Kiera Jefferson
Pollution is a pressing global issue that poses serious health and environmental risks. It is caused by various factors, including rapid economic growth, population increases, and insufficient environmental management. To combat this, various international organizations and governments have committed to reducing pollution and mitigating its impacts. One such organization is the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which has adopted resolutions targeting specific aspects of pollution, including air quality, water pollution, soil pollution, marine litter, and microplastics. Additionally, the World Bank Group supports developing countries in reducing pollution, promoting clean development, and fostering a more circular economy. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) also plays a crucial role in preventing marine pollution caused by ships' operational or accidental discharges. These collective efforts demonstrate a global recognition of the need to address pollution and its detrimental effects on human health and the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the international body | United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) |
| Year of establishment | 2017 |
| Type of body | Ministers of environment from various countries |
| Purpose | To work towards a pollution-free planet |
| Areas of focus | Air quality, water pollution, soil pollution, marine litter and microplastics, and chemicals and waste |
| Implementation Plan | To promote accelerated action, enhance capacities to address pollution, and achieve Sustainable Development Goals |
| Other associated bodies | UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, World Bank Group, WHO |
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What You'll Learn
- The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
- UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
- UNEA 6 Resolution relating to Pollution, Health and Environment
- World Bank's Pollution Management and Environmental Health Program
- International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, commonly known as MARPOL, is the primary international treaty that addresses marine pollution caused by ships, whether operational or accidental. The convention was adopted on November 2, 1973, at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency specialising in maritime safety, security, and pollution prevention.
MARPOL has been periodically updated through amendments to address evolving concerns. The 1978 Protocol, for instance, was enacted in response to a series of tanker accidents in 1976-1977, and it integrated with the original 1973 convention. This combined instrument came into force on October 2, 1983. A significant amendment occurred in 1997, with the adoption of a new Annex VI, which became effective on May 19, 2005. This annex specifically targets air pollution from ships, setting mandatory requirements for the manufacture, certification, and operation of vessels and engines, as well as fuel quality standards.
Annex VI establishes limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and mandates the use of lower-sulfur content fuel, thereby reducing ozone-producing pollution, which is a significant contributor to smog and a trigger for asthma. These requirements apply to vessels operating in US waters and within 200 nautical miles of the North American coast, known as the North American Emission Control Area (ECA). To ensure compliance, each regulated diesel engine on US-flagged vessels must possess an Engine International Air Pollution Prevention (EIAPP) certificate, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Beyond air pollution, MARPOL also addresses other forms of marine pollution. Annex I, for instance, focuses on the prevention of pollution by oil, while Annex II outlines regulations for controlling pollution by noxious liquid substances transported in bulk. Amendments to Annex I in 1992 made it compulsory for new oil tankers to have double hulls, enhancing safety measures. Annex III targets pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form, with specific criteria for identifying these harmful substances.
The implementation and enforcement of MARPOL are facilitated through various mechanisms, such as the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO, which periodically introduces amendments to the Annexes. Additionally, countries like Australia have enacted domestic legislation, such as the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 and the Navigation Act 2012, to give effect to MARPOL at the national level.
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UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
The Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, abbreviated as Air Convention or CLRTAP, is a multilateral agreement that aims to protect the human environment from air pollution and gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution. It was established in 1979 and currently has 51 parties, including the United States, which joined in 1981.
The convention is implemented by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), directed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Executive Secretary of the UNECE serves as the secretariat for the convention. The parties to the convention meet annually at sessions of the Executive Body to review ongoing work and plan future activities, including a workplan for the upcoming year.
The three main subsidiary bodies—the Working Group on Effects, the Steering Body to EMEP, and the Working Group on Strategies and Review—along with the Convention's Implementation Committee, report to the Executive Body annually. The priority activities of the convention include reviewing and revising its protocols, as well as implementing the convention and its protocols across the entire UNECE region, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and South Asia.
The LRTAP Convention has contributed to significant progress in reducing air pollution emissions, particularly sulfur emissions, in the region. The parties have adopted amendments to key protocols, such as the Gothenburg Protocol and the Protocol on Heavy Metals, to further reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants and address specific issues like particulate matter and black carbon. The convention provides a framework for scientific collaboration and policy negotiation to address transboundary air pollution effectively.
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UNEA 6 Resolution relating to Pollution, Health and Environment
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world's highest-level decision-making body for environmental issues, with 193 member states. The sixth session of the UNEA (UNEA 6) concluded with a resolution to develop a global knowledge-sharing platform and regional cooperation between member states to tackle air pollution.
The resolution calls for increased regional and sub-regional cooperation between countries to develop and implement air quality policies and set targets for air quality levels aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. It also encourages governments, intergovernmental organizations, financing institutions, the private sector, and philanthropic foundations to help mobilize resources to address transboundary air pollution in low- and middle-income countries.
The UNEA 6 resolution is a significant step toward ensuring everyone breathes clean air and addresses the urgent situation of poor air quality, which prematurely kills nearly 7 million people worldwide each year. It also touches on several key initiatives already underway, such as the Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa, which outlines 37 actionable measures across sectors like transport, energy, and agriculture.
Additionally, the UNEA has concluded 14 resolutions to curb pollution, protect and restore nature worldwide, and promote multilateral cooperation. These include resolutions to end plastic pollution, establish a science policy panel for the management of chemicals and waste, and accelerate actions to reduce nitrogen waste, especially through agricultural practices.
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World Bank's Pollution Management and Environmental Health Program
The World Bank Group (WBG) works with developing countries and development partners to manage chemicals and waste, prevent and abate pollution, and promote circular economy approaches for healthier lives, poverty alleviation, and shared prosperity. The World Bank has a large portfolio related to pollution management and environmental health, including projects addressing chemicals and waste management.
The World Bank's Pollution Management and Environmental Health (PMEH) program was launched in April 2015 as a multi-donor trust fund. It aims to help countries reduce pollution and improve environmental health outcomes, as well as increase knowledge and understanding of pollution's health impacts. PMEH focuses on air quality management, water pollution, and toxic site management. It currently operates in China, Egypt, India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Vietnam.
PMEH pursues three strategic objectives: Firstly, it helps countries reduce pollution and improve environmental health outcomes. Secondly, it generates and shares knowledge on pollution and its health impacts in urban, rural, and marine areas, promoting awareness among policymakers, business partners, city leaders, and the general public. Thirdly, it works to simultaneously reduce short-term climate pollutants and levels of greenhouse gases by targeting pollutants like black carbon, which negatively impact human health and the global climate.
PMEH has supported various projects to combat pollution and its impacts. In Lagos, Nigeria, PMEH is working with local ministries and the Environmental Protection Agency to establish air quality monitoring and particulate matter sampling networks, develop an air quality management plan, and address transportation-based pollution. In Vietnam, PMEH is supporting the government in improving the Air Quality Monitoring Network and addressing climate change and air pollution resulting from rapid development. In Peru, a project is supporting the establishment and improvement of air and water quality monitoring systems, while in Lebanon, an initiative is helping to clean up pollution in Lake Qaraoun.
The World Bank also works with other organizations to address pollution. For example, it has collaborated with China's Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (FECO) and the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau (BEPB) to host PMEH Business Week, a series of events bringing together Chinese and international pollution management professionals. The World Bank also supported an International Policy Workshop on Air Quality Management for the "Jingjinji" region, which included participants from Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
In addition to the World Bank, other international bodies overseeing pollution include the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which has adopted resolutions and implementation plans to address various forms of pollution.
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International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is responsible for maintaining and updating the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). The IMDG Code is a set of guidelines for the maritime transport of dangerous goods in packaged form. It was initially developed in 1965 as a recommendatory instrument and has since undergone numerous changes to keep up with industry demands. The code outlines detailed requirements for each substance, material, or article, addressing matters such as packing, container traffic, and stowage, with a focus on segregating incompatible substances.
The IMDG Code is intended to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous materials, protect crew members, and prevent marine pollution. It serves as an extension to the provisions outlined in Chapter VII of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). This chapter deals specifically with the mandatory provisions governing the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form.
The implementation of the IMDG Code is mandatory in conjunction with governments' obligations under SOLAS and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). This convention, adopted in 1973 with a protocol added in 1978, focuses on preventing pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
The IMDG Code is updated every two years, with the latest revision, Amendment 40, coming into effect on January 1, 2022. These updates are maintained and issued by the IMO's CCC (Carriage of Cargoes and Containers) Sub-Committee. The code is based on the UN Model Regulations but includes additional requirements specific to the maritime transport of hazardous materials.
The code is recommended to governments for adoption or as a basis for national regulations to promote harmonization in the maritime transport of dangerous goods. It is intended not only for mariners but also for all those involved in industries and services connected to shipping. The IMDG Code provides comprehensive guidance on terminology, packaging, labelling, placarding, markings, stowage, segregation, handling, and emergency response.
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