About multilateral agreements
The main method available under international law for countries to work together on global environmental issues is the multilateral environmental agreement (MEA)
MEAs are agreements between states which may include obligations varying from more general principles about a particular environmental issue, through to definitive actions to be taken to achieve an environmental objective.
New Zealand has many obligations under multilateral environmental agreements. When they require behaviour changes they are generally incorporated into our laws.
Multilateral environmental agreements result from countries working together on global environmental issues. The agreements may include general principles about a particular environmental issue, all the way through to definitive obligations to be met by parties to the agreement.
New Zealand also has international environmental obligations associated with free trade agreements.
Find out more about these on the MFAT website.
New Zealand Treaties Online provides up-to-date information on New Zealand's international treaty obligations, including treaties to which New Zealand is a party and information about treaties under negotiation.
New Zealand Treaties Online [Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website]