MEAs can be global, regional, or sub-regional in scope. Determining the geographic scope of the problem (and the solution) being addressed is vital to ensuring that all interested States play a role in developing the new instrument. Moreover, many problems with global impact can be of particularly great interest to a specific region. Focusing on the geographic relevance of an MEA in both its text and its potential for implementation is an essential consideration during negotiations.
States join MEAs for different reasons. Many of these are discussed in the context of “Assessing Benefits and Costs of Ratifying, Complying with, and Enforcing MEAs” (immediately following the introduction to the Compliance Section, above). The reasons may be environmental (because addressing a particular environmental problem is also of interest to them), political (e.g., to show solidarity for other States), trade-related (e.g., an MEA may ban trade with non-Parties), and so forth. In identifying potential allies, all of these reasons should be considered.