avdp.
kilometer 1,000 meters 0.621 371 19 miles, statute
kilometer^2 100 hectares 247.105 38 acres
kilometer^2 1,000,000 meters^2 0.386 102 16 miles^2, statute