The role of the principle of common but differentiated responsibility in regulating pollution of the marine environment from post-consumer plastic wastes from land-based sources

Abstract

Land-based pollution of the oceans is considered to be one of the biggest challenges of our times, this an example of tragedy of commons. This thesis determines which international legal means apply to combating pollution of the oceans from land with post-consumer plastic waste. The thesis provides a short overview of global legal means and applicable principles of international environmental law.The transboundary aspect of this issue potentially generates difficulties in determining responsibility and sharing the burden of the environmental, economic and social consequences.The question arises, how is the responsibility distributed and what duties should or could be applied on high-income states, which dispose of more developed technology, in order to prevent further pollution and reduce the threat to marine environment.