Summary and Analysis ｜

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Summary Highlights of the Meeting

Highlights for Friday, 1 March 2019

On Friday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) addressed outstanding issues related to the Enterprise, in particular a draft decision on the extension of the term and the expansion of the mandate of the Special Representative for the Enterprise. Delegates further discussed establishing a voluntary trust fund for the purpose of providing the requisite relevant funds for the Special Representative’s work.

Highlights of the day include:

• agreement to extend the time frame for the negotiation of the draft proposal to form a joint venture with Poland;
• agreement to extend the contract and renew the terms of reference of the Special Representative, accompanied by the establishment of a voluntary trust fund to provide the requisite funds; and
• recognition that the perspective of the Enterprise should be taken into account in the development of the exploitation regulations.

Highlights for Thursday, 28 February 2019

On Thursday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) focused on issues related to the Enterprise, an organ foreseen in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as ISA’s own mining arm. Delegates discussed the operationalization of the Enterprise, a joint venture proposal with the Government of Poland, and a draft decision on the terms of reference for the Special Representative for the Enterprise.

Highlights of the day include:

• exchange of ideas on operationalizing the Enterprise, which many delegates see as an important manifestation of the common heritage principle;
• an initial discussion on a draft proposal for a joint venture between the ISA and Poland, with a view to have on the agenda a full proposal for consideration at the next Council session, in July 2019;
• deliberations on developing a set of rules and regulations that will govern future joint ventures;
• insights from Eden Charles (Trinidad and Tobago), Special Representative for the Enterprise; and
• extensive negotiations on the terms of reference for the renewal of the term of the Special Representative.

For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Highlights for Wednesday, 27 February 2019

On Wednesday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) continued its deliberations, addressing cooperation with other relevant international organizations and further focusing on components of the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, including:

• independent review of environmental plans and performance assessments; and
• an inspection mechanism.

Highlights of the day include:

• an in-depth discussion on independent reviews of environmental plans, offering concrete organizational ideas and ways to avoid potential conflicts of interest;
• general agreement for a transparent, geographically-balanced, and cost-effective way to conduct the reviews;
• exchange of ideas on the social necessity of deep sea mining to allow the transition towards a carbon-free, circular economy; and
• announcement of the second edition of the Secretary-General’s Award for Excellence in Deep Sea Research, accompanied by a financial reward of USD 25,000, offered by the Principality of Monaco.

Two side events took place during the day. At lunchtime, Pew Charitable Trusts held an event on new data and insights from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone; during the afternoon, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition organized a discussion on the role and purpose of environmental impact assessments.

For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Highlights for Tuesday, 26 February 2019

On Tuesday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) continued its deliberations on components of the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, focusing on:

• regulatory efficiency, including potential delegation of functions by the Council to the Secretariat;
• the relationship between the draft exploitation regulations and regional environmental management plans (REMPs); and
• implementation of the precautionary approach to activities in the Area.

Highlights of the day include:

• general agreement that REMPs should be developed before commercial mining activities commence;
• in-depth discussion on which functions of the Council could be delegated to the Secretariat to increase efficiency; and
• agreement on the importance of implementing the precautionary approach/principle to activities in the Area, but ongoing debate about which terminology to use.

During lunchtime, a side event organized by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, and the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), focused on developing a benefit-sharing mechanism appropriate for the common heritage of mankind.

For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Highlights for Monday, 25 February 2019

On Monday, the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opened for the first part of the 25th annual session in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Council elected its President and Vice-Presidents for 2019, addressed organizational matters, and heard reports on the status of exploration contracts, the implementation of the 2018 Council decision relating to the summary report of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) Chair and a strategy for the development of regional environmental management plans for the Area.

The Council also considered components of the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, focusing on the financial model, as well as on standards, guidelines, and key terms.

Highlights of the day include:

• election of Lumka Yengeni (South Africa) as Council President for 2019;
• final steps towards the public launch of the database;
• development of a work programme for the period 2019–2020 to implement the preliminary strategy for the development of regional environmental management plans;
• progress towards developing common understanding on the financial model, notwithstanding varying opinions, and a decision to continue work under the relevant working group; and
• the need to prioritize certain guidelines and balance certainty for industry against flexibility to keep pace with expanding knowledge.

Two side events took place during the day, organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI).

For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Michael Lodge, ISA Secretary-General

Olav Myklebust, Outgoing Council President for the 24th Session

Lowri Mai Griffiths and Gavin Watson, UK

Vladimir Vinokurov, Russian Federation

Tian Qi, China

Young Lee, Republic of Korea

Urs Daniel Engels, Germany

Diva Amon, Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative

Chin Siew Fei, Singapore

Duncan Currie, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition