The Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. Each volume probes the key elements of law, the essential concepts, and the latest research through concise, structured entries written by international experts. Each entry includes an extensive bibliography as a starting point for further reading. The mix of authoritative commentary and insightful discussion will make this an essential tool for research and teaching, as well as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers. This volume of the Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law presents a structured overview and selective analysis of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). These agreements encompass the regulating aspects of the protection, conservation, management, use and exploitation of living and natural resources in various areas including biodiversity, fisheries, marine environment, shared freshwater resources, atmosphere, climate change, human rights, and polar regions. The expert contributions offer critical analysis and a concise but informative approach that provides a comprehensive introduction to each agreement as well as to the broader landscape of MEAs. The book guides the reader through the multifarious conventional regulation of each area of environmental protection, both at the global and regional levels. It details the path from the first post-war sectorial attempts at introducing international pieces of conventional environmental regulation to the booming of environmental instruments of the 1990s and the recent fertile period of new MEAs and their exponential growth. Each entry includes an overview of the topic, a concise review of current knowledge, new directions for cutting-edge research and a detailed bibliography to facilitate further reading. This comprehensive, topical and accessible volume is an essential resource for environmental law practitioners, students and scholars seeking a broad overview of MEAs, concise explanations of individual agreements, and avenues for research. Contributors include: R. Bates, L. Chiussi, C. Contartese, M.E. Desmond, A. Dizdarevic, G.M. Farnelli, E. Fasoli, M. Fitzmaurice, S. Goldberg, E.J. Goodwin, S. Gruber, C. Ibe, F.R. Jacur, K. Kakkaiyadi, E.A. Kirk, J.V. Kohler, I. Krasnova, V. Lanovoy, M. Lewis, P. Merkouris, G.A. Oanta, A. Papantoniou, N. Popattanachai, A. Powers, T.H. Reis, F. Seatzu, F. Sindico, K. Steenmans, A. Tanzi, A. Trouwborst, M.S. Wong, M. Yzquierdo, F. Zaharia