Introduction

The air, water, weather and climate of the continents of the Earth are interconnected. Human activities across the globe that use natural resources or produce wastes have also become interconnected, particularly with improvements in communication and transport.

International activities and our shared global environment mean that countries worldwide have common interests that need to be addressed through international or global agreements on our environment, trade and business. Such agreements can take place between different countries or more widely through the United Nations. Global environmental policies are internationally agreed goals, principles or procedures used to guide decisions and actions to address specific environmental issues.

In this study session you will learn about global environmental policies and international agreements on environment and health with a focus on water quality, water pollution and use of water resources.