Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Implementation of IMO Legal Instruments:
International Technical and Financial
Cooperation
7.1
Introduction
The previous chapters have examined the international legal instruments aimed at
preventing vessel-source marine environmental pollution, and the role of Interna-
tional Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the development of those legal instruments.
This chapter highlights the legal and institutional aspects of the implementation of
IMO marine environmental conventions.
International legal instruments are the key structural components in a wider
international regulatory regime. Some are mere declarations of general principles,
while others contain detailed prescriptions for solving a particular problem.
1
For
example, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change calls on
States to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
2
To achieve this target, the
Convention introduced two main principles: the
'
precautionary principle
'
and the
principle.
3
On the other hand,
the Kyoto Protocol imposes a binding emission reduction target on developed
countries.
4
The IMO conventions, which are the focus of this topic, clearly prescribe steps
for solving the problems they deal with. These conventions are not merely state-
ments of principles or policy recommendations, and therefore are not
'
common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)
'
framework
'
conventions.
Implementation of these conventions requires practical steps. The
'
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