1986 Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region

SPREP Convention / Noumea Convention

• International Law Documents
  • Environment
  • Oceans/Law of the Sea
    • Marine Environment
    • Regional/Bilateral

South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation (at time of adoption). This convention is now served by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme

“Article 26: SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

1. In case of  a  dispute  between  Parties  as to  the  interpretation  or  application  of  this  Convention  or  its Protocols,  they  shall  seek  a  settlement  of  the  dispute  through  negotiation  or  any  other  peaceful  means  of  their own  choice.  If  the  Parties  concerned  cannot  reach  agreement,  they  should  seek  the  good  offices  of,  or  jointly request mediation by, a third Party.

2. If the Parties  concerned  cannot  settle  their  dispute  through  the  means  mentioned  in  paragraph  1,  the dispute shall, upon common agreement except as may be otherwise provided in any Protocol to this Convention, be  submitted  to  arbitration  under  conditions  laid  down  in  the  Annex  on  Arbitration  to  this  Convention. However, failure to reach common agreement on submission of the dispute to arbitration shall not absolve the Parties from the responsibility of continuing to seek to resolve it by means referred to in paragraph 1.

3. A  Party  may  at  any  time  declare  that  it  recognizes  as  compulsory  ipso  facto  and  without  special agreement,  in  relation  to  any  other  Party  accepting  the  same  obligation,  the  application  of  the  arbitration procedure  set  out  in  the  Annex  on  Arbitration.  Such declaration shall be notified in writing to the Depositary who shall promptly communicate it to the other Parties.”

Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (formerly Director of the South Pacific Commission)

Annex on Arbitration

Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme

22/08/1990

“Article 31: ENTRY INTO FORCE

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of at least ten instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

2. Any Protocol to this Convention, except as otherwise provided in such Protocol, shall enter into force on the thirtieth  day  following the  date  of  deposit  of  at  least  five  instruments  of  ratification,  acceptance  or approval  of  such  Protocol,  or  of  accession  thereto,  provided  that  no  Protocol  shall  enter  into  force  before  the Convention. Should the requirements for entry into force of a Protocol be met prior to those for entry into force of  the  Convention  pursuant  to  paragraph  1,  such  Protocol  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  same  date  as  the Convention.

3. Thereafter, this Convention and any Protocol shall enter into force with respect to any State referred to in Articles 28 or 30 on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.”

2006 Protocol on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in the Pacific Region

2006 Protocol on Hazardous and Noxious Substances Pollution, Preparedness and Response and Cooperation in the Pacific Region

2006 Amendment to the Protocol  for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping

1986 Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping

1986 Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region

1995 The Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region

1993 Agreement Establishing the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme

1982 Action Plan for Managing the National Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region

1976 The Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific

Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme accessed on 10/07/2024

The Noumea Convention is the Pacific region component of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme launched in 1972. It is the legal framework for the 1982 Action Plan for managing the National Resources and Environment of the South Pacific.

Note:

“Article 27: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS CONVENTION AND ITS PROTOCOLS

1.No State may become a Party to this Convention unless it becomes at the same time a Party to one or more Protocols. No State may become a Party to a Protocol unless it is, or becomes at the same time, a Party to this Convention.

2.Decisions concerning any Protocol pursuant to Articles 22, 24 and 25 of this Convention shall be taken only by the Parties to the Protocol concerned.”