Governance & Policy

Espoo Convention

Meaning statusEstablishedSource recordDirect document linkedWhy these are different

Definition

The Espoo Convention, adopted in 1991 under the UN Economic Commission for Europe and in force since 1997, requires parties to carry out environmental impact assessments for listed activities likely to cause significant adverse transboundary impacts, and to notify and consult affected neighbouring states and their publics before decisions are taken.

References

UNECEEnvironmental assessment

Convention scope, EIA procedure and protocols

UNECEAarhus Convention — Text

Linked public-participation rights

Overview

What it means

A power plant, dam or motorway near a border triggers a legal duty to study and discuss its effects with the neighbours first.

How it is used

Developers run transboundary EIA procedures; governments exchange notifications; its compliance committee adjudicates disputes, including high-profile infrastructure cases.

Why it matters

It internationalised the EIA discipline and remains the reference for handling cross-border environmental conflict over projects.