Radioactive Waste Disposal at Sea: Public Ideas ... - IMO

Introduction 13
international organizations attempt to increase the flexibility and the distributive
fairness of environmental regimes. And, by focusing public expectations
on international environmental negotiations, they help to secure
signatures of states at a later stage.
I also present a detailed empirical study of the recent dramatic change
of the global ocean dumping regime. In 1983 an anti-dumping transnational
coalition imposed a moratorium on radwaste disposal, and in
1993 agreement was reached on a permanent global radwaste disposal
ban. This regime change can be explained satisfactorily only if the actions
of an ENGO are taken into account, independent of state interests, epistemic
communities, or other more privileged explanatory approaches. An
ENGO acted as a catalyst in the transformation of the regime and was
instrumental in changing the regime’s norms, rules, and principles.
Beginning in the late 1970s, Greenpeace International, a well-staffed, professional,
global ENGO, mobilized national and international public
opinion and strengthened a transnational anti-dumping coalition by mobilizing
other ENGOs, special-interest groups, and mass constituencies.
Moreover, Greenpeace attacked the scientific and regulatory principles and
norms of the regime, and monitored compliance by states. Which are the
principal propositions regarding the influence of ENGOs emanating from
this study? The study suggests that ENGOs influence environmental
regimes primarily by mobilizing international public opinion, by building
transnational environmental coalitions, by monitoring the environmental
commitments of states, and by advocating precautionary action and environmental
protection.
This case documents that even powerful states can be pressured to adjust
their environmental policy in accordance with regime norms and principles.
ENGO pressure was mediated and enhanced by the global ocean
dumping regime. Three mediating effects of the regime should be noted. By
serving as a global institutional focal point for the governmental and nongovernmental
opposition to radwaste disposal, the regime strengthened
the anti-dumping coalition. Also, within the framework of the regime, the
anti-dumping governmental coalition adopted resolutions and treaty
amendments aimed at halting radwaste disposal. This significant legal
transformation affected the regime’s principles, norms, and rules. Finally,
the anti-dumping governmental coalition used the regime to establish global
behavioral norms and standards that put pressure on countries to make