For the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region and Protocols

The Convention for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (1986) is also known as the SPREP Convention or Noumea Convention. The Convention has two Protocols that also entered into force in 1990. This Convention is the major multilateral umbrella agreement in the Pacific Region for the protection of natural resources and the environment.

 

Text of Convention

Overview

The Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (1986), along with its two additional Protocols, entered into force in 1990. The Convention is a comprehensive umbrella agreement for the protection, management and development of the marine and coastal environment of the South Pacific Region, and represents the legal framework of the Action Plan for managing the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific  adopted in 1982 on behalf of the South Pacific Conference on Human Environment. 


The Noumea Convention is the Pacific region component of UNEP's Regional Seas Programme launched in 1972. The Programme aims to address the accelerating degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas through the sustainable management and use of marine and coastal environments. In order to achieve this objective, the Programme has functioned in conjunction with Action Plans which have been underpinned with a strong legal framework in the form of a regional Convention and associated Protocols on specific problems.

Instruments for joining the Convention

 Ratification Noumea Convention

 Instrument n.1

 Accession Noumea Convention

 Instrument n.2

 

The Protocols 

1. Dumping Protocol
The Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping constitutes the instrument for the contracting Parties to meet the obligations of the Noumea Convention and the IMO Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter (1972). As derived from the title, the objective of the Protocol is to prevent, reduce and control pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter in the South Pacific.

Amendment
In 2006 an amendment to the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific by Dumping was adopted. The amendment has not yet been accepted by the Parties and has not entered into force. 

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

 

2. Emergencies Protocol
The Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region was ratified in Noumea in 1990 as part of the legal framework for the protection of the natural resources and environment defined with the Noumea Convention. The objective of this agreement is to enhance cooperation among the Parties to protect the South Pacific Region from threats and effects of pollution incidents.

Instruments for joining a Protocol:

 Ratification of Protocols

 Instrument n.3

 Accession of Protocols

 Instrument n.4 

Instruments for joining the Convention and the Protocols at one time:

 

 Ratification of Noumea Convention, Dumping Protocol and Emergency Protocol

 Instrument n.5 

 Accession of Noumea Convention, Dumping Protocol and Emergency Protocol

 Instrument n.6

 

 
New Protocols to the Noumea Convention (Not yet in force) 
During the Conference of the Plenipotentiaries on the 10th of November, 2006, the Parties to the Noumea Convention adopted two new protocols as new instruments to implement the provisions of the Convention. 


The two protocols, respectively the "Protocol on Oil Pollution preparedness, response and cooperation in the pacific region" and the "Protocol on hazardous and noxious substances pollution, preparedness, response and cooperation in the pacific region", constitute new commitments of the Parties to take effective regional actions for the prevention of marine pollution from two specific clusters of pollutants: oil, and hazardous and noxious substances. 

These two Protocols, once in force, will supersede the Emergencies Protocol.

 

Parties

Twelve Pacific Island Countries are Parties to the Noumea Convention. Among these, only Australia is not part of both Protocols adopted on behalf of the Convention. 

Dates of signature and ratification

X: Ratified or acceded; S: Signed; Ap: Acceptance (for the Dumping Protocol Amendment)

 

 

Noumea Convention

Dumping Protocol

Emergencies Protocol

Oil Pollution Protocol

(not in force)

HNSP Protocol

(not in force)

Dumping Protocol Amendment

(not in force)

Australia

X

  

X

  

 

 

Cook Is

X

X

X

S

S

 

FSM

X

X

X

S

S

 

Fiji

X

X

X

 

 

 

France

X

X

X

S

S

 

Kiribati

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marshall Is

X

X

X

S

S

 

Nauru

X

X

X

 

 

 

New Zealand

X

X

X

 

 

 

Niue

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palau

 

 

 

 

 

 

PNG

X

X

X

 

 

 

Samoa

X

X

X

S

S

 

Solomon Is

X

X

X

 

 

 

Tonga

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuvalu

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

USA

X

X

X

S

 

 

Vanuatu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meetings

Conference of the Parties (COP) 

The meetings of the Parties of the Noumea Convention and Protocols is dealt with in art. 22. 
The Parties shall hold ordinary meetings once every two years. Ordinary meetings shall review the implementation of this Convention and its Protocols and, in particular, shall:

 

  • assess the state of the environment in the Convention area;
  • consider co-operative activities to be undertaken within the framework of the Convention and Protocols, including their financial and institutional implications;
  • consider and undertake any additional action that may be required for the achievement of the purposes of the Convention and its Protocols; 
     

Major documents related to COP's work are: 

 

Other Documents

Other documents have been produced on behalf of SPREP and in cooperation with member nations in order to promote the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols: