Amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention

Amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention in 2013

United States views on international law [1] in relation to Amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention: At a meeting in October 2013, the Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 (“London Convention”) adopted amendments to the Protocol that create a new permitting regime for certain marine geoengineering activities. The amendments define “marine geoengineering” as “a deliberate intervention in the marine environment to manipulate natural processes, including to counteract anthropogenic climate change and/or its impacts, and that has the potential to result in deleterious effects, especially where those effects may be widespread, long lasting or severe.” The amendments prohibit Contracting Parties from allowing “the placement of matter into the sea” for the purpose of conducting any listed marine geoengineering activity, unless the placement is authorized under a permit. The amendments include a new annex that currently lists only ocean fertilization activities as requiring a “placement” permit. Under the amendments, such a permit may be issued only for ocean fertilization involving “legitimate scientific research.” It is expected that other marine geoengineering activities will be listed in the future. The amendments would enter into force after two-thirds of the Contracting Parties accept them. The United States has signed but not ratified the 1996 Protocol. The United States is a party to the London Convention.

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Notes

1. Amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law