Governance & Policy
Espoo Convention
The 1991 treaty requiring environmental impact assessment and cross-border consultation for projects likely to cause significant transboundary harm.
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.
Quick reference
At a glance
- Subject
- Governance & Policy
- Editorial status
- Editorial draft
- Definition status
- Established
- Last updated
- 19 August 2026
- Also known as
- UNECE Espoo Convention · Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context
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.
Review
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