The Odessa Declaration
Source: Unofficial
The Ministerial Declaration on the Protection of the Black Sea Environment was signed by all six Ministers of the Environment in Odessa in April 1993 in order to set the goals, priorities and timetable needed to bring about environmental actions. The document is based largely upon the Agenda 21 adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992.
Ministerial Declaration on the Protection of the Black Sea
Odessa, 7 April 1993
The Ministers responsible for the protection of the marine environment of the Black Sea coastal states assembled in Odessa,
Recalling the decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and desiring to provide the policy guidance for the implementation of Agenda 21 in the Black Sea region;
Reaffirming the provisions of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, its Protocols and the Resolutions adopted at Bucharest, April 21, 1992;
Concerned about the continued deterioration of the ecosystem and the degradation of its natural resources despite the measures taken by the coastal states;
Determined to individually and jointly take effective measures to ensure the sustainable development of the Black Sea;
Recognizing that the rehabilitation, protection and preservation of the Black Sea can be ensured only through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including cooperation with relevant international organizations;
Convinced of the need for close cooperation with states and international bodies concerned with the rehabilitation, protection and preservation of the waters of the rivers flowing into the Black Sea;
Also convinced that public participation in appropriate local, national and regional forums needs to be encouraged;
Desiring to establish explicit environmental goals and a time-frame in order to concentrate national, regional and international resources on the most effective measures;
Declare that:
* The pollution of the Black Sea poses serious threats to the coastal states, and is a source of concern to their peoples and the international community as a whole;
* Efforts presently being made at the local, national, regional and international level are insufficient to protect and preserve the marine environment and attain the sustainable development of the Black Sea;
* Urgent, comprehensive, consistent and coordinated action at all levels is thus required;
* The aim of the measures adopted is to be the protection, preservation and, where necessary, rehabilitation of the marine environment and the sustainable development of the Black Sea;
* To these ends they confirm their commitment to integrated management and sustainable development of coastal areas and the marine environment under their national jurisdiction and will base their policies on the following:
- A precautionary approach
- The use of low and non-waste technologies
- Integration of marine environmental protection considerations into other policy areas
- Market mechanisms, including the development of economic incentives for using low and non-waste technologies, user fees, and the polluter pays principle
- Application of natural resource and environmental accounting and environmental impact assessment procedures to all sectors, including tourism;
* In the development of policies for the protection and preservation of the Black Sea environment the aim is to develop common targets. However, the specific measures taken by the different coastal states will be consistent with their national priorities while contributing to the agreed common targets;
* Any action developed at the region level to ensure the implementation of this Declaration shall be consistent and integrated with steps being taken to ensure the implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution;
Decide to adopt the following actions:
Harmful substances
1. To develop, by 1996, common environmental quality objectives and, where possible, emission standards for inputs of substances listed in Annexes I and II to the Protocols on the Prevention of Pollution from Land-Based Sources and from Dumping of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution and to take the necessary measures to reduce inputs of these substances to the agreed levels.
2. To further, where appropriate, the use of low and non-waste technologies to achieve a reduction of inputs of harmful substances, including nutrients.
3. To protect public health by the urgent construction of sewerage systems and sewage treatment plants in areas where the local population is at risk or there may be detrimental effects to the sustainable development of the marine environment for such activities as tourism and fisheries.
4. To prepare, before 1996, coordinated national plans for the reduction of inputs of harmful substances, especially nutrients.
Disposal of radioactive materials
5. To ban, with immediate effect, the dumping of radioactive materials in the Black Sea.
Pollution from ships
6. To develop, coordinate and implement, by 1996, national plans for applying MARPOL special area requirements, including the urgent enhancement of harbor reception facilities, and to initiate action within the International Maritime Organization in accordance with Resolution 5 adopted together with the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution and its related protocols.
Transboundary movement of toxic wastes
7. To elaborate and adopt, before 1994, a Protocol to the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and cooperation in combating illegal traffic thereof.
Natural resources
8. To encourage the development of comprehensive and coordinated plans for the restoration and conservation of biodiversity in the Black Sea in the spirit of the 1992 Biodiversity Convention.
9. To take appropriate measures for the restoration and conservation of biodiversity in the Black Sea in the spirit of the 1992 Biodiversity Convention.
10. To establish and improve nature conservation areas in the coastal zone of each coastal state before 1996.
Emergency response plans
11. To develop, by 1996, national and regional contingency plans identified by the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution for combating pollution in emergency situations.
Assessment and monitoring
12. To complete, before 1996, an assessment of sources and levels of the substances listed in annexes to the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution Protocols on the Prevention of Pollution from Land-Based Sources and from Dumping and to conduct preliminary studies of their environmental effects.
13. To establish, before 1997, a trend monitoring system for substances which have been identified as threatening or likely to threaten the sustainable development of the Black Sea environment.
14. In order to facilitate the implementation of the provisions on assessment and monitoring:
a. A common program for data quality assurance will be agreed; and
b. The capacity of at least one institution in each coastal state to participate in common assessment and monitoring programs will be enhanced.
Integrated coastal zone management
15. To elaborate and implement national coastal zone management policies, including legislative measures and economic instruments, in order to ensure the sustainable development in the spirit of Agenda 21.
Environmental impact assessment
16. To introduce compulsory environmental impact assessment of all projects in the private and public sector according to national criteria, which will be harmonized by 1997 where possible.
Arrangements for future cooperation
17. To select, by the end of 1993, activity centers based upon existing national institutions in order to provide technical support and coordinate the national and regional actions highlighted in this Declaration and as referred to in Resolution 4 adopted at the Bucharest meeting.
18. To take action to ensure prompt ratification of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution and its Protocols by all Black Sea coastal states.
19. To prepare and widely diffuse a consolidated triennial report on the status of implementation of the provisions of this Declaration. The report will be submitted to a Ministerial meeting convened within six months following completion of the triennium. This meeting will consider any actions required to
