38th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the 11th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol (opening address)

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ADDRESS OF THE IMO SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE LONDON CONVENTION AND THE ELEVENTH MEETING OF CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE LONDON PROTOCOL

London, 19 to 23 September 2016

Mr Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary-General

Thank you, Dr. Hong, and good morning, distinguished delegates and observers.

It is with great pleasure, for the first time as Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, to welcome you to this year’s joint session of the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the London Protocol.

I had the honour of taking up my duties as the new Secretary-General of IMO at the beginning of this year. Since then I have been closely following the work on all issues discussed at IMO with the greatest interest, including the London Convention and Protocol.

I have come to appreciate the progressive work that is carried out under these treaties, and in particular the Protocol, in terms of protection and sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources. Even though the Convention was among one of the first global, regulatory efforts to protect the oceans from human impacts, it strikes me that the Contracting Parties have never stopped strengthening and improving these tools. As the Secretary-General of IMO, I would like to emphasize the importance the London Convention and Protocol play in relation to the maritime industry, by, for example, ensuring that ports and navigational channels are dredged and maintained in an environmentally sustainable manner.

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Distinguished delegates,

Before I reflect on your agenda, I wish to compliment you on the leadership you have shown in recent years to address the issue of increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and acidification of the oceans through your work to regulate the placement of matter for ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities, as well as the work to regulate carbon capture and sequestration in sub-seabed geological formations. In particular, the latter technologies are crucial tools to assist in avoiding the dangerous increase in temperature levels that could cause irreversible climate change. It is important that the Protocol plays its part in raising awareness of the regulatory and technological tools available to address these growing concerns.

It remains, however, a serious concern to me that, to date, only three of the 47 London Protocol Parties have accepted the 2009 amendment related to the export of carbon dioxide waste streams for carbon capture and sequestration purposes, which is a long way from satisfying the entry-into-force requirements. The importance of securing its entry-into-force cannot be over-emphasized, if the threat of acidification of the oceans from climate change is to be minimized. In the same vein we need to receive more ratifications of the 2013 amendment to the Protocol related to marine geoengineering to be able to give impetus to this important amendment.

I am heartened to hear that GESAMP has established a new Working Group, under the lead of IMO and supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) to provide a better understanding of the potential environmental (and social/economic) impacts of different marine geoengineering approaches, which could also provide advice to the London Protocol Parties in identifying those marine geoengineering techniques that might be considered for listing in the new Annex 4 of the Protocol. The first meeting of the Group was held at IMO in April of this year.

Distinguished Delegates,

Looking now at the agenda for your meeting, I can see that there are, as one would expect, a variety of issues that will require your undivided attention this week, and I am sure that the discussions will be both stimulating and challenging.

In the interest of time, allow me to just mention the issues that I noted are perhaps the most crucial at this juncture in time.

Over the last few years, you have been developing a Strategic Plan for the Convention and Protocol, under the able coordination of the two Vice-Chairs of the governing bodies. It seems highly appropriate to conclude this visionary document at this meeting, to set the scene for the next decades and the work that you will undertake together and with partners. This document will send a message to the rest of the world that the London Convention and Protocol community will continue progressing its work to protect the marine environment and not least expand the membership to the Protocol.

Another major topic that may be coming to its conclusion is the 25 year scientific review of radioactive waste, where you will be reviewing the literature study and advice from the Scientific Groups. I am impressed that you are nearing the completion of this work, several years ahead of the 2019 deadline.

In addition, you will review and possibly approve the revised Specific Guidelines for Assessment of Vessels, which form part of the extensive and important suite of guidance documents that support the implementation of the Convention and Protocol. These guidelines complement the work already done by this Organization on preparing for the entry-into-force of the Hong-Kong Ship Recycling Convention.

You will also review the low cost, low technology compliance monitoring guidance, and continue your regular review of dumping permits and other compliance issues, as well as the very important
technical cooperation efforts. I personally believe that increased efforts in capacity building, through the IMO-ITCP and bilateral activities, are essential to promote the benefits of the London Protocol and to increase accessions to the Protocol.

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Distinguished delegates,

It is still an issue of critical concern that the pace of ratifications of the London Protocol remains surprisingly, and worryingly, low. The full universal application of the Protocol principles is an important issue facing the ocean governance community in the immediate future, and something we must work together to address.

This year, that issue seems even more concerning as we celebrate 20 years since the adoption of the London Protocol, and 10 years since its entry into force. We all want the London Convention and Protocol community to be an active global voice for the protection of the marine environment, and a modern and forward looking tool for governance, not least in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Therefore, I will continue to urge you to join the Secretariat in making every possible effort to encourage States to become a Party to the London Protocol as the principal global instrument for the protection of the marine environment from the harmful disposal of wastes at sea, as a matter of highest priority. 

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Dr. Hong, I understand that you have kindly accepted to chair this joint session, since the Chair, Captain Ibraheem Olugbade of Nigeria, has recently retired from government service, and is no longer available to serve in this capacity.

Knowing that you have ably chaired the Scientific Groups for the maximum term allowed of four years, I am convinced that the governing bodies are in very good hands, and that you will comfortably guide the discussions this week.

At the end of the week, you will thus need to elect a new Chair for the governing bodies.

Distinguished delegates,

You have an interesting and challenging week ahead. Please rest assured that the Secretariat, on its part, will support the meeting to the best of its abilities and to the required high standards.

I now hand over to you, Mr. Chair, but before I do, I have the pleasure of inviting you all to celebrate together the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the London Protocol after close of business this evening, at 5.45 p.m., in the Delegates Lounge on the first floor. 

In addition, you are invited to visit an exhibition of delightful paintings by Mexican children, which is currently on display in the delegates lounge, with the theme of “The Child and the Sea”. This display has been kindly contributed and organized by the delegation of Mexico.

Thank you.

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