Global Water & Air Environmental Protection
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
Phased application by Cross Reference domain
Overview
This Domain provides a cross-cutting organization of international efforts related to the protection of air and water quality. Rather than housing Primary Instruments of its own, this Domain serves to indicate, through Cross Reference, the relevance of international instruments primarily assigned to other Domains that have significant implications for air and water environmental protection.
The Montreal Protocol (ozone layer protection), the Minamata Convention (control of mercury releases to air and water), CDP (water risk disclosure), and TNFD (nature-related information disclosure) are each Cross-Referenced to this Domain while retaining their respective Primary Domains (Climate & Carbon Management, Chemical Substance Management, and Environmental Information & Sustainability Disclosure).
Enforcement Timeline
2017: Minamata Convention enters into force (controlling mercury releases to air and water)
2019: Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol enters into force (phase-down of HFCs, strengthening ozone layer and atmospheric protection)
2023: TNFD final recommendations published (disclosure of nature-related risks, including water-related aspects)
Business Impact
While no Primary Instrument is currently assigned directly to this Domain, national air and water quality regulations derived from the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention, along with water risk and nature-related disclosure requirements under CDP and TNFD, broadly affect the practices of manufacturing, chemical, and energy-related companies.
Companies should refer to the relevant cards in each Cross-Referenced Domain (Climate & Carbon Management, Chemical Substance Management, and Environmental Information & Sustainability Disclosure) concerning air and water environmental protection, in order to establish appropriate regulatory compliance and disclosure practices.