The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground

This policy brief reviews fifty years of international efforts to regulate ocean dumping, focusing on the evolution from the 1972 London Convention to the more restrictive 1996 London Protocol. It examines the challenges of managing radioactive waste, the regulation of climate mitigation technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the role of regional treaties in protecting marine ecosystems.

• The 1972 London Convention and its 1996 Protocol establish the primary global framework for regulating ocean dumping. The original Convention banned specific wastes like mercury, cadmium, and high-level radioactive waste, while the 1996 Protocol adopted a more restrictive approach, prohibiting all dumping except for a prescribed list of materials subject to rigorous assessment.
• Dredged material constitutes the vast majority of licensed ocean dumping. Approximately 500 million tonnes are dumped annually within the waters of London Convention and Protocol Contracting Parties, with dredged material making up 80-90% of all licensed materials. About 10% of this dredged material is contaminated by municipal, industrial, or shipping discharges and land run-off.
• The management of radioactive waste has shifted toward a precautionary approach. While the US dumped over 55,000 containers of radioactive waste in the Pacific between 1946 and 1970, a 1993 amendment to the London Convention prohibited all nuclear waste dumping. However, tensions persist, such as Japan's plan to release 1.25 million tonnes of contaminated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean, a move opposed by China, Chile, and the Republic of Korea.
• International regulations have been adapted to address climate change mitigation technologies. The London Protocol was amended in 2006 to allow carbon capture and storage (CCS) under the seabed if deemed safe. Additionally, a 2013 amendment allows marine geoengineering—such as ocean fertilization—for research purposes only, though these activities remain controversial due to potential ecological damage.
• Several regional and specialized treaties complement global efforts. MARPOL (1973) focuses on preventing pollution from ships, including oil spills; the OSPAR Convention (1992) addresses the North-East Atlantic; and the Barcelona Convention (1976) targets the Mediterranean Sea. These instruments work alongside the London Convention to eliminate pollution from dumping and incineration.
• Despite these treaties, ocean dumping governance remains 'piecemeal' due to uneven adherence, lack of ratification by some countries, and challenges in reporting and enforcement. The document highlights that some countries continue to dump with impunity, though international pressure and media campaigns have increased accountability.

APA

Mead,, L. (2021). The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping

Chicago

Mead,, Leila. The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mead, |first1=Leila |title=The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=7 December 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mead2021ocean, author = {Mead,, Leila}, title = {{The Ocean Is Not a Dumping Ground}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/regulating-ocean-dumping}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }