Summary
On Friday, 9 September, delegates to the second session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 2) on the elements of a draft text of 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) met in the informal working group on cross-cutting issues, facilitated by Chair Charles, in the morning. They discussed state responsibility and liability, dispute resolution, and transitional application.
Plenary met for the rest of the day to consider written, revised lists of points of possible areas of convergence and areas for further discussion on: marine genetic resources, including questions on benefit-sharing; area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; environmental impact assessments; and capacity building and technology transfer. Following a discussion of next steps, including a Chair’s reflection on areas for further discussion on cross-cutting issues and a non-paper to facilitate preparations for PrepCom 3, delegates watched a video message from Academy Award winner actress Emma Thompson about the need to develop strong international rules to protect the oceans. Chair Charles gavelled the meeting to a close at 6:26pm.
ENB SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS: The Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary and analysis of PrepCom 2 is available in HTML and PDF.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report in English and French from the 2nd Session of the Preparatory Committee Established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 69/292 “Development of an International Legally Binding Instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.”
Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
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Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago, and Alice Hicuburundi, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS)
Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS, with Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago
From L-R: Tilani Silva, Sri Lanka; Thembile Joyini, South Africa; and Carlos García Soto, Spain
Veronica Frank and Duncan Currie, Greenpeace International
Andreas Lunn, Denmark
Florian Botto, Monaco
Xinmin Ma, China
Elizabeth Rodríguez Santiago, American Society of International Law
Barbara Boechat, Brazil, with Lucía Raffin, Argentina
Tim Packeiser, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Daniela Diz, IISD Reporting Services (IISD-RS)
Delegates from the EU conferring
John Brincat, EU, and Matthías Pálsson, Iceland
Momtaz Djamchid and Zakieh Taghizadeh, Iran
Michael Bliss, Australia
Juliette Babb-Riley, Barbados
Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico
Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh, and Michael Bliss, Australia
Yolannie Cerrato Corrales, Honduras, and Susan Whelan, Holy See
John Brincat, EU
Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica
Margo Deiye, Nauru
Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia
Cymie Payne, IUCN
Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh
Prim Masrinuan, Thailand for the Group of 77 and China
José Luis Fernández Valoni, Argentina
Students and Alumni of the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS). From L-R: Lora Nordtvedt Reeve; Harriet Harden-Davies; Filimon Manoni; and Carole Durussel
James Ndirangu Waweru, Kenya
Participants watching a video by Greenpeace
From L-R: Tallash Kantai, IISD-RS; Elisa Morgera, IISD-RS; Daniela Diz, IISD-RS; Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica; and Asterios Tsioumanis, IISD-RS
Veronica Frank, Greenpeace
Group photo of the Leatherback Group
The African Group conferring
A farewell gift by the Leatherback Group to Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica
Photo exhibition: Syrian refugees in Brazil
