International policies on the economic resources of the deep-seabed

The resources of the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction were declared the ‘common heritage of mankind’ by the United Nations General Assembly. This article discusses the mineral resources located in this area and how the commercial availability of such resources was perceived to affect national interests. Although the exploitation of these resources would have benefited all states, some more than others, such exploitation was seen to have conflicting consequences on national interests in the light of the North-South dialogue in which trade and access to raw materials played a central role. The factual basis for these different national interests is examined by a discussion of the possible impact of mineral production from the deep-seabed on world markets and the policies implemented in the Convention on the Law of the Sea to ensure these interests are evaluated.     

Marine mineral resources: Effect of the low of the sea convention

The degree of security of investment afforded by the applicable legal regime is one of the most important factors affecting minerals projects. This article outlines the deep-sea mining regime contained in the recently adopted Law of the Sea Convention. A history of subsea mining, including petroleum mining, is presented and the events leading to adoption of the Convention are described. Those parts of the Convention relating to deep-sea mining are analysed, and the International Sea-Bed Authority is examined. It is concluded that deep-sea mining on a commercial scale is unlikely before the end of the decade.     

Codifying the minimum standards of the law of international watercourses: remarks on part one and a half

This article discusses the attempts by the Working Group of the UN General Assembly's 6th Committee, which held its first session from 7 to 25 October 1996, to elaborate a framework convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses. The Convention is based on the 1994 draft articles by the International Law Commission, and is intended to have a residual character. As such it will apply to States parties in the absence of specific watercourse agreements, and serve as a guideline. However, the persistence of a fragmented defence of short-term national self-interest on the part of many delegations prevented the finalization of a universal legal instrument in the first round of the negotiations. The major stumbling blocks relate to the natural adversarity between "upstream" and "downstream" riparians. Deep seated conflicts of interest were particularly prominent in discussions of concepts such as the "equitable utilization principle" vis-à-vis the "no-harm rule" (art. 7), the concept of "optimal utilization" (art. 5); the determination of when a particular use is "equitable and reasonable" (art. 6); constraints on the freedom of exploitation of natural resources (art. 7); and the obligation to notify co-riparians of planned measures which may have adverse effects upon other watercourse states (arts. 11–19). Despite many obstacles, the Working Group made considerable progress in identifying language that would balance respective interests in the Convention. It is hoped that agreement may be reached on the final text during the next session, scheduled for 24 March–4 April 1997 While the present article traces the deliberations at the UN in October 1996, and some of the main conflicts, a separate article by Maurizio Arcari in the forthcoming August 1997 issue of Natural Resources Forum will discuss the draft articles submitted by the International Law Commission.     

The draft articles on the law of international watercourses adopted by the International Law Commission: an overview and some remarks on selected issues

In 1994, after more than twenty years of work, the International Law Commission of the United Nations adopted a set of thirty-three draft articles on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. In the same year, the draft articles were submitted to the General Assembly with a view to the adoption of an international convention. The present paper analyzes and comments upon some of the major issues dealt with in the draft articles, devoting special attention to the substantive legal principles governing the utilization of international rivers and the protection of related ecosystems. Various questions still remain open for consideration by the Working Group convened by the General Assembly in 1996–1997 for the elaboration of a definitive convention. In spite of this, the draft articles adopted by the International Law Commission stand as an important achievement in the effort at codification of the law of international water resources. The present article was written within the framework of the research project "Technical aspects of the international law of the sea" which is being carried out at the Faculty of Law, University of Milan, Italy.     

论海洋污染的国际法规制

海洋环境保护是国际环境保护的重要组成部分,而国际社会的合作是构建海洋环境保护国际法制的有效路径。本研究梳理了海洋环境保护立法的历史演变,分析了《联合国海洋法公约》在海洋环境保护中的意义,从陆地来源、船舶、倾倒、远洋油气和矿产资源开发造成海上污染的四个方面着重论述了海洋环境污染与国际法保护问题,最后总结了国际海洋环境保护立法中的教训。     

Exploitation of the Mineral Resources of the Oceans as Affected by the Provisions of the Convention on the Law of the Sea

The adoption of the Convention on the Law of the Sea in April 1982 and the signature of the treaty by 117 countries in December of the same year marked the conclusion of lengthy negotiations which had taken more than 10 years. However, not all problems related to the exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources, with which this article is concerned, have been solved. These problems will be dealt with by the Preparatory Commission set up under the terms of the Convention and related resolutions. In particular, questions related to pioneer investment activities and possible impact on land-based producers will be discussed. The author, who was directly involved in many of the negotiations, concludes that legal and institutional as well as technical and market factors will influence the future course of ocean mining activities. L'adoption de la Convention sur le droit de la mer en avril 1982 et la signature du traité par 117 pays en décembre de la même année ont marqué la fin de longues négociations qui ont duré plus de 10 ans. Toutefois, tous les problèmes concernant l'exploitation des ressources minières d'origine marine profonde, qui font l'objet de cet article, n'ont pas été résolus. Ils seront examinés par la Comission préparatoire établie selon les termes de la Convention et les résolutions connexes. En particulier, les questions ayant trait aux premiers investissements et leurs répercussions sur les producteurs conventionnels seront étudiées. L'auteur qui a été directement engagé dans plusieurs de ces négociations conclut en disant que le cours futur des activités minières marines sera influencé par des facteurs d'ordre légal, institutionnel, technique ainsi que par les conditions de marché. La adopción de la Convención sobre el Derecho del Mar en abril de 1982 y la firma del tratado por 117 países en diciembre del mismo an?o marca la conclusión de largas negociaciones que tomaron más de 10 an?os. Sin embargo no todos los problemas relacionado con la explotación de minerales en mar profundo han sido resueltos. Estos problemas serán tratados por la Comisión Preparatoria establecida bajo los términos de la Convención y resoluciones relacionadas. En particular se discutirán asuntos relacionados con inversiones pioneras y el posible impacto sobre los productores en tierra firme. El autor, quien ha participado directamente en muchas de estas negociaciones, concluye que los factores legales, institucionales así como técnicos y de mercado influenciarán el uso futuro de la minería en mar profundo.     

Education on environmental law

Summary The current views on whether environmental law is a subject of study at the Universities is discussed in this paper. The author traces the development of environmental law, and maintains that legal science is one, and that it has been grounded into branches for teaching and research purposes. A case for the teaching of environmental law at the universities is made. A teaching programme is suggested which brings out the relationships of environmental law with ecology, social science, economics, management science, technology and other branches of legal science.Born in Argentina, with a Doctor of Law from the University of Buenos Aires. Has held professorships in Water and Mining Laws, Agrarian and Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, in several universities in Argentina. He was a visiting professor in the period 1967–71, at Delft Technological Institute, The Netherlands.From 1969–70, he was Secretary of State for Water Resources of Argentina, and in 1970, Vice-Chairman of the UN Committee on Natural Resources. Consultant on Environmental Law for FAO in 1970. He is at present (1980–82) President of the International Water Resources Association.He has been a member of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Policy, Law and Administration since 1978, is President of the Inter American Commission on Environmental Law and Administration, and Regional Governor (Latin America) of the International Council on Environmental Law.In 1978 he was awarded the Elizabeth Haub Prix on Environmental law.He is author of several books and papers on environmental, natural resources and water laws. These include Code on Natural Resources (Province of Corrientes Argentina, 1980) and co-author of Code on the Renewable Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Colombia, 1974.     

The International Law Commission and Legal Principles Related to the Non-navigational Uses of the Waters of International Rivers

There are serious problems related to the use and conservation of international rivers. Riparian nations tend to use their waters and to transfer negative impacts, such as pollution, to other countries. This paper examines the work of the International Law Commission as it seeks to elaborate a framework convention for the use and conservation of shared watercourses. Although this task is still in progress, basic substantive principles such as 'equitable apportionment' and 'prohibition against appreciable harm' seem to be widely agreed upon. The immediate need is the development of and the agreement on, procedural systems for conflict resolution.     

Eco-labelling: success or failure?

Eco-labelling was identified in Agenda 21 as a way of encouraging consumers to alter their consumption patterns and to make wiser use of resources and energy in the drive for sustainable development into the next century. A European-wide eco-labelling scheme was introduced by the European Commission (EC) in 1992 as part of its fifth and most recent Environmental Action Plan, the focus of which is also sustainability. The EC eco-labelling scheme aims to promote products with reduced environmental impacts throughout their life cycle and to provide consumers with better information about the environmental impact of products. This paper assesses whether eco-labelling is an effective means of improving the environment, using the eco-labelling of paper products as a case study. Paper products are examined because the development of their ecolabelling criteria has been a particularly complex and contentious issue. Moreover, although criteria have now been adopted for three groups of paper products, controversy has dominated the criteria-setting process and debate continues about the relevance of the selected criteria. It is concluded that while the concept of eco-labelling is good, the practical application of the concept is not straightforward. Furthermore, at present, there is little evidence of eco-labelling benefitting the environment.     

Deep-Sea Mining: The Consequences of Failure to Agree at UNCLOS III

In July 1982 the US Government announced that it would not sign the new Convention on the Law of the Sea adopted at the eleventh session of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in April 1982. This article investigates the possible consequences of the failure to achieve a consensus between the Group of 77 and the western industrialised States on a regime to govern the deep-sea mining of manganese nodules. After considering the range of possible outcomes, the author identifies the benefits and costs involved in operating under the two alternative regimes, that provided by the new Convention and related Conference resolutions and the alternative Reciprocating States Regime based on unilateral legislation co-ordinated by a Mini-Treaty. En juillet 1982, le gouvernement des Etats-Unis a annoncé qu'il ne signerait pas la nouvelle Convention sur le droit de la mer qui a été adoptée à la llème session de la troisième Conférence des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer en avril 1982. Cet article étudie les conséquences possibles de l'absence d'un consensus entre le Groupe des 77 et les nations industrielles occidentales sur un régime devant gouverner l'exploitation des nodules de manganèse que l'on trouve sur les fonds marins profonds. Après avoir consideéré tout un éventail de résultantes éventuelles, l'auteur dresse un état des avantages et désavantages que présentent les deux régimes possibles, c'est-à-dire le régime prévu par la nouvelle Convention et les résolutions concomitantes adoptées par la Conférence et le régime de réciprocité entre états basé sur une législation unilatérale et sanctionné par un mini-traité. En julio de 1982 el gobierno de los Estados Unidos anunció que no firmaría la nueva Convención sobre el Derecho del Maradoptada en la undécima sesión de la Tercera Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar en abril de 1982. Este artículo investiga las posibles consecuencias de la falta de consenso entre el Grupo de los 77 y los estados industriales occidentales sobre el régimen que gobierna la extracción de nódulos de manganeso en mares profundos. Después de considerar el posible rango de consecuencias el autor evalúa los costos y beneficios resultantes de operar bajo dos regímenes alternativos, aquel definido por la nueva convención y las resoluciones relacionadas y el Régimen de Reciprocidad entre Estados basado en legislación unilateral coordinados por el Mini-Tratado.     

我国小型矿山的可持续发展战略

目前 ,我国小型矿山普遍存在着缺乏规划、设备简陋、工艺落后、管理和技术水平低、安全保障条件差、运销不畅以及职工素质低等问题 ,并由此造成的浪费资源、污染环境十分严重。当前 ,经济建设中 95%的能源和 80 %的原料依赖矿产资源供给 ,矿产资源探明的储量已显不足。进入 2 1世纪后 ,保证经济可持续发展的矿产资源更加不足 ,尤其是小型矿山要在 2 1世纪保持可持续发展成为一项非常艰巨的任务。     

Implications of the ban on organotins for protection of global coastal and marine ecology

Organotin-based antifouling paints are highly effective against most fouling organisms, and their application results in a large amount of savings for the shipping industry. On the other hand, TBT (tributyltin) in antifouling paints is described as the most toxic substance ever introduced into the marine environment. Consequential environmental impacts of TBT led to its regulation in many countries, although concerns were raised regarding the complete prohibition of organotin-based compounds in antifouling paints. Serious concerns were also raised regarding the complete banning of organotins. After long deliberations, the AFS Convention (convention to control the use of harmful antifouling systems on ships) was adopted on 5 October 2001. The Convention, which prohibits the use of harmful organotins in antifouling paints used on ships, will enter into force on 17 September 2008. In view of the concerns raised against the prohibition of organotin-based compounds in antifouling paints, this paper focuses on a review of the AFS Convention, with a gap analysis on the difficulties in implementation of the Convention. It also offers some recommendations for improved policies.     

Wildlife conservation through people-centred approaches to natural resource management programmes and the control of wildlife exploitation

While the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) introduced a new and progressive outlook on conservation, the South African government has failed to produce a comprehensive legal body of legislation to give effect to its varied obligations. Inconsistency and incompleteness of regulations governing wildlife conservation in conjunction with the failure to implement objectives to conserve wildlife through restricted exploitation with the political, social and economic motives of community conservation must be seen as major contributions to failed conservation goals. This paper analyses post-apartheid conservation laws and policies and argues that current plans for people-centred approaches to natural resource management programmes have been unsuccessful in operationalizing policy goals of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development into transparent plans for implementation. In fact, legal instruments and implementation plans seem to focus on the benefit-sharing components of community participation and therefore fail to address important issues of resource exploitation. It is suggested that where communities are expected to take part in the management of wildlife resources, the responsibility for sustainable wildlife management must be linked to the benefit-sharing instruments of the programmes. However, these would not deal with 'outsiders' like poachers and poaching driven by commercial interests. The paper proposes a model that allows communities to take control over wildlife resources.     

Revised Agri-environment Policy Objectives: Implications for Scheme Design

The new objectives for agri-environment policy recommended by the Policy Commission for the Future of Food and Farming are reviewed and proposals to achieve them are assessed. The Commission proposes a unified scheme, with a 'broad and shallow' tier that would incorporate a whole-farm environmental plan and audit. Participation at this level would be a prerequisite for entry into higher tiers focused on securing regional and national ecological, landscape and bio-diversity priorities. However, the Commission recognizes that further resource protection measures need to be developed to substantiate its design, particularly to enable the delivery of 'wider bio-diversity and landscape benefits'. Innovations in addition to those recommended by the Policy Commission are advocated here. These include adding Cultural options and a two-option Enhanced Level tier. The specifications of the first Enhanced Level option would be based on each farm's Sustainability Index Score. The second option would overcome the 'economics of configuration' problem by encouraging farmers to co-operate to deliver environmental outputs as members of 'environmental clubs'. The possibility of using web-based technology to increase the transparency of agri-environmental payments is also discussed. The design proposed here streamlines, simplifies and increases the efficiency of the existing agri-environment schemes.     

At the 50th anniversary of the UN

This paper describes how the design by the UN of its institutions for delivering technical assistance and advisory services in respect of mineral resources development have changed over time. UN practices in such fields as mining and minerals development are analysed, as are the gradual and subtle impacts of such practices on changes in UN perceptions of its roles not only in development but also in peace and human rights. The final section examines some of the problems that will confront the UN in the future, as it seeks to incorporate the principles of interdependence and interlinkage among development, peace and human rights into its technical assistance and advisory services in the field of mining and minerals development .     

平朔矿区生态经济重建的意义及其内容

以处于生产鼎盛期的全国最大露天煤矿之一的平朔矿区为例,针对它与区域生态经济紧密相关的特点,分析它在生态经济方面存在的问题,研究生态经济重建对资源型区域可持续发展的作用,提出生态经济重建的主要内容.     

EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO THE GARRISON DIVERSION UNIT1

ABSTRACT: The Garrison Diversion Unit is a multipurpose water resources project which is currently under development for the purpose of diverting water from the Missouri River basin to irrigate farmland in North Dakota. Due to the objections raised by various interest groups, the project has recently been reviewed by the International Joint Commission. This article surveys the background to the project and the various alternatives that have been proposed. By utilizing recently developed fuzzy set techniques, the proposed alternatives are evaluated and a plausible solution is proposed. The results of the study indicate that it may be advisable to remove the Souris Loop irrigation area from the Garrison project but the environmental impacts of the study may preclude the implementation of any alternative that can affect Canada. These findings are in partial agreement with the recommendations of the International Joint Commission.     

Protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes in Europe

This paper analyses recent developments in national strategies and policies in Europe for the protection and use of transboundary waters, and describes progress made by European states in cooperating on these issues, in particular under the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki, 1992) pending its entry into force.     

The new regime for managing US—Mexican water resources

United States-Mexican transboundary water resources management is presently experiencing significant reform resulting from long-term demographic processes in the border region and greater economic integration. The recently concluded North American Free Trade Agreement and supplementary environmental accord modify existing agreements and provide old institution with new mandates. Particularly affected is the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), long the lead agency in binational water management. This essay reviews the development of the new water management regime against the two preceding phases of management reform and considers its implications for improved water management in the border region.     

IEC61850通讯规约在500kV芝堰变电站的应用

随着用户对电能可靠性和质量要求的不断提升,智能电网、互动电网等技术逐步兴起。数字化变电站是智能电网的物理基础,国际电工委员会发布的IEC61850标准为数字化变电站技术奠定了理论基础。本文探讨了IEC61850规约在智能化一次设备以及数字化通信技术的发展及在500KV芝堰变电站的具体应用。