Context
- The Barcelona Convention is a regional environmental treaty aimed at protecting the Mediterranean Sea from pollution.
- It often appears in the context of marine conservation, regional cooperation, and climate change negotiations.
Overview
- Full Name: Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution
- Adoption: 1976
- Entry into Force: 1978
- Amendment / Protocols: Updated by the 1995 Protocol (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean)
- Secretariat: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP / MAP – Mediterranean Action Plan)
Objectives
1Prevent, reduce, and control pollution in the Mediterranean Sea from:
oLand-based sources
oShipping and maritime activities
oHazardous and toxic substances
2Protect and preserve marine environment and coastal ecosystems.
3Promote regional cooperation among Mediterranean countries for sustainable development.
Key Features
- Pollution Control Measures: Addresses oil spills, chemicals, sewage, and waste discharge.
- Ecosystem Protection: Encourages biodiversity conservation, marine protected areas, and habitat restoration.
- Regional Cooperation: Provides a legal framework for Mediterranean countries to coordinate environmental policies.
- Compliance Mechanisms: Includes reporting, monitoring, and environmental impact assessment protocols.
Significance
- One of the earliest regional marine environmental treaties globally.
- Strengthens regional commitment to marine sustainability.
- Provides a model for other regional seas conventions.
- Supports UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14: Life Below Water).
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
