London Protocol: Protocol relating to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)

The London Protocol (Protocol relating to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter) was adopted in 1996 and has been in force since 2006. It updates and strengthens the provisions in the 1972 convention. The 1972 convention aims to curb marine pollution by preventing the dumping from ships at sea. It has a "blacklist" of waste types that are entirely prohibited from being dumped from ships, and a "grey list" of other waste types that can be dumped only under specific conditions and with prior permit. The 1996 London Protocol, on the other hand, applies a precautionary approach: Instead of a "black- and grey list" of wastes (which implies that anything not listed is permissible to dump), it provides a "greenlist" with the implication that any type of waste not listed is prohibited from being dumped. As such, it is more restrictive. It also prohibites incineration of waste at sea, and the export of waste for the purpose of dumping or incineration at sea. At the time of writing (2026) the London Convention has 87 Parties, and the London Protocol has 56. TThe London Convention and Protocol in effect function as a single combined instrument, and share a secretariat, which is provided by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, UK.