A new chapter for the high seas? Historic decision to negotiate an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) represent around half of the Planet’s surface and a significant amount of its biodiversity. In recent years, the international community has become inc...
Abstract
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) represent around half of the Planet’s surface and a significant amount of its biodiversity. In recent years, the international community has become increasingly aware of the growing and expanding threats to marine biodiversity in ABNJ. To address this issue, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) created an Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group (“BBNJ Working Group”) to discuss the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ. Since the commencement of discussions in 2006, the focus has mainly been on weaknesses and gaps in the current international framework and whether these necessitate the adoption of a new instrument. In particular, States have discussed the possible adoption of an Implementing Agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ (UNCLOS IA). At the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (“Rio+20”), States committed to address on an urgent basis the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ and agreed to decide by the end of the 69th session of the UNGA (September 2015) whether or not to launch negotiations for the conclusion of a new international instrument. This decision-making process spanned three meetings of the BBNJ Working Group, specifically convened to discuss “the scope, parameters and feasibility of an international instrument under UNCLOS”. At the third meeting, held on 20-23 January 2015, States took the historic step of agreeing to open negotiations for a new international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS. This paper presents the discussions leading up to the decisive third mee
Abstract
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) represent around half of the Planet’s surface and a significant amount of its biodiversity. In recent years, the international community has become increasingly aware of the growing and expanding threats to marine biodiversity in ABNJ. To address this issue, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) created an Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group (“BBNJ Working Group”) to discuss the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ. Since the commencement of discussions in 2006, the focus has mainly been on weaknesses and gaps in the current international framework and whether these necessitate the adoption of a new instrument. In particular, States have discussed the possible adoption of an Implementing Agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ (UNCLOS IA). At the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (“Rio+20”), States committed to address on an urgent basis the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ and agreed to decide by the end of the 69th session of the UNGA (September 2015) whether or not to launch negotiations for the conclusion of a new international instrument. This decision-making process spanned three meetings of the BBNJ Working Group, specifically convened to discuss “the scope, parameters and feasibility of an international instrument under UNCLOS”. At the third meeting, held on 20-23 January 2015, States took the historic step of agreeing to open negotiations for a new international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS. This paper presents the discussions leading up to the decisive third mee
Publication Details
Authors: Julien Rochette, Glen Wright, Kristina Gjerde, Thomas Greiber, Sebastian Unger, Aurélie Spadone
Venue: IDDRI Year: 2015 Pages: 4 Institution: IDDRI
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Volume: 15 Issue: 2