Agenda 21 and sea-based pollution: Apportunity or apathy?

The paper re-examines the views expressed by Nollkaemper in a paper published in Marine Policy in November 1993 concerning Agenda 21 and the prevention of sea-based marine pollution, at the same time as providing an up-to-date account of what has subsequently transpired under the auspicies of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to implement the outcome of the Rio Earth Summit held in June 1992. The paper contrasts Nollkaemper's predictions as to issues that might be expected to receive attention in the context of Agenda 21 with actual developments on related issues in IMO over the past five years. Emerging issues covered by the paper include incorporation by IMO of the precautionary approach and progress made in implementing IMO's strategy for extra budgetary activities relating to environmentally sustainable development, covering such issues as the provision of waste reception facilities in ports and capacity-building for coastal states bordering a strait used for international navigation. The aim of the latter is to develop self-sustaining financial mechanisms which would effectively transfer the cost to the user of the facility, thus eliminating the difficulties that many developing countries have in meeting international safety and environmental standards. Until 1995 the author was co-ordinator of IMO's follow-up to the Earth Summit as a full-time staff member of the Organisation's Marine Environment Division.