Mechanisms to ensure compliance with obligations in multilateral environmental agreements

Abstract

The principle of Pacta sunt servanda stipulates that countries have the obligation to conscientiously implement their international legal commitments. In order to increase efficiency in compliance with international environmental treaties, many treaties have mechanisms to ensure that member states comply with their obligations, which assess compliance as well as provide necessary assistance to members who have difficulty complying with the treaties. The article aims to clarify the mechanisms ensuring compliance with multilateral environmental treaties and to evaluate the actual effectiveness of these mechanisms.