ENB UPDATE

Delegates attending the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) met in an informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs) and discussed, among other things, the proposals related to the designation of marine protected areas and the new instrument’s relationship to measures under other relevant instruments, frameworks and bodies.

In the corridors, some delegates felt strongly that marine protected areas had been prioritized over other ABMTs. “As far as I can remember, in all the years of discussions that have built up to this document, we have not really considered other ABMTs in detail,” sighed one observer, noting that the NGO community had circulated suggestions in this regard in the past. Read full report in English

Participants at 10th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) discussed topics related to Marine Protected Areas (MPA), including the ambition and actions needed to set the scene for the post-2020 period when the current target expires, the importance of ecological and social networks for ensuring the effectiveness of MPAs, and the links between MPAs and the economy of the ocean. Links with ongoing negotiations on the protection of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction were also highlighted. Participants also noted that related issues would be addressed during the June meeting of the G7, the World Conservation Congress in 2020, and the 2020 meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Conference of the Parties, among other key upcoming events. Read full report in English

Delegates attending the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) met on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in an informal working group to finalize their initial consideration of marine genetic resources (MGRs) and initiate discussions on area-based management tools (ABMTs). In the corridors, some developing countries felt slighted by calls to ignore the intent of marine scientific research. “A small bucket of seawater can yield millions of benefits, monetary and otherwise,” claimed one, noting that technological developments need broad coverage if the ILBI is to succeed in promoting the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from MGRs in ABNJ. Read full report in English

Delegates attending the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) met in an informal working group to consider issues related to marine genetic resources (MGRs), discussing, among several other issues, the sharing of non-monetary and/or monetary benefits connected to marine genetic resources.

In the corridors, some delegations voiced their frustrations on the correct forum to discuss intellectual property rights (IPRs) related to benefit-sharing, pointing to the number of fora charged with addressing these rights, but the lack of tangible progress on the issue over the years. Read full report in English

On the first day of the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), delegates exchanged views related to the key features of an ILBI, including their priorities based on the “President’s Aid to Negotiations.” They then began deliberations on the President’s Aid, focusing their attention on benefit-sharing in relation to marine genetic resources. In the corridors, many participants agreed that the President’s Aid to Negotiations is inclusive and helpful in driving the negotiations forward. Some expressed concern about gaps in the options laid out in the document, stressing that these will need to be covered if future treaty text is to be comprehensive. Read full report in English

The second substantive session of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group established by UN General Assembly resolution 72/277 ("Towards a Global Pact for the Environment") comprised a delegate-led series of questions and responses, including suggestions on the form and content of options, ranging from legally-binding to nonlegally-binding instruments, to a high-level declaration or other UNGA outcome that might capture and collate the international community’s current ambition to renovate the international environmental law system and environment-related instruments. Our Earth Negotiations Bulletin team reports that there was a clear expectation at the end of this second session that delegations were prepared to receive a Co-Chairs’ compilation of draft elements for "draft recommendations" in April, with a clear intention to embark on an intensive negotiating process based on this draft at the third substantive session in May 2019. Read full report in English

The High-Level Segment of UNEA-4 opened on Thursday and was addressed by Heads of State and Government from France, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda and Sri Lanka. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, stressed the importance of integrating traditional and cultural knowledge in the effort to promote sustainable consumption and production. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, highlighted the vision behind the 3rd One Planet Summit taking place at the UN in Nairobi, in parallel with the UNEA-4 High-Level Segment. He issued a rousing call for action to limit global warming and stop biodiversity loss, warning that, “We will be held accountable.” Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Kristalina Georgieva, interim President, World Bank, and Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UNEP, also addressed the Assembly. Read full report in [ English | French ]