"Delays in the Mining Code: Insights from TWAIL and BBNJ" by Ria Wierma Putri, Yuga Narazua Khanza et al.
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Abstract

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) plays a crucial role in governing the vast expanses of the ocean floor that lie beyond national jurisdictions, referred to as "the Area" under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Although the ISA has established regulations for deep-sea exploration, it has encountered significant challenges in finalizing a comprehensive mining code for resource exploitation. This ongoing delay underscores the notion that legal development is often catalyzed by broader social changes. To comprehend the factors contributing to this delay, it is essential to consider the historical context of UNCLOS 1982, a framework established during a period when numerous developing nations were asserting their independence. The Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) critiques highlight how international legal frameworks have frequently favored developed nations, complicating the pursuit of a just and equitable mining code. Furthermore, the recent Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which advocates for equitable access to marine resources, poses additional challenges for the ISA. Developed nations, equipped with advanced technologies, continue to dominate deep-sea resource exploitation, exacerbating the existing technological divide, as illustrated by Indonesia's collaboration with the U.S. NOAA in 2010 to explore its marine territory. Social change typically emerges not merely from value shifts but through the resolution of conflicts that lead to new agreements. This article will attempt to understand why the ISA mining code has been delayed and what this means for international law considering the TWAIL and BBNJ approaches.

Bahasa Abstract

Otoritas Dasar Laut Internasional (ISA) memainkan peran penting dalam mengatur luasnya dasar laut yang terletak di luar yurisdiksi nasional, yang disebut sebagai "Wilayah" berdasarkan Konvensi PBB tentang Hukum Laut (UNCLOS). Meskipun ISA telah menetapkan regulasi untuk eksplorasi laut dalam, ia menghadapi tantangan signifikan dalam menyelesaikan kode pertambangan yang komprehensif untuk eksploitasi sumber daya. Penundaan yang berkelanjutan ini menyoroti bahwa perkembangan hukum seringkali dipicu oleh perubahan sosial yang lebih luas. Untuk memahami faktor-faktor yang berkontribusi terhadap penundaan ini, penting untuk mempertimbangkan konteks sejarah UNCLOS 1982, sebuah kerangka yang dibentuk pada masa ketika banyak negara berkembang sedang memperjuangkan kemerdekaannya. Kritik Pendekatan Dunia Ketiga terhadap Hukum Internasional (TWAIL) menyoroti bagaimana kerangka hukum internasional seringkali lebih menguntungkan negara maju, menyulitkan pencarian kode pertambangan yang adil dan merata. Selain itu, Perjanjian Keanekaragaman Hayati di Luar Yurisdiksi Nasional (BBNJ) yang baru-baru ini muncul, yang mendukung akses yang adil terhadap sumber daya laut, menambah tantangan bagi ISA. Negara-negara maju, yang dilengkapi dengan teknologi canggih, terus mendominasi eksploitasi sumber daya laut dalam, memperburuk kesenjangan teknologi yang ada, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh kolaborasi Indonesia dengan NOAA AS pada tahun 2010 untuk mengeksplorasi wilayah lautnya. Perubahan sosial biasanya tidak muncul hanya dari pergeseran nilai tetapi melalui penyelesaian konflik yang mengarah pada kesepakatan baru. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis alasan di balik penundaan kode pertambangan ISA dan arti penundaan ini bagi hukum internasional dengan mempertimbangkan pendekatan TWAIL dan BBNJ.

References

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