The London Regime’s Adaptability and Impact

Abstract The London Convention ( LC ), adopted in 1972, and its successor, the London Protocol ( LP ) of 1996, constitute key regulatory frameworks working in parallel, aimed at mitigating waste dumping at sea and safeguarding the marine environment. These treaties, which share the objective of controlling marine pollution, have also evolved to address emerging environmental issues such as marine geoengineering and carbon capture and storage within the context of the current triple planetary crisis. As the LC / LP regime marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2022, both achievements and ongoing challenges in combating pollution from dumping activities were acknowledged, emphasising the need for continual adaptation to protect the marine environment effectively. This article examines the adaptability and impact of the LC / LP regime over the past five decades, identifying strengths and proposing future steps to ensure the preservation of ocean health for future generations.