Policy Briefs

Environmental Treaty-Making in Decline

(by Justine Veilleux and Jean-Frédéric Morin)

Summary: For many years, States have relied on treaties to address environmental challenges such as biodiversity protection, pollution control, and climate change. However, a shift has occurred in recent years. Environmental cooperation through treaties has been declining, despite the intensifying impacts of environmental degradation on populations. While this trend began more than a decade ago, it has become increasingly pronounced, raising concerns about the international community’s capacity to respond collectively to environmental crises.