In 1972, an Inter-Governmental Conference on the Convention of the Dumping of Wastes at Sea adopted the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, also called the London Convention. This was the first major global initiative designed to protect the marine environment from unregulated dumping of waste. The Convention entered into force on 30 August 1975. Currently, 82 States are Parties to this Convention.
