30th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention) and 3rd meeting of Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol thereto (London Protocol): 27 - 31 October 2008
Ocean fertilization
activities, other than legitimate scientific research, should not be allowed,
according to a resolution adopted by Parties to the international treaties which
regulate the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea.
"Given the present state of knowledge, ocean fertilization activities other
than legitimate scientific research should not be allowed," says the (non-binding)
resolution, adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention
of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention)
and to the 1996 Protocol thereto (London Protocol), which met in London from
27 to 31 October 2008 (LC30/LP3).
The resolution followed previous discussions by Parties to the two treaties
on planned operations for large-scale fertilization of the oceans using micro-nutrients
- for example, iron - to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2). The
resolution states that ocean fertilization activities other than legitimate
scientific research, "should be considered as contrary to the aims of the
Convention and Protocol and not currently qualify for any exemption from the
definition of dumping".
In the resolution, Parties agreed that scientific research proposals should
be assessed on a case-by-case basis using an assessment framework to be developed
by the Scientific Groups under the London Convention and Protocol. Until specific
guidance is available, Parties should be urged to use utmost caution and the
best available guidance to evaluate scientific research proposals to ensure
protection of the marine environment consistent with the Convention and Protocol.
Parties agreed to consider further a potential legally binding resolution or
amendment to the London Protocol at their next session in 2009.
Guidelines
for the Assessment of Wastes and Other Matter
In other work, the meetings completed Revised Generic Guidelines for the Assessment
of Wastes and Other Matter, replacing the 1997 Guidelines on the same issue.
These guidelines are a key interpretation document for implementation of the
London Convention and Protocol.
Assessment of
Inert, Inorganic Geological Material
The meetings also completed Revised Specific Guidelines for the Assessment of
Inert, Inorganic Geological Material, replacing the 2000 Guidelines on the same
issue. These guidelines also assist with the harmonized interpretation of the
London Convention and Protocol requirements, for instance, when dealing with
mine-tailings.
Guidelines for
the Placement of Artificial Reefs
LC/LP-UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Guidelines for the Placement
of Artificial Reefs were finalized, for publication in early 2009.
Advice to mariners
on spoilt cargoes
Advice to mariners on how to deal responsibly with spoilt cargoes on board ships
was completed. This advice, updating guidance published in 1998, has been developed
in collaboration with the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and will now be reviewed by the
MEPC in July 2009 with a view to its adoption. An outreach strategy has also
been developed, with the aim of ensuring a greater uptake by the maritime community
of the new advice.
This advice
also feeds into the current review by the MEPC of MARPOL Annex V (regulating
the discharge of garbage by ships), in view of the relationship between "garbage"
and the management of spoilt cargoes.
Guidance on
Removal of Anti-Fouling Coatings from Ships
Guidance on Best Management Practices for Removal of Anti-Fouling Coatings from
Ships, including TBT hull paints, was completed and will be forwarded to the
MEPC for adoption in July 2009, with a recommendation to jointly distribute
it to the maritime community for implementation. This advice is relevant for
the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems
on Ships, 2001, (AFS Convention), which entered into force in September 2008
and requires ships to either replace, or overcoat, any existing organotin-based
anti fouling systems.
CO2
capture and storage
Following the entry into force in 2007 of amendments to the London Protocol
relating to the control of CO2 capture and storage in sub-seabed
geological formations, the meetings noted that, if a CO2 stream
injected into a sub-seabed geological formation is expected to cross a jurisdictional
boundary between two or more countries, regulators should take special care
to notify and seek input from those countries before issuing a permit in order
to ensure compliance with relevant regulations under the London Protocol.
Parties agreed
that the London Protocol should not constitute a barrier to the transborder
movement of CO2 streams and agreed to continue this discussion by correspondence,
and consider the option of developing an amendment to Article 6 of the Protocol,
which prohibits the export of wastes for dumping purposes, or an interpretative
resolution, or a combination of the two.
Background on
London Convention and London Protocol
The London Convention was one of the first global conventions to protect the
marine environment from human activities and has been in force since 1975. Its
objective is to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution
and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping
of wastes and other matter. The Convention permits dumping of wastes at sea,
except for those materials on a banned list, which was extended in 1993. Currently,
85 States are Parties to this Convention.
In 1996, the London Protocol was adopted, to further modernize the Convention
and, eventually, replace it. Under the Protocol, the precautionary approach
is applied and all dumping is prohibited, except for possibly acceptable wastes
on the so-called "reverse list". The Protocol entered into force on
24 March 2006 and there are currently 36 Parties to it.
Both the Convention and Protocol require Parties to issue permits for the dumping
of wastes and other matter at sea.
Further information on the London Convention and Protocol can be found at http://www.londonconvention.org
Briefing 51, 11 November 2008
For further information please contact:
Lee Adamson, Head, Public Information Services on 020 7587 3153 (media@imo.org)
or
Natasha Brown, External Relations Officer on 020 7587 3274 (media@imo.org).
