MINISTRY OF JUSTICE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING | HANOI LAW UNIVERSITY PHAM QUANG MINH 463322 GRADUATION THESIS STATES' OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LAW OF THE SEA FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE Hanoi - 2025 i [ ] MINISTRY OF JUSTICE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HANOI LAW UNIVERSITY PHAM QUANG MINH 463322 GRADUATION THESIS STATES' OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LAW OF THE SEA FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERVISOR NGUYEN THI HONG YEN Hanoi - 2025 il PLEDGE I hereby certify that this is my own research work, the conclusions and data in the thesis are accurate and reliable data/. Supervisor confirmation Author of the graduation thesis (Full name and signature) 11 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CBD Convention on Biological Diversity COP Conference of the Parties IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IMO International Maritime Organization ITLOS International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships NDCs Nationally Determined Contributions PEMSEA Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change iv TABLE OF CONTENT Supplement Cover Page cc. ccc ccc ces cee cee cee sec cee cesses tee cee cen cescee ces sseeee see teessecsseeed PICO TÔ bia BiAS1000AI04G58100030400101008700600101000:GG8G010 GI00S4183S0IREHI338)-GEI2ĐUBIA-GHXE4.43S880488319430008188 ii List Of ADDreviatiOns. iii BE tà GIẾT KH kunslginhumbadadideihdneimsoxgitokolamgin892nmifesogdiiwrVuimomiiieirioiidlibemimaiiaslonunientkieoiabe iv ST IN carcass csp a tema te.
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Definition of Marine Environment, Marine Pollution and Climate (Chat 86nungngebrrntotinEGIARGAABEUDSiiitIStifgEtBSGGAGVIS. cccecesececeeteceseceecseeeeeseceseaseeseaseneeens 6 Dedede DAL SS PTO roc nenrennveenveonnseemaeenncuensmumsdenenyeerentrstnranersmmnaienrens 7 1. The Evolution of International Legal Frameworks for Marine Environmental, POE CHO cciccmnenesserpeney nnn pnrennverrecevennrninnsegmenypenquoniearyeriens 10 1. Fundamental Principles in Marine Environmental Protection.
The Prevention PrIn€1pÏ€.-- -- «+ ssss xxx ke IZ 1. The Precautionary Principle. The Polluterpays TT THÍ ssueesssbeerbdinhotoiiesilBi0igi03006X00010 6200101013 0Đ74 14 1. The Cooperation PrineIpÏe.
The Sustainable Development Principle .6, The Common Concertt Principle seeeeeeasenseeeeaiesddaiodaosia 16 Vv 1. The Relationship Between Marine Environmental Protection and State PCV STG TOT GY oc sssncxensinverioncnintivareinn sienna snitch opin ised 17 CANE L LSS 8 CRAP CES 1 ~ezopyzngyrgstosjopsgigeniig<gg-iipdiigmdtiusigisiordiigtrgpiiigìocdrs2igegg 20 CHAPTER 2: INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON STATE OBLIGATIONS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 21 Jon OPStialized Iiit6fiaHöofifl] TTAUES ccsnmmusccomnnnmnmamnncancness 2) 2.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 23 SHIPS is ngõ nhĩn ưng ngg t0 0146130853ã1690606160183491035A810. London Convention 1972 and its 1996 Protocol on Dumping of Wastes BÍ. Strassen ean eR 26 2. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Marine Biodiversity |) t0 VG00G0100NNSISGIBENGETRISNGIUEDBINEGDBNSEGIGOHGGUAGNENNURBI Zt 2.
Ramsar Convention and Coastal Wetlands Protection. 28 220 LHS FyQtG PRB GOL seccsscunassnnnsannonmecememcemamaancneemesanmnnas 29 Jess LES Patis TL TĐGIHGIÍĂarnueoaddetidpriiigiiiltibidtigidSGGUENBUN-S.1130-0141004610 4898040000 30 pee eeAR cc ee 31 2. States’ Obligations in protecting of the marrine environment under the IriET(ẩHGHI ea W SianennnnnididitointiaBiilSi4ã6300051C08808801384548N0NS0AGS0I4SEGHEASSGGS.68430000088 33 san: Le KH fGTfIL COB GATOS caaaeanunnoenstsiiieonigithibikikgEiO301401013800180001. Obligation to Implement Measures to Prevent, Reduce and Control Lo re 37 2.
Obligation to Control Source-Specific Pollution. Cooperation and Scientific Research Obligations. Monitoring, Environmental Assessment and Contingency Planning PT OATIGNG maesnndnentrtssuirttriitstgiantriintg1i0IĐSEARHSSIBIUOOGISENGSIHMHHDSEGIG82)000Đ3000000030/25E 53 2. Mechanisms for Monitoring the Implementation of State Obligations in et tg erect er nero ame mt ro panne 56 the Protection of the Marine EnvIronmm€nf.
Periodic Reporting and Peer Review. Non-Confrontational Approaches 00. The Role of International Bodies and Organizations in Protecting the Marine Environment in the Context of Climate Change. International Maritime Organization (IMO).
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and 1ifii:BiiTilaWfBRI] SAS BG creesesssegesggengyesruieiiesinjasggiibsligi-b420g)2/202/000 ig 32g ae 59 2. Integrated Assessment Bodies and Scientific Committees. 60 CONCLUSION OF CHAPTER 2.- St vs v9 HH HH Hy 62 CHAPTER 3: SITUATION OF VIETNAM IMPLEMENTATION OE.
63 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OBLIGATIONS AS A. 63 COASTAL STATE AND RECOMMENDA TIONS. National Legal Framework for Marine Environmental Protection in Pen pe PS 63 3. Practical Implementation of Marine Environmental Protection APE HN estes ence teaches 65 a.
Institutional Implementation Mechanisms. Implementation of Specific Protection Measures. International Cooperation in Marine Environmental Protection. Challenges in Implementing Marine Environmental Protection CỊỈH th NIT gang gang nioaiti0Ai0L082.
Legal and Policy Constra1nfS.--- << ssSc xxx svrreeereees 66 3. Implementation and Enforcement LimIfaflons.3: EmtErging Environmental Threat cissssccnsunscnsnnmnaamancms 68 3. Recommendations for Enhancing Vietnam's Implementation of Marine Environmental Protection Obligations. Developing an Integrated Marine Environmental Laws.
Creating a Specialized Marine Environmental Protection Agency SG CC SES RT Sc ie Sa OD RS AA 70 3. Implementing a Technology-Driven Marine Environmental Mimilofing Ry S061 scssecusessasanacesenenacssmanoneren anus 2001184314 3093 L64848813/GG154514358 71 3. Strengthening Community-Based Marine Management. Tố CONCLUSION OF CELAPTER: 3 sggaggosggsyesoggyhget0gg24gg00p:4ng 8gp: ugtsidhgnshg4101448038g ra REREREINGES seucascnmmcemnnmnnnc Rem R A RIE mR 75 INTRODUCTION 1.
Necessity of the research Marine environments face accelerating threats from human activities despite their essential role in supporting global ecological and economic systems. The oceans regulate climate by absorbing approximately 30% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and over 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gases. They also maintain biodiversity, hosting thousands of known species and potentially millions yet undiscovered, while providing livelihoods for over three billion people through fisheries, coastal tourism, shipping, and other economic activities! Climate change has emerged as a profound threat to marine ecosystems through multiple pathways. Ocean acidification has increased by 30% compared to pre-industrial levels, threatening calcifying organisms that form the foundation of marine food webs.
Sea level rise has accelerated to 3.7mm annually, endangering coastal habitats and communities. Meanwhile, ocean warming has triggered coral bleaching events of unprecedented frequency and severity, with nearly 50% of coral reefs already lost or severely degraded’. These interlinked threats create complex governance challenges that traditional legal frameworks struggle to address. While the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established comprehensive obligations for marine environmental protection, it predates modern understanding of climate impacts on oceans.
The resulting disconnect between climate and ocean governance regimes has created regulatory gaps that undermine effective environmental protection. For coastal nations like Vietnam, with 3,260 kilometers of coastline and extensive maritime zones, implementing international marine environmental protection obligations presents unique challenges. Vietnam's coastal regions host over 50% of its population and contribute approximately 60% of national GDP through fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and port operations. Yet these same regions face high vulnerability to climate , Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2019), Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, Chapter 5.
ˆ IPCC (2021), Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working GroupI to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Chapter 5. 2 impacts, with the Mekong Delta - Vietnam's agricultural heartland - particularly threatened by sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion’. Vietnam has made substantial commitments to marine environmental protection through ratifying key international instruments including UNCLOS (1994), MARPOL 73/78 (1991), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994).
At COP26 in 2021, Vietnam also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, implementing these commitments remains challenging due to resource constraints, institutional fragmentation, and competing development priorities. The May 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has recognized greenhouse gas emissions as marine pollution within the meaning of UNCLOS, creating new legal parameters for coastal states. This landmark decision establishes clear linkages between climate mitigation and marine protection obligations, requiring states to adopt laws and regulations to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
For Vietnam and similarly situated coastal states, understanding these evolving obligations and developing practical implementation strategies has never been more urgent. It is for these reasons that I chose the topic: "States' Obligations in the Protection of the Marine Environment in the Context of Climate Change" to carry out this dissertation, offering recommendations to strengthen implementation of marine environmental protection obligations in Vietnam.1, Domestic research Vietnamese scholarship on marine environmental protection has developed significantly but remains limited in addressing climate-related dimensions: 1. Pham Thi Gam (2021), "Thực thi Cam kết Quốc tế của Việt Nam về Bao vệ Môi trường Biển từ Các Nguồn Ô nhiễm trên Dat liền", Hanoi Law University. Ha Thanh Hoa (2018), "Phòng ngửa và khắc phục ô nhiễm môi trường biển từ việc thực hiện tự do hàng hai của tàu thuyền nước ngoài trong vùng đặc quyền kinh tế của Việt Nam”, Hanoi Law University.
3 Vietnam National Committee on Climate Change (2021), Vietnam Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Scenarios, p.vn/files/doc/2017/CCS%20final. Nguyen Lan Nguyen (2023), Tăng cường Pháp luật Quốc tế và Hợp tác trong Quản lý Môi trường Biển ở Việt Nam", Tạp chí Khoa học Kiểm sát. The existing domestic scholarship reveals significant gaps regarding the climate- marine nexus in Vietnam's legal and policy framework. While individual aspects of marine protection have received attention, comprehensive analysis of Vietnam's obligations regarding marine environmental protection in the climate change context remains underdeveloped.
Foreign research International scholarship offers more extensive analysis of the interface between climate change and marine environmental law: 1. Alan Boyle (2019), "Litigating Climate Change under Part XII of the LOSC". Tim Stephens and Donald Rothwell (2015), "Marine Scientific Research". Rosemary Rayfuse (2016), "Climate Change and the Law of the Sea”.
James Harrison (2017), "Saving the Oceans Through Law: The International Legal Framework for the Protection of the Marine Environment". ITLOS (2024), Advisory Opinion on climate change and the law of the sea. While international scholarship provides valuable theoretical frameworks and comparative perspectives, significant gaps remain regarding practical implementation challenges facing developing coastal states with limited resources and capacities. Furthermore, region-specific analyses examining the Southeast Asian context, particularly Vietnam's unique circumstances, remain underdeveloped.
Scientific and practical significance of the research 3. Scientific significance of the research The research contributes to theoretical understanding of marine environmental law by examining how traditional marine pollution frameworks evolve to address climate impacts. By investigating the interaction between climate and ocean governance regimes, the study advances understanding of regime interaction in international environmental governance. The interdisciplinary approach combining legal analysis with environmental science helps develop holistic understanding of complex socio-ecological challenges.
Practical significance of the research For Vietnamese policymakers, the research provides analysis of implementation challenges and potential pathways for enhancing effectiveness. The recommendations offer practical solutions tailored to Vietnam's circumstances. The analysis also offers insights relevant for other developing coastal states facing similar challenges, contributing to broader discussions regarding capacity building and effective implementation of international environmental obligations. Objectives of the research The research aims to achieve several interconnected objectives: First, to systematically analyze international legal frameworks establishing state obligations for marine environmental protection, with particular attention to evolving climate dimensions.
Second, to evaluate Vietnam's current implementation of marine environmental protection obligations as a coastal state, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. Third, to formulate specific recommendations for enhancing Vietnam's implementation of marine environmental protection obligations, particularly regarding climate-related dimensions. Fourth, to contribute to broader scholarly discussions regarding the relationship between climate change and marine environmental governance. Subjects and scope of the research 5.
Subjects of the research The primary research subjects include international legal frameworks establishing state obligations for marine environmental protection, particularly UNCLOS and related instruments, alongside climate change agreements with marine dimensions. Additionally, the research examines Vietnam's national legal and policy frameworks for marine environmental protection, including specialized legislation, implementing regulations, and national strategies.