THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ON THE MARITIME INDUSTRY: ANY LESSONS FOR NIGERIA?

Abstract

This paper focused on the evaluation of the role of international environmental laws in safeguarding the maritime environment and the promotion of sustainable economic development. International environmental law is a body of rules and regulations that govern the relationships between states and other actors in relation to the environment. Maritime environmental law is critical to preserving marine ecosystems, protecting human health, and promoting sustainable economic development. The urgency to adopt sustainablepractices in the maritime sector is very imperative in the light of the unsustainable practices such air pollution, oil spills and reckless disposal of wastes at sea with potential risks to marine and human lives. Gas emissions from the maritime industry contribute greatly to climate change. This paper examined some of these laws and their impacts in reducing marine pollution and the associated risks, including the big lessons for Nigeria as one of the countries in the world highly affected by marine pollution. The paper also analyzed the most pressing challenges to the enforcement of these laws. The doctrinal method was adopted in this research which included both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include the legal framework and relevant court judgments while the secondary sources include books and articles written by scholars in this field of law. The paper concluded with a clarion call for the strict enforcement of these international environmental laws as the most preventive measures to reduce harm to the marine environment.