Keeping UNCLOS Relevant

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-34
Author(s):  
Anastasia Telesetsky
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Fishing Industry ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Labor Practices ◽  
Species Management ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
Fisheries Subsidies ◽  
Difficult Subject

Abstract After years of delicate negotiations, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) went into force in 1994. Over 25 years later, UNCLOS as a tool for cooperation and coordination is more policy relevant than ever before as the global community seeks to better understand and protect the oceans. Yet, some of the most difficult subject matters for the 21st century including industrial fishing, labor practices, plastic pollution, and climate change are only indirectly addressed by UNCLOS. This article suggests that States could update UNCLOS by amendment to remain relevant by explicitly addressing concerns such as transshipment, perverse fisheries subsidies, multi-species management, maritime trade slavery, plastic litter from the fishing industry and land sources, climate-impacted fisheries, geo-engineering, and renewable energy. While amending UNCLOS might be considered politically impractical, even a rudimentary conversation on amending the treaty would provide much-needed political focus on critical ocean topics where there are present governance gaps.

20 Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayfuse Rosemary
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations ◽  
Regional Fisheries Management

This chapter assesses the contribution of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) to the achievement of the principles of conservation and cooperation articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC). It begins with a brief historical introduction to the institutionalisation of cooperation through RFMOs and an examination of their structural limitations. It then considers the role and contribution of RFMOs in developing the specific content of the obligation to conserve, including the implications for RFMOs of the increasing recognition of the need to protect, conserve, and manage marine biodiversity in general. Finally, it examines the challenges to RFMOs posed by climate change.

EU could play a role in UK fisheries after Brexit

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Fish Migration ◽  
Fishing Industry ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Law

Subject Brexit and fisheries. Significance Brexit has been portrayed by many in the fishing industry as a great opportunity, but it poses significant challenges for the industry and government, especially in terms of exports and devolution. Impacts A no-deal Brexit will result in more fish being caught by UK fishermen and lower fish prices. The United Kingdom is a signatory of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and will have to continue to meet its obligations after Brexit. The United Kingdom will need to work closely with other coastal states to manage the effects of climate change on fish migration.

scholarly journals Ocean Acidification: A Due Diligence Obligation under the LOSC

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 382-408
Author(s):  
Karen N Scott
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
The Law ◽  
Marine Planning ◽  
And Control

Abstract This article explores the extent to which ocean acidification is adequately addressed by the law of the sea. It will assess the various obligations under Part XII of the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (LOSC) to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment, and analyse the extent to which these obligations appropriately address ocean acidification. This article argues that LOSC Parties are subject to a due diligence obligation under Part XII of the Convention to prevent, reduce and control ocean acidification, and that this obligation is not satisfied by simply complying with their obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, unless those actions also deliberately address ocean acidification. This article goes on to examine whether and to what extent ocean acidification should be factored into decision-making associated with marine planning, fisheries management and area-based protection under the law of the sea.

scholarly journals Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion—Flexible Enabling Technology for Variable Renewable Energy Integration in the Caribbean

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2192
Author(s):  
Robert J. Brecha ◽  
Katherine Schoenenberger ◽  
Masaō Ashtine ◽  
Randy Koon Koon
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion ◽  
Thermal Energy Conversion ◽  
Hourly Data ◽  
Ocean Thermal Energy

Many Caribbean island nations have historically been heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels for both power and transportation, while at the same time being at an enhanced risk from the impacts of climate change, although their emissions represent a very tiny fraction of the global total responsible for climate change. Small island developing states (SIDSs) are among the leaders in advocating for the ambitious 1.5 °C Paris Agreement target and the transition to 100% sustainable, renewable energy systems. In this work, three central results are presented. First, through GIS mapping of all Caribbean islands, the potential for near-coastal deep-water as a resource for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is shown, and these results are coupled with an estimate of the countries for which OTEC would be most advantageous due to a lack of other dispatchable renewable power options. Secondly, hourly data have been utilized to explicitly show the trade-offs between battery storage needs and dispatchable renewable sources such as OTEC in 100% renewable electricity systems, both in technological and economic terms. Finally, the utility of near-shore, open-cycle OTEC with accompanying desalination is shown to enable a higher penetration of renewable energy and lead to lower system levelized costs than those of a conventional fossil fuel system.

scholarly journals Post COVID-19 Recovery and 2050 Climate Change Targets: Changing the Emphasis from Promotion of Renewables to Mandated Curtailment of Fossil Fuels in the EU Policies

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1347
Author(s):  
Kyriakos Maniatis ◽  
David Chiaramonti ◽  
Eric van den Heuvel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
European Union ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Climate Change Policy ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
The European Union

The present work considers the dramatic changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the global economy, with particular emphasis on energy. Focusing on the European Union, the article discusses the opportunities policy makers can implement to reduce the climate impacts and achieve the Paris Agreement 2050 targets. The analysis specifically looks at the fossil fuels industry and the future of the fossil sector post COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis first revises the fossil fuel sector, and then considers the need for a shift of the global climate change policy from promoting the deployment of renewable energy sources to curtailing the use of fossil fuels. This will be a change to the current global approach, from a relative passive one to a strategically dynamic and proactive one. Such a curtailment should be based on actual volumes of fossil fuels used and not on percentages. Finally, conclusions are preliminary applied to the European Union policies for net zero by 2050 based on a two-fold strategy: continuing and reinforcing the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive to 2035, while adopting a new directive for fixed and over time increasing curtailment of fossils as of 2025 until 2050.

scholarly journals Promoting Renewable Energy to Cope with Climate Change—Policy Discourse in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3170
Author(s):  
Avri Eitan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Renewable Energies ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Policy Discourse ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Change Mitigation

Evidence shows that global climate change is increasing over time, and requires the adoption of a variety of coping methods. As an alternative for conventional electricity systems, renewable energies are considered to be an important policy tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore, they play an important role in climate change mitigation strategies. Renewable energies, however, may also play a crucial role in climate change adaptation strategies because they can reduce the vulnerability of energy systems to extreme events. The paper examines whether policy-makers in Israel tend to focus on mitigation strategies or on adaptation strategies in renewable energy policy discourse. The results indicate that despite Israel’s minor impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, policy-makers focus more on promoting renewable energies as a climate change mitigation strategy rather than an adaptation strategy. These findings shed light on the important role of international influence—which tends to emphasize mitigation over adaptation—in motivating the domestic policy discourse on renewable energy as a coping method with climate change.

scholarly journals A SWOT Analysis Approach for a Sustainable Transition to Renewable Energy in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3933
Author(s):  
Solomon E. Uhunamure ◽  
Karabo Shale
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Analysis Approach ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources

South Africa is been faced with erratic power supply, resulting in persistent load shedding due to ageing in most of its coal-fired power plants. Associated with generating electricity from fossil fuel are environmental consequences such as greenhouse emissions and climate change. On the other hand, the country is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources that can potentially ameliorate its energy needs. This article explores the viability of renewable energy using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis approach on the key renewable potential in the country. The result indicates that geographic position, political and economic stability and policy implementation are some of the strengths. However, Government bureaucratic processes, level of awareness and high investment cost are some of the weaknesses. Several opportunities favour switching to renewable energy, and these include regional integration, global awareness on climate change and the continuous electricity demand. Some threats hindering the renewable energy sector in the country include land ownership, corruption and erratic climatic conditions. Some policy implications are suggested based on the findings of the study.

The Law of the Sea as Part of the Climate-Change Regime Complex

2020 ◽  
pp. 374-385
Author(s):  
Ingvild Ulrikke Jakobsen ◽  
Elise Johansen ◽  
Philipp Peter Nickels
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Regime Complex ◽  
The Law
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