When did the Convention on Biological Diversity come into force?

The Convention was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the "Earth Summit", in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) on 5 June 1992.

The Convention entered into force on 29 December 1993, 90 days after the 30th ratification, as stated in its article 36. It has now been ratified by 190 parties (189 countries and the European Community).

Belgium signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on 5 June 1992, the first day of the opening for signature of the Convention during the UN Conference at Rio de Janeiro. It ratified the Convention on 22 November 1996. In accordance to article 36 of the Convention, it entered into force in our country 90 days later, on 20 February 1997.

To know more about the countries which have ratified the Convention, visit the website maintained by the CBD Secretariat.