| International Marine Science and Technology |
|
The London Convention
(Entered into force in 1975)| Headquarters: | The International Maritime Organisation |
| Office for the London Convention | |
| 4 Albert Embankment | |
| London, SE1 7SR | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Telephone: | +44 (0) 207 735 7611 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 207 587 3210 |
| Email: | |
| Web Site: | http://www.londonconvention.org/London_Convention.htm |
Status
International Convention
Mission
Regulates the deliberate disposal of wastes at sea by dumping or incineration.
Activities
In 1972 an Inter-Governmental Conference on the Convention of the Dumping of Wastes at Sea adopted the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, also called the London Convention (LC72). This was the first major global initiative designed to protect the marine environment from unregulated dumping of waste. The Convention entered into force on 30 August 1975. As of 27 October 1997, 77 countries were contracting parties to the LC.
The LC regulates the deliberate disposal of wastes at sea by dumping from vessels, aircraft or platforms or by incineration. It also regulates the deliberate disposal at sea, of vessels, aircraft and platforms themselves. The dumping of material listed in Annex I is prohibited. Other material may only be dumped subject to the issuing of an official permit, with special permits being required for the dumping of material listed in Annex II. Permits for waste must be granted by an appropriate national authority in accordance with criteria contained in Annex III to the Convention. The LC also provides for notification and reporting procedures, including the submission of results of monitoring activities carried out at disposal sites.
The governing body set up under the LC is the Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties, which meets annually. The Scientific Group has been established as the scientific advisory body to the Consultative Meeting.
The LC has proven to be effective in providing a global basis for the application of sea disposal principles and a forum for discussion, negotiation and exchange of information on sea disposal and other marine environmental issues. However, in the early-mid 1990's, the LC’s agenda became increasingly dominated by negotiations with the aim of enhancing the Convention’s environmental standards, while at the same time preserving and broadening its appeal to non-parties. This culminated in the agreement, in November 1996, of a new London Convention Protocol.
The LC Protocol is currently undergoing a process of ratification and it may be some time before it enters into force. Once this happens, its single most significant effect will be to move away from a list of materials which may not be dumped at sea (as under LC72) to a restricted list of materials which may be considered for disposal at sea, all others being prohibited. In addition, before a decision is taken on the disposal at sea of any waste, a rigorous assessment will have to be undertaken in each case to ensure that this is the best practical environmental option.
Other changes which the Protocol will introduce include a total ban on incineration at sea, and measures to encourage technical cooperation between countries in order to prevent or reduce pollution caused by dumping. More generally, the Protocol includes general obligations for Contracting Parties to apply a precautionary approach to sea dumping of wastes, and to apply the ‘polluter-pays principle’ in implementing the Protocol.
United Kingdom Interests
Lead Department
The Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Marine and Waterways Division, Water
and Land Directorate, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE.
Contact: Mike Smith. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7944 6524 Email:
Mike.L.Smith@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Briefing and Reporting Mechanisms
Prior to the yearly Consultative meeting of Contracting Parties, Defra coordinates a briefing meeting of interested UK government departments and agencies and after the LC meeting, informs them of the outcome. The organisations involved in this include:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Department for Transport
Ministry of Defence
Department of Trade and Industry
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
Northern Ireland Department of the Environment
Wales Office, Agriculture Department
Department for International Development
The Environment Agency
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS)
Perspective
The UK played a full part in the negotiations which led to the agreement of the 1996 LC Protocol and strongly supports the strengthening of global controls over dumping at sea which it represents. It also welcomes the fact that the Protocol makes special provision for the needs of small island territories. The Government signed the Protocol in September 1997 (subject to ratification by Parliament) and wishes to see its rapid entry into force.