The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, response and co-operation and its effectiveness in Brazil: a case study of the 2019 oil spill

Abstract

Considering the oil spills off the coast of Brazil in 2019 and their social and environmental impact, along with the delayed response of the federal government, it is increasingly relevant to study international mechanisms to prevent similar situations. This study sought to answer the following question: has the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPCR 1990) been effective in Brazil? In order to observe the country’s implementation journey and evaluate its effectiveness by using the techniques suggested by the literature, the study uses counterfactual analysis based on three groups of independent variables. The dissertation contributes to the literature on regime effectiveness and helps understand the political dynamics around the prevention and response to oil spills through a mixed performance regime. This performance is discussed, especially, in terms of OPCR’s weak system for implementation review, the convention’s 6th article 6 and the Brazilian Decree nº 9.759/2019.