A tool to help negotiators of Multilateral Environmental Agreements to prepare strategies and to participate more effectively in the negotiations and focus on environmental issues, their creation of binding international law, and their inclusion.

"It is well recognized that many countries are unable to effectively engage in international negotiations due to a lack of expertise and resources. Tailored specifically to the Pacific, the Handbook is a practical introduction to negotiating or working on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). It elaborates the conceptual framework and procedural machinery of negotiations including the elements and principles of MEAs as well as the 'rules of the game' (from the basics of treaty law to rules of procedure and finance). A typical day of negotiations provides a real life perspective. The Handbook includes information on agencies active in the Pacific region, a bibliography of useful literature and a comprehensive glossary of terms. It is part of a UNEP lead ACP-MEAs Capacity Building Programme, written in collaboration with NZCEL and SPREP. This Handbook makes a pivotal contribution to more effective preparation, participation and representation in international negotiations"--http://www.nzcel.auckland.ac.nz/en/nzcel/about-nzcel/publications/multilateral-environmental-agreement-negotiators-handbook-pacific-region-2013.html

The Manual provides for a step-by-step introduction and expert advice for representatives of NGOs and other stakeholders on how they can effectively engage in developing and implementing Multilateral Environment Agreements.

Protection of the human environment and sustainable development of the world increasingly manifest themselves through negotiation and enforcement of internationally agreed legal rules and standards. International environmental negotiation has become a common format to design norms that affect national and international legal orders and influence the behavior of various stakeholders. Accordingly, international environmental negotiations attract multiple players: from sovereign States to environmental NGOs, to the business community and civil society. The growing complexity of international environmental negotiations demands, in order to make the process effective, a comprehensive and adequate preparation of all actors. The Environmental Negotiator Handbook is designed as a single volume tool that equips participants of international environmental negotiations with a structured description and analysis of the negotiating process. All stages of the development of international environmental agreements are carefully followed, researched, commented on and illustrated with multiple documentary examples. The book traces the process from the pre negotiation stage to actual implementation of the agreed regime. The book also includes a large collection of essential international texts to be at hand for representatives at international environmental negotiations. This volume is aimed at a wide range of readers, including government officials, staff of relevant intergovernmental organizations and secretariats, non governmental organizations, practicing lawyers and academic scholars. The book is based on thirty years of the author?s career in international environmental law.

This Manual expands upon Guidelines on Compliance with and Enforcement of MultilateralEnvironmental Agreements (MEAs). Many States participated in the developmentand negotiation of the Guidelines, which were adopted by the UNEP GoverningCouncil in 2002. While this Manual is not a negotiated document, it also is the result ofa collaborative process involving a wide range of numerous individuals around the world.These people assisted in drafting case studies and other contributions, reviewing the text,and suggesting substantive and formatting changes.

Bringing together contributions from diplomats, UN agency officials, lawyers and academics, this book provides insight into the evolution of international environmental law, diplomacy and negotiating techniques. Based on first-hand experiences and extensive research, the chapters offer a blend of practice and theory, history and analysis, presenting a range of historical episodes and nuances and drawing lessons for future improvements to the processes of law-making and diplomacy. The book represents a synthesis of the most important messages to emerge from the annual course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements, delivered to diplomats and negotiators from around the world for the last decade by the University of Eastern Finland and the United Nations Environment Programme. The book will be of interest as a guide for negotiators and as a supplementary textbook and a reference volume for a wide range of students of law and environmental issues.

This study examines weaknesses in the existing system of environmental treaty-making and suggests key changes necessary both to confront emerging global environmental threats (such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution) and to achieve sustainable development.