本文分析國際海洋法法庭（ITLOS）於2024年5月發布之第31號案諮詢意見，探討國家防止氣候變遷危害海洋環境之法律義務。該諮詢意見由小島國家氣候變遷與國際法委員會提出，由ITLOS確認人為溫室氣體排放構成《聯合國海洋法公約》下的「海洋環境污染」，各國有義務採取必要措施防止、減少和控制此類污染。本文首先介紹該諮詢意見背景及主要論點，分析ITLOS對於義務性質、海洋污染定義、具體措施等議題的解釋立場。研究發現，ITLOS雖然將相關義務定性為「行為義務」而非「結果義務」，但同時也確立國家對於溫室氣體排放造成海洋污染所必須履行「相當注意」（due diligence）的嚴格標準，並確認能力與資源較佳國家的責任，且強調預警性方法（precautionary approach）在應對氣候變遷危害時的重要性。此外，本文檢視我國海洋政策與法規，發現現行架構尚未充分整合氣候變遷與海洋污染治理。因此，本文建議我國應完善相關法規、加強科學研究與國際合作，並將諮詢意見要旨納入《國家海洋政策白皮書》及《國家海洋污染防治白皮書》等相關國內政策文件及法規，以有效回應氣候變遷對海洋環境的威脅，履行國際社會成員的責任。

This paper analyzes Advisory Opinion (Case No. 31) issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in May 2024, examining states’ legal obligations to prevent climate change-induced harm to the marine environment. The advisory opinion, requested by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, confirms that greenhouse gas emissions constitute “pollution of the marine environment” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, obligating states to take necessary measures to prevent, reduce, and control such pollution. This paper first introduces the background and main arguments of the advisory opinion, analyzing ITLOS’s interpretative positions on the nature of obligations, definition of marine pollution, and specific measures required. This paper finds that ITLOS characterizes these obligations as “obligations of conduct” rather than “obligations of result”, establishes the stringent standard of “due diligence”, and emphasizes the importance of the precautionary approach in addressing climate change-induced harm. Furthermore, this paper examines Taiwan’s marine policies and regulations, finding that the current framework has not fully integrated climate change and marine pollution governance.

Therefore, this paper recommends that Taiwan improve relevant regulations, enhance scientific research and international cooperation, and incorporate the advisory opinion’s key points into the revision of the “National Ocean Policy White Paper” and the “National Marine Pollution Control White Paper” and relevant regulations to effectively respond to the threats of climate change to the marine environment and fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the international community.