IMO – WMU Joint Special Issue on Protecting the Ocean – The London Convention and the Stockholm Declaration at 50

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On 30 October, the World Maritime University - Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched the IMO-WMU joint Special Issue on “Protecting the Ocean - The London Convention and the Stockholm Declaration at 50”, published in the International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (IJMCL Vol. 39, No. 3). The launch took place during the 46th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the 19th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol at IMO Headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

Launch of the IMO-WMU Joint Special Issue

Background on the Special Issue

The special issue is based on the joint IMO-WMU International Academic Conference hosted by the WMU-GOI from 10 to 13 October 2022 at WMU and online. This conference marked the 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration and the London Convention. The special issue showcases the outputs of the conference, featuring articles by a multi-disciplinary community of academics, civil societies, policy-makers, and politicians concerned with ocean and maritime affairs, climate change, and sustainable development.

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

To officially launch the Special Issue, Professor Maximo Q. Mejía Jr., WMU President, delivered keynote remarks (virtually) highlighting the publication’s contribution by reflecting on the past, present, and future of the London Convention, the London Protocol, and the Stockholm Declaration. He emphasized the strategic collaboration between IMO and WMU in producing impactful academic outputs while enhancing global capacity development efforts.

Professor Maximo Q. Mejía Jr.

(WMU President)

"

Professor Ronán Long, WMU-GOI Director, addressed the audience (virtually), noting that the special issue marks 50 years of progress in protecting the marine environment. He highlighted WMU’s commitment to capacity development and emphasized that the issue includes 19 unique academic papers offering diverse perspectives on multilateralism in marine environmental law. He praised the efforts made to ensure the special issue is open-access and freely available to the international community.

Professor Ronán Long

(WMU - GOI Director)

"

Mr. Fredrik Haag, Head of the Office for the London Convention/Protocol and Ocean Affairs and a WMU alumnus, addressed the audience on behalf of the IMO. He highlighted the significance of the London Convention and London Protocol as key international treaties addressing marine pollution from waste dumping. He acknowledged the fruitful collaboration with WMU in producing a comprehensive volume of academic papers addressing contemporary marine environmental protection issues.

Mr. Fredrik Haag

(Head of the Office for the London Convention/Protocol and Ocean Affairs)

"

To conclude the launch ceremony, Dr. Ríán Derrig, WMU-GOI Postdoctoral Fellow and lead editor of the special issue, encouraged delegates to explore the publication, expressing his hope that it would serve as a valuable resource for their work.

Dr. Ríán Derrig

(WMU-GOI Associate Research Officer)

"

Dr. Zhen Sun, WMU Associate Professor, provided insights into the special issue’s significance. She thanked the IMO for supporting the edited volume, emphasizing its highly interdisciplinary nature, with contributions from over thirty experts contextualizing the legacies of the Stockholm Declaration and the London Convention/Protocol within international environmental law, the law of the sea, and maritime law.

Dr. Zhen Sun

(WMU Associate Professor)

"

Accessing the Special Issue

  • The open-access Special Issue is available through the International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law website here. 

Stockholm Declaration, London Convention/Protocol, and Their Legacy

The Stockholm Declaration

The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment (1972) contained 26 principles, placing environmental concerns at the forefront of international policy. It initiated a dialogue between industrialized and developing countries on the links between economic growth, environmental protection, and human well-being. The Stockholm Conference also adopted an Action Plan for the Human Environment, containing 109 recommendations for global action, including Recommendation 86(c), which called for an international regime to regulate waste dumping at sea.

The London Convention and Protocol

The London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972) was established in response to the Stockholm Declaration. It became the first binding international agreement to prevent illegal dumping in marine areas outside internal waters. The 1996 London Protocol strengthened the Convention by introducing the precautionary approach, effectively prohibiting all dumping except for materials on a ‘reserve list.’ Over time, it is anticipated that the London Protocol will replace the London Convention.

Modern International Environmental Law

Since 1972, international environmental law has developed extensively, resulting in key agreements such as:

  • 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – Part XII on marine environmental protection
  • 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
  • 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  • 2015 Paris Agreement
  • The upcoming Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution

IMO-WMU International Academic Conference

The Stockholm Declaration

The IMO-WMU Joint International Academic Conference: Protecting the Ocean - Moving Forward at 50 was co-sponsored by:

  • The International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  • The WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI)
  • The Nippon Foundation

This conference featured topical papers on the London Convention and the Stockholm Declaration and included perspectives from distinguished experts across government ministries, UN agencies, international and regional organizations, academic institutions, and civil society.

ABOUT THE wmu-sasakawa global ocean institute

The WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) serves as an independent platform at the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface. The Institute fosters dialogue among policymakers, scientists, regulators, industry leaders, academics, and civil society to advance sustainable ocean management in alignment with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 MORE ABOUT WMU-goiclick here

Founding Supporters

The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 with support from:

  • The Nippon Foundation of Japan
  • The Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany

  • The City of Malmö

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