The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) 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 in the high seas (more commonly known as BBNJ) convened on Tuesday, with delegates meeting in an open informal working group, as well as behind closed doors in two “informal-informals.” 

In the corridors, some delegates found the new format refreshing while others expressed concerns about the new closed-door negotiating modalities, noting that, “Limiting participation at a time where transparency and public engagement have become a central tenet across the global political spectrum does not seem to be a step in the right direction.”Read full report

With livelihoods and rural communities gaining greater attention within CITES, Committee II accepted the potential focus on livelihoods of indigenous peoples and rural and local communities in a future World Wildlife Day.The Committee also expressed support for youth engagement in CITES, with many parties sharing their own experiences.

In Committee I, the US highlighted the declining numbers of songbirds due to multiple threats. Malaysia requested all parties to adopt legislation and controls to eliminate poaching of helmeted hornbill and trade in parts, calling on consumer states especially to monitor markets and take enforcement action as needed. Committee I continued meeting into the evening, where it began to cover species listing proposals based on periodic review. Read full coverage