The first international environmental treaty was the Convention for the Protection of Submarine Telegraph Cables, which was signed in 1856.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972 to coordinate global environmental efforts.

The first global environmental conference was the Stockholm Conference, which was held in 1972.

The Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 to protect the ozone layer.

The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1992 to address climate change.

The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 to address climate change.

The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 to protect wetlands.

The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in 1992 to protect biodiversity.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was signed in 1994 to combat desertification.

The Ramsar Convention was amended in 2001 to promote the sustainable use of wetlands.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Statute was signed in 2005 to promote the use of renewable energy.

The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was established in 2010 to promote the sustainable management of forests.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was signed in 1982 to promote the sustainable use of marine resources.

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was signed in 2006 to promote the sustainable use of chemicals.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was amended in 2013 to promote the sustainable use of land.