Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter — multilateral environmental agreement
The London Convention established the first global framework to regulate deliberate disposal of waste at sea, entering into force in 1975 with 89 parties by 2016.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 29 December 1972
- Entered into force
- 1975
- Parties (as of Sept 2016)
- 89
- Common name
- London Convention (LC '72)
- Scope
- Disposal from vessels, aircraft, and platforms at sea
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Growing awareness in the late 1960s and early 1970s of accelerating marine pollution from the unregulated dumping of industrial waste, sewage sludge, and other harmful materials at sea prompted international action. No binding global treaty existed to govern deliberate ocean disposal, leaving marine ecosystems without adequate legal protection.
On 29 December 1972, states adopted the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter in London. The agreement prohibits or restricts the deliberate disposal of wastes from vessels, aircraft, and platforms at sea, while excluding land-based discharge pipes, routine vessel operational discharges, and placements not constituting mere disposal.
The convention entered into force in 1975 and attracted 89 state parties by 2016, creating an enforceable international regime against ocean dumping. It also encouraged the negotiation of supplementary regional agreements, and its framework was later strengthened by the 1996 London Protocol, which shifted toward a precautionary, permit-based approach to marine waste disposal.