LONDON CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL
By Anton Antonio
February 12, 2016
It is common knowledge that approximately 71% of the earth’s
surface is covered by water and the oceans and seas hold about 96.5% of all
earth’s water. These staggering data on
the volume of water around us makes dumping of wastes in water bodies a very
critical issue and concern. Towards the
end and purpose of protecting our oceans and seas, the London Convention and
Protocol was conceived.
Here is a researched material on the London Convention and
Protocol… “The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of
wastes and Other Matter 1972, commonly called the “London Convention” or “LC
‘72” and also abbreviated as Marine Dumping, is an agreement to control
pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements
supplementary to the Convention. It
covers the deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels,
aircraft, and platforms. It does not
cover discharges from land-based sources such as pipes and outfalls, wastes
generated incidental to normal operation of vessels, or placement of materials
for purposes other than mere disposal, providing such disposal is not contrary
to aims of the Convention. It was
entered into force in 1975. As of 2013,
there were 87 Parties to the Convention.
The Convention was called for by the United Nations Conference on Human
Environment (June 1972, Stockholm), the treaty was drafted at the
Intergovernmental Conference on the Convention on Dumping of Wastes at Sea (13
November 1972, London) and it was opened for signature on 29 December
1972. It entered into force on 30 August
1975 when 15 nations ratified it. As of
1 October 2001, there were 78 Contracting Parties to the Convention. International Administration of the
Convention functions through Consultative Meetings held at International
Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London. The London Convention consists of 22 Articles
and three Annexes. It follows a “black
list/grey list” approach to regulating ocean dumping; Annex I materials (black
list) generally may not be ocean dumped (though for certain Annex I materials
dumping may be permissible it present only as “trace contaminants” or “rapidly
rendered harmless” and Annex II materials (grey list) require “special
care”. Annex III lays out general
technical factors to be considered in establishing criteria for issuance of
ocean dumping permits. The main
objective of the London Convention is to prevent indiscriminate disposal at sea
of wastes that could be liable for creating hazards to human health, harming
living resources and marine life; damaging amenities; or interfering with other
legitimate uses of the sea. The 1972
Convention extends its scope over “all marine waters other than the internal
waters” of the States and prohibits the dumping of certain hazardous
materials. It further required a prior
special permit for the dumping of a number of other identified materials and a
prior general permit for other wastes or matter.” (Wikipedia)
We often read about and hear this statement: “Water is
Life”. And if life on earth anchors on
clean and healthy water, this international accord becomes critically
important… the London Convention and Protocol.
Thoughts to
promote positive action…
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REFERENCE:
Wikipedia, (2016).
“London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of
Wastes and Other Matter”. Retrieved on
February 12, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Convention_on_the_Prevention_of_Marine_Pollution_by_Dumping_of_Wastes_and_Other_Matter
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