向海洋倾倒放射性物质的国际法规制:《伦敦公约》的嬗变、局限及其突破

Legal Regulation of Radioactive Matter Dumping into the Ocean:Evolution,Limitations and Breakthroughs of the London Convention

《防止倾倒废物及其他物质污染海洋的公约》(《伦敦公约》)是国际法规制向海洋倾倒放射性物质的重要规范载体。《伦敦公约》的相关规则经历了从仅禁止倾倒高水平放射性物质到禁止倾倒所有放射性物质与在海底处置放射性废物的嬗变,但该公约及其议定书在适用污染源范围、豁免水平、例外情形、主权豁免和实施机制方面的规定难以保障公约目标的有效实现。《伦敦公约》的发展历程表明,上述局限可进一步从国际和区域层面同时发力突破与完善。前者可通过缔约方会议修正《伦敦公约》及其议定书,拓展规制范围以覆盖陆源放射性物质,增加总量控制要求以弥补“豁免水平”漏洞,严格例外情形适用条件以及完善履约国际监督机制;后者可由特定海洋区域国家缔结区域性条约,补充和细化向海洋倾倒放射性物质的一般规定,并将区域共识转化为区域联合行动和影响力进而推动国际公约的完善。

The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter(the London Convention)is an important international legal framework regulating the dumping of radioactive matter into the ocean.The rules under the London Convention have evolved from prohibiting only the dumping of high-level radioactive matter to banning the dumping of all radioactive substances and the disposal of radioactive waste on the seabed.However,the convention and its protocols have limitations in effectively achieving their goals due to restrictions on the scope of pollution sources,exemption levels,exceptions,sovereign immunity,and enforcement mechanisms.The development of the London Convention demonstrates that these limitations can be addressed further by advancing efforts at both the international and regional levels.On the international level,amendments to the London Convention and its protocols could be made through Conferences of the Parties.These amendments should aim to broaden the regulatory scope to include land-based sources of radioactive waste,introduce total quantity control measures to fill the“exemption level”gap,tighten the conditions under which exceptions apply,and enhance international compliance supervision mechanisms.On the regional level,coastal states in specific marine areas could conclude regional treaties that supplement and clarify the general provisions of international conventions regarding the regulation of radioactive marine pollution.These regional agreements would facilitate the effective implementation of the convention and turn regional consensus into joint action and influence,thus pushing for the improvement of international conventions.