Exam Question

### Part (a): UNCLOS and Marine Environment Protection
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly in Part XII, establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the protection and preservation of the marine environment. The important highlights are as follows:
1. **Fundamental Obligation (Article 192):** The cornerstone of the convention's environmental provisions is the general and binding obligation placed on all States to protect and preserve the marine environment. This is a duty owed to the international community as a whole.
2. **Sovereign Rights vs. Environmental Duty (Article 193):** UNCLOS balances the sovereign right of States to exploit their natural resources pursuant to their environmental policies with the fundamental duty to protect and preserve the marine environment. This ensures that economic activities do not lead to unchecked environmental degradation.