[PASSED] Convention on International Oil Spills

[Midnight Sparkle]

Convention on International Oil Spills
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
| Category: Environmental | Industry Affected: Mining | Proposed by: Rovikstead |

The World Assembly,

Recognizing oil as a natural resource relied upon by many as a common source of fuel and energy, and forms the basis of a lucrative industry for most member nations;

However concerned with the many dangers of the extraction of oil in oceanic bodies, especially towards the marine ecosystem and quality of the nation’s water sources, posing risks including but not limited to:

1. Poisoning and killing off maritime life;
2. Spurring unnatural growth in certain algae populations that could threaten underwater plants’ ability to produce oxygen;
3. Stunting larval development and growth of maritime creatures;
4. Contaminating the nations' drinking water and spreading hazardous carcinogens including cancer-causing agents;

Fearing the demanding, nearly insurmountable task of cleaning up after an oil spills in international waters, and the inevitable threats that come with the spillage;

Desiring to prevent future oil spills in international waters, and facilitate their clean-up through a series of measures member nations are urged to take and through the dedication and work of the World Assembly Disaster Bureau;

Hereby:

1. Obligates member nations to establish appropriate legislation prohibiting the usage of faulty equipment in maritime oil extraction, create and uphold standards of safety of efficiency, and design oil spill emergency response plans;

2. Urges member nations to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, and switch to alternate, eco-friendly energy sources including solar, wind, or geothermal energy;

3. Mandates that all oil extraction operations working in international waters take the following precautions to prevent oil spillage:

1. Inspect the operation thoroughly and check for any deterioration and leaks in equipment annually, especially oil drums, generators, and associated piping;
2. Test oil containers for integrity regularly;
3. Clean oil tanks every couple of years to prevent the corrosion and rusting of the tank;
4. Ensure that spill kits are easily accessible at oil extracting operations;

4. Strongly urges member nations do the following in the event of an oil spill:

1. Spray dispersants, a type of chemical agent that breaks up oil molecules and make them more easily biodegraded, on the area of oil spillage;
2. Use biological agents (nutrients, enzymes, and microorganisms) to further facilitate the biodegradation of oil spills;
3. Set booms made of absorbent material in the water along the edge of the oil spillage to contain the oil;
4. Rinse oiled shorelines and ruses using hoses that supply low or high-pressure water streams, and collect the runoff with plastic-lined trenches and sorbent materials;
5. Till and rake the shores and land penetrated by oil so that it can be exposed and evaporated, left to degrade naturally, or washed with pressure hoses;

5. Extends the authority of the World Assembly Disaster Bureau to:

1. Launch extensive relief efforts in the event of an oil spill in international waters;
2. Investigate allegations of dangerous and reckless mismanagement of maritime oil extraction;
3. Finance national projects to establish more safeguards against international oil spills at the request of the member nation;

[Midnight Sparkle]

Personally, I suggest a vote AGAINST this proposal, as almost all of it's mandates are covered by other existing resolutions, particularly GA95 (Responsible Offshore Drilling) and GA298 (Reducing Spills and Leaks).

[PowerPAOK]

Still, being careful when handling oil and relevant instruments is both environmentally and economically beneficial.

I vote FOR.

[Lynxi]

Against. Down with the GA!

[Cormac]

Against.