London Protocol Parties Highlight Urgent Need for Stronger Marine Geo-Engineering Governance
Marine geo-engineering, an emerging frontier in climate change mitigation, has recently gained renewed focus from international custodians charged with oceanic preservation. The London Convention of 1972 and its 1996 Protocol are pivotal global treaties designed to curtail marine pollution by regulating ocean dumping. These instruments have been notably successful in protecting marine ecosystems by permitting only seven specific waste categories for sea disposal under strict assessment and permitting procedures. Notably, in 2006, these treaties expanded their mandate to allow carbon capture and storage beneath the seafloor, acknowledging the ocean’s critical role in combating atmospheric CO2 buildup.
Since 2007, Parties to the London Protocol and Convention have wrestled with regulating marine geo-engineering activities like ocean fertilisation, which are deliberate interventions aimed at manipulating natural marine processes to counteract anthropogenic climate change. This category of geo-engineering presents complex governance challenges due to its potential to cause widespread, long-lasting, or severe marine ecosystem impacts.
An important milestone was reached in 2013 when an amendment was unanimously adopted to permit only legitimate scientific research on ocean fertilisation, explicitly banning commercial projects to safeguard marine environments. An Annex 5 tool was introduced to rigorously assess research activities and minimise ecological harm. However, ratification of this amendment remains incomplete, delaying full enforcement.
Scientific discourse has increasingly advocated extending the 2013 amendment’s precautionary principles to other climate engineering techniques, driven by the rise of private enterprises and start-ups eager to commercialise such interventions, particularly through carbon credit markets. This trend raises alarm over potential unregulated activities with uncertain environmental footprints.
In response, the Parties issued statements in 2022 and 2023, acknowledging four additional marine geo-engineering techniques of priority concern: enhancement of ocean alkalinity, biomass sinking, introduction of reflective particles, and marine cloud brightening. They recommended adherence to scientific research principles, utilisation of the Annex 5 assessment framework for project vetting, and the development of comprehensive regulations. While non-binding, these statements signal a resolute commitment to cautious and effective governance.
At their recent meeting, the Parties reiterated the London Protocol/Convention as the leading international framework for regulating marine geo-engineering, emphasising the imperative of urgent governance action given the proliferation of projects and attendant risks, particularly for developing nations vulnerable to marine environmental shifts.
A Zimbabwean perspective illustrates the urgency and necessity of such governance: the coastal and inland fisheries sectors in Zimbabwe face challenges linked to climate variability and evolving marine practices. Local initiatives, such as the Zimbabwean Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry’s collaboration with regional oceanic bodies, highlight increased efforts to align with international standards like the London Protocol. Empowering women and youth in these sectors through capacity-building initiatives aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), fostering sustainable livelihoods while protecting aquatic resources.
The continuous development of a robust regulatory framework under the London Protocol and Convention not only benefits global ocean health but also empowers nations like Zimbabwe to effectively participate in and influence marine geo-engineering governance, ensuring sustainable climate action benefits all communities.
FFA Explainer Box: Marine geo-engineering refers to deliberate large-scale interventions in the ocean environment intended to mitigate climate change effects—methods include ocean fertilisation, which adds nutrients to stimulate CO2-absorbing phytoplankton growth, and marine cloud brightening, which increases cloud reflectivity to cool the earth. These techniques carry ecological risks that international treaties like the London Protocol seek to regulate through research-focused and precautionary principles.
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