Charting a course for marine sustainability: legal and policy coordination in developing countries amidst trade and shipping turbulence

Introduction: Trade fluctuations and maritime sanctions have a range of potential adverse impacts on the maritime sector, including port congestion, operational restrictions, fuel supply disruptions and others, leading to increased fuel consumption and higher pollutant emissions, and even a greater risk of marine pollution incidents, further challenging marine sustainability. Developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), are particularly vulnerable to such trade and shipping turbulence. This study aims to explore how developing countries can leverage multilateral legal frameworks to advance marine environmental protection in response to the challenges [...]

Results: The analysis concludes that achieving marine sustainability requires embedding equity safeguards into IMO and WTO processes, strengthening regional cooperation frameworks, and enhancing national legal capacities. In terms of concrete measures, developing countries need to actively participate in international rule-making processes and advocate for technological and financial support to mitigate these adverse impacts, thereby chart a course for marine sustainability.

Discussion: The global maritime system is undergoing a profound transformation that presents both risks and opportunities for vulnerable developing countries, including LLDCs, LDCs, and SIDS. To navigate this new landscape, these nations require robust legal and policy coordination to mitigate trade risks and promote sustainable shipping. However, a severe scarcity of locally driven, policy-relevant research perpetuates their vulnerability in global governance. The international community must therefore move beyond token inclusion and deliberately invest in building domestic research capacity for these vulnerable states, thereby amplifying their voices.

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