L-R: Maxim Musikhin and Larisa Chernysheva, Russian Federation, in conversation with Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil, in consultations during BBNJ PrepCom 4.
The first session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) will be held from 4-17 September 2018 at UN Headquarters in New York. The IGC will begin substantive discussions based on the elements of a package agreed in 2011 on:
- marine genetic resources, including questions on benefit-sharing;
- measures such as environmental impact assessments and area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; and
- capacity building and marine technology transfer.
Delegates will consider a concise document, prepared by the IGC President, which will identify areas for further discussion and not contain treaty text. The IGC is expected to take consensus-based decisions on the preparation process of a zero draft of the international legally binding instrument.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports and daily web coverage from BBNJ IGC 1. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon
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