Part XII UNCLOS

Part XII of UNCLOS sets the general obligation, in Article 192, of all states to protect and preserve the marine environment, and to prevent, reduce, and control pollution from any source: land-based, vessels, dumping, seabed activities, and the atmosphere. Articles 211 and 217 to 220 build the jurisdictional framework that lets flag, port, and coastal states enforce international rules such as MARPOL against ships. The ITLOS advisory opinion of 2024 on climate change read Part XII as requiring states to control greenhouse-gas emissions as marine pollution.