Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law†
Abstract Considering the fact that its existence is abundant while maintaining the ability to generate freshwater while burning, methane hydrates have been classified as sources of sustainable energy. China currently maintains an international role in developing technology meant to explore offshore...
Published in: | The Journal of World Energy Law & Business |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Oxford University Press (OUP)
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 http://academic.oup.com/jwelb/article-pdf/13/2/185/33522675/jwaa019.pdf |
id |
croxfordunivpr:10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
croxfordunivpr:10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 2023-05-15T17:11:47+02:00 Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† Yan, Dong Farah, Paolo Davide Ötvös, Tivadar Gaskova, Ivana 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 http://academic.oup.com/jwelb/article-pdf/13/2/185/33522675/jwaa019.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model The Journal of World Energy Law & Business volume 13, issue 2, page 185-203 ISSN 1754-9965 Law Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Energy (miscellaneous) journal-article 2020 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 2022-04-15T06:16:15Z Abstract Considering the fact that its existence is abundant while maintaining the ability to generate freshwater while burning, methane hydrates have been classified as sources of sustainable energy. China currently maintains an international role in developing technology meant to explore offshore methane hydrates buried under the mud of the seabed, their primary laboratory being the South China Sea. However, such a process does not come without its hazards and fatal consequences, ranging from the destruction of the flora and fauna, the general environment, and—the greatest hazard of all—the cost of human life. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter ‘UNCLOS’), being an important international legal regime and instrument, has assigned damage control during the exploration of methane hydrates, as being the responsibilities and liability of individual sovereign states and corporations. China adopted the Deep Seabed Mining Law (hereinafter the DSM Law) on 26 February 2016, which came into force on the 1 of May 2016; a regulation providing the legal framework also for the Chinese government’s role in methane hydrate exploratory activities. This article examines the role of the DSM Law and its provisions, as well as several international documents intended to prevent transboundary environmental harm from arising, as a result of offshore methane hydrate extraction. Despite the obvious risk of harm to the environment, the DSM Law has made great strides in regulating exploratory activities so as to meet the criteria of the UNCLOS. However, this article argues that neither the UNCLOS nor the DSM Law are adequately prepared to address transboundary harm triggered by the exploitation of offshore methane hydrates. In particular, the technology of such extraction is still at an experimental stage, and potential risks remain uncertain—and even untraceable—for cross-jurisdictional claims. The article intends to seek available legal instruments or models, to overhaul the incapacity within the current governing framework, and offers suggestions supporting national and international legislative efforts towards protecting the environment during methane hydrate extraction. Article in Journal/Newspaper Methane hydrate Oxford University Press (via Crossref) The Journal of World Energy Law & Business 13 2 185 203 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Law Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Energy (miscellaneous) |
spellingShingle |
Law Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Energy (miscellaneous) Yan, Dong Farah, Paolo Davide Ötvös, Tivadar Gaskova, Ivana Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† |
topic_facet |
Law Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law Energy (miscellaneous) |
description |
Abstract Considering the fact that its existence is abundant while maintaining the ability to generate freshwater while burning, methane hydrates have been classified as sources of sustainable energy. China currently maintains an international role in developing technology meant to explore offshore methane hydrates buried under the mud of the seabed, their primary laboratory being the South China Sea. However, such a process does not come without its hazards and fatal consequences, ranging from the destruction of the flora and fauna, the general environment, and—the greatest hazard of all—the cost of human life. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter ‘UNCLOS’), being an important international legal regime and instrument, has assigned damage control during the exploration of methane hydrates, as being the responsibilities and liability of individual sovereign states and corporations. China adopted the Deep Seabed Mining Law (hereinafter the DSM Law) on 26 February 2016, which came into force on the 1 of May 2016; a regulation providing the legal framework also for the Chinese government’s role in methane hydrate exploratory activities. This article examines the role of the DSM Law and its provisions, as well as several international documents intended to prevent transboundary environmental harm from arising, as a result of offshore methane hydrate extraction. Despite the obvious risk of harm to the environment, the DSM Law has made great strides in regulating exploratory activities so as to meet the criteria of the UNCLOS. However, this article argues that neither the UNCLOS nor the DSM Law are adequately prepared to address transboundary harm triggered by the exploitation of offshore methane hydrates. In particular, the technology of such extraction is still at an experimental stage, and potential risks remain uncertain—and even untraceable—for cross-jurisdictional claims. The article intends to seek available legal instruments or models, to overhaul the incapacity within the current governing framework, and offers suggestions supporting national and international legislative efforts towards protecting the environment during methane hydrate extraction. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Yan, Dong Farah, Paolo Davide Ötvös, Tivadar Gaskova, Ivana |
author_facet |
Yan, Dong Farah, Paolo Davide Ötvös, Tivadar Gaskova, Ivana |
author_sort |
Yan, Dong |
title |
Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† |
title_short |
Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† |
title_full |
Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† |
title_fullStr |
Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† |
title_full_unstemmed |
Governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and Chinese law† |
title_sort |
governing the transboundary risks of offshore methane hydrate exploration in the seabed and ocean floor—an analysis on international provisions and chinese law† |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 http://academic.oup.com/jwelb/article-pdf/13/2/185/33522675/jwaa019.pdf |
genre |
Methane hydrate |
genre_facet |
Methane hydrate |
op_source |
The Journal of World Energy Law & Business volume 13, issue 2, page 185-203 ISSN 1754-9965 |
op_rights |
https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwaa019 |
container_title |
The Journal of World Energy Law & Business |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
185 |
op_container_end_page |
203 |
_version_ |
1766068538211041280 |