African Group

Highlights for Wednesday, 3 April 2019 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) awards certificate of recognition to countries committed to eliminating lead paint through joining the SAICM GEF Project. The Third Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG3) of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) entered its second day of work at the Antel Arena in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Wednesday, 3 April 2019. Plenary was held throughout the day, addressing: progress reports on achieving the 2020 goal of the sound management of chemicals; updates concerning SAICM's emerging policy issues (EPIs) and other issues of concern, which include: lead in paint; chemicals in products; hazardous substances within the life cycle of electrical and electronic products; nanotechnologies and manufactured nanomaterials; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants; perfluorinated chemicals; and highly hazardous pesticides; the implementation of the strategy to engage the health sector; issues regarding the financing of the Strategic Approach; and planned activities and draft budget of the SAICM Secretariat for the period 2019-2020.  Meeting in parallel were a Contact Group and an informal "Friends of the President" Group.  The Contact Group is considering the paper by the Co-Chairs of the Intersessional Process on SAICM beyond 2020, as well as views expressed during plenary, to develop recommendations towards the fifth ICCM (ICCM5) scheduled for 2020. The President's Group is holding informal, closed discussions on the need for an enabling framework beyond 2020, and identifying gaps not filled by SAICM. Both groups are to report on their work to plenary on Thursday.Highlights of the day included: the indication by many that the Secretariat should not spend resources on a traditional progress report for the 2017-2019 period to present to ICCM5, but instead suggest to the third Intersessional Process meeting later this year options for alternative ways of reporting progress; the presentation of an EU discussion paper on the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020, providing some concrete recommendations that build on the Co-Chairs' Paper; the submission of a discussion paper by the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), supported by the African Group and many individual governments, on financial considerations, which includes a proposal to create an International Fund to implement the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste; praise for the World Health Organization's Chemicals Road Map and Global Chemicals and Health Network, with many calling for other organizations in the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) to follow WHO's example in their sectors. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from OEWG3, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada Vigil For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Plenary Brenda Koekkoek, SAICM Secretariat Suzanne Leppinen, and Tracey Spack, Canada Ram Charitra Sah, CEPHED, Nepal Javier Souza Casadinho, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Latin America Participants during plenary Dais during plenary Juergen Helbig, European Union (EU) Judith Torres, Uruguay Bob Diderich, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nana Janashia, Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) Mariana Mihalcea, and Claudia Dumitru, Romania Ana Boischio, World Health Organization (WHO) Felix Wertli, Switzerland Djatougbe Aziaka, Association WELFARE Halshka Graczyk, International Labor Organization (ILO) Cheryl Eugene St Romain, Saint Lucia Tim Kasten, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Patricia Cameron, and Ralph Ahrens, Friends of the Earth, Germany Jan Janiga, Slovakia, Ivan Djurickovic, Serbia, Aita Sarr Seck, Senegal Paula Barrios, UN report writer Carmen Ciganda, Uruguay Christine Fuell, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Bikash Chetry, Toxics Link Olubunmi Olusanya, Nigeria, and Ali Seydou Moussa, Niger Jordi Pon, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Contact Group Side Event Around the Venue

Highlights for Wednesday, 3 April 2019 Delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia and Nauru in conversation with the US Delegates at the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) finalized discussions on capacity building and the transfer of marine technology (CB&TT) and began discussions on cross-cutting issues. Under the latter, they considered institutional arrangements, outlining positions on: •    the decision-making body/forum; •    scientific and/or technical bodies; •    other subsidiary bodies; and •    a secretariat.During the lunch break, delegates attended side-events on: strengthening stewardship of the Sargasso Sea, presented by Canada and the Sargasso Sea Commission; BBNJ negotiations, intellectual property issues, and ongoing work at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), presented by WIPO; and the application of area-based management tools under the Regional Seas Programmes, presented by the UN Environment Programme.What comes first, form or function? This is the persistent question that plagues the BBNJ process, and it reared its head again on Wednesday during discussions on funding for CB&TT and institutional arrangements. One delegate strenuously asserted that function (deciding on institutional arrangements, including whether they operate on a global or regional level) follows form (deciding on what the institutions will do). For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC 2. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group on Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology L-R: Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on capacity building and transfer of marine technology; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); and Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS Amavaz Ghobadi Largroudi, Iran Chen Xin Yao, China Lorraine Faure, Seychelles Ramona Sladic, Canada Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States Estrella Tulay, the Philippines Sunan Rustam, Indonesia Natthakit Singto, Thailand Photos depicting ocean and coastal habitats Sylvain Kalsakau, Vanuatu Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh René Figueredo Corrales, Paraguay Parinda Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka Leonito Bacalando Jr., Federated States of Micronesia John Fintakpa Lamega, Togo James Ndirangu Waweru, Kenya Carl Grainger, EU Informal Working Group on Cross-Cutting Issues Plenary session on the informal working group on cross-cutting issues Diedre Mills, Jamaica Fuad Bateh, Palestine, on behalf of the G-77/China Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS) Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore Michael Lodge, Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority L-R: Diedre Mills and Stephanie Forte, Jamaica L-R: Norhasalinda Mohd Salleh, Brunei; Jiraporn Wattanasophorn, Thailand; and Dhisadee Chamlongrasdr, Thailand Delegates from New Zealand

Highlights for Tuesday, 2 April 2019 Participants from Fiji and the International Seabed Authority Delegates at the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) finalized discussions on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in an informal working group, and opened discussions on capacity building and the transfer of marine technology (CB&TT), facilitated by Olai Uludong, Palau. Under CB&TT, they considered the types and modalities, including a clearinghouse mechanism; and issues related to funding, including the funding mechanism and whether funding would be mandatory of voluntary.During the lunch break, delegates attended side-events on: • implementation of indigenous and traditional knowledge in the high seas treaty, presented by South Africa; • twenty-five years of ISA’s contribution to deep-sea marine scientific research and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), presented by the International Seabed Authority and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO; and • cooperation between regional seas programmes and regional fisheries bodies, presented by the UN Environment Programme and Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).In the corridors, it was difficult to ignore the fact that positions were still poles apart, with the usual lines drawn between a cohort preferring only voluntary funding options, and those on the receiving end, holding out for a mix of voluntary and mandatory financing. When some called for aspects of the funding discussion to be brought up under cross-cutting issues, others resolved that, clearly, “the real negotiations are going to come down to the wire,” with three days left and counting.For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC 2. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessments Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) René Lefeber, the Netherlands, Facilitator of the informal working group on environmental impact assessments Cymie Payne, International Union for Conservation of Nature Lisa Speer, High Seas Alliance Jessica Battle, World Wide Fund for Nature Dorota Lost-Sieminska, International Maritime Organization Kent Bressie, International Cable Protection Committee Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan L-R: Susan Whelan and Tomasz Grysa, Holy See Duncan Currie, High Seas Alliance Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Amavaz Ghobadi Largroudi, Iran Nivaashni Devi Dharmalingam, Malaysia Darius Campbell, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission Kahlil Hassanali, Trinidad and Tobago, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) Janice Mose, Solomon Islands, on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS) Kukhyun Ahn, Republic of Korea L-R: Indira Guardia and Teresa Cruz Sardiñas, Cuba Informal Working Group on Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology L-R: Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on capacity building and transfer of marine technology; IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore; and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Fuad Bateh, Palestine, on behalf of the G-77/China Marc Richir, EU Fakasoa Tealei, Tuvalu, on behalf of P-SIDS L-R: Alice Hicuburundi, Jessica Howley, Lika Doehl Diouf, Vita Onwuasoanya, UNDOALOS Arianne Etuk, Bahamas Yolannie Cerrato, Honduras Ariel Cayanan, the Philippines John Fintakpa Lamega, Togo L-R: Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on capacity building and transfer of marine technology; Landisang Kotaro, Palau; and Joan Yang, Nauru Delegates from CARICOM Delegates from Nigeria Crocheted mascots, distributed by the High Seas Alliance

Highlights for Monday, 1 April 2019 L-R: Keleni Seruvatu and Semi Bolalailai, Fiji, receiving a Best in Opening Statement award from Jessica Battle, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International Delegates at the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) continued discussions on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in an informal working group facilitated by René Lefeber (the Netherlands).  Under EIAs, they considered the process for these assessments, as well as details related to the: content of an EIA; monitoring, reporting, and review; strategic environmental assessments (SEAs); and activities for which EIAs are required. During the lunch break, delegates attended side-events on: the role of science and a scientific body under the new instrument, presented by the Government of Canada, the High Seas Alliance, and Pew Charitable Trusts; and “Connectivity: a critical consideration in global ocean governance,” presented by UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. In the corridors, while EIA discussions made clear progress on activities, process, and content, conceptual murkiness and conflict remained regarding monitoring, reporting, and review, and strategic environmental assessments. There was a general acceptance of the utility of SEAs, but views diverged on how they would apply to areas beyond the control of states and who would conduct them.For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC 2. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group on Environmental Impact Assessments L-R: René Lefeber, the Netherlands, Facilitator of the informal working group on environmental impact assessments; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); and Michele Ameri, UNDOALOS Fran Humphries, International Council of Environmental Law Cymie Payne, International Union for Conservation of Nature Alice de Juvigny, International Cable Protection Committee Tilani Silva, Sri Lanka View of the plenary session on the informal working group on environmental impact assessments Wini Broadbelt, EU Yordanka Stoimenova, Canada Lowri Mai Griffiths, UK Alice Revell, New Zealand Stephanie Forte, Jamaica Regina Paula Eugenio, the Philippines Leonito Bacalando Jr., Federated States of Micronesia Deborah Manase, Marshall Islands Babajide Alo, Nigeria Mohamed Atlassi, Morocco Carlos Mata, Uruguay, on behalf of the Like-Minded Latin American Countries Neil Hughes, Australia Gou Haibo, China Saravanane Narayanane, India L-R: Maria Teresa Infante, Chile, with IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore Evan Bloom, US Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation Sora Lokita, Indonesia Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Duncan Currie, High Seas Alliance Peni Suveinakama, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland L-R: Ralph Sontag and Julian Jackson, Pew Charitable Trusts L-R: Hector Bachigalupo, Maria Teresa Infante, Cristian Laborde, and Cristóbal Hernández Castillo, Chile Delegates from the US IGC-2 participants from the Strong High Seas project WWF award made from a recycled bottle for Best Opening Statement

Highlights for Friday, 29 March 2019 Delegates from Bangladesh reviewing the President's aid to negotiations Discussions at the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) continued in an informal working group setting. Delegates finalized their consideration of area-based management tools (ABMTs), and commenced their discussions on environmental impact assessments (EIAs).Under EIAs, they considered the process for these assessments, commenting on procedures related to: screening and scoping; impact prediction and evaluation; public notification and consultation; and decision-making. During the lunch break, side-events were held on: conservation, climate change, and ocean biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, presented by Papua New Guinea; and planning and enforcement of the high seas area-based management tools, presented by The Nature Conservancy and the Oxford Martin School Sustainable Oceans Programme.In the corridors, one seasoned delegate, heading out for the weekend after a dense afternoon plenary, seemed cautiously optimistic: “The level of detail in the different options can be seen as tedious, but once we ride the option-storm, we will hopefully be able to see the big picture, and start negotiating on our different positions.”For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC 2. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group on Area-Based Management Tools Plenary view of the session with Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on area-based management tools, on screen Siai Taylor, Cook Islands Channelle Fitzgerald, Australia James Ndirangu Waweru, Kenya John Brincat, EU L-R: Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on area-based management tools; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Velentina Germani, UNDOALOS; and Marco Boccia, UNDOALOS Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia Sylvain Kalsakau, Vanuatu Hwang Junshik, Republic of Korea Fred Sarufa, Papua New Guinea Florian Botto, Monaco Takahiro Nakamura, UN Environment Programme Fredrik Haag, International Maritime Organization Kenneth Wong, Singapore Fakasoa Tealie, Tuvalu Gou Haibo, China Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation Informal Working Group on Environment Impact Assessments IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, with René Lefeber, the Netherlands, Facilitator of the informal working group on environmental impact assessments Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS Kahlil Hassanali, Trinidad and Tobago, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) Wini Broadbelt, EU Janice Mose, Solomon Islands, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Carlos Mata, Uruguay Regina Paula Eugenio, the Philippines L-R: Roderick Harte and Paul Susman, European Commission L-R: Konrad Marciniak and Piotr Czepulonis, Poland Delegates from China

Highlights for Wednesday, 27 March 2019 L-R: IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, with Kristina Gjerde, International Council on Environmental Law (ICEL); and Pete Girguis, ICEL/Harvard University, US Delegates attending the second session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) met on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in an informal working group to finalize their initial consideration of marine genetic resources (MGRs) and initiate discussions on area-based management tools (ABMTs).Under ABMTs, they discussed elements related to the process of identifying areas requiring management.During the lunch break, three side-events were held on: •    “Exploring options for fostering conservation and sustainable use of the ocean through access and benefit sharing of marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction: engagement of multi-stakeholders, including the private sector, for informed decision making,” presented by France; •    “Facilitating Capacity Development, Transfer of Marine Technology and Ocean Science in BBNJ,” presented by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and •    “So far, yet so close: Ecological connectivity between ABNJ and territorial waters,” presented by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).In the corridors, some developing countries felt slighted by calls to ignore the intent of marine scientific research. “A small bucket of seawater can yield millions of benefits, monetary and otherwise,” claimed one, noting that technological developments need broad coverage if the ILBI is to succeed in promoting the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from MGRs in ABNJ.For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC 2. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group on Marine Genetic Resources L-R: Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, Facilitator of the informal working group on marine genetic resources, and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Marie-May Muzungaile, Seychelles Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland Rishy Bukoree, Mauritius Cristóbal Hernández Castillo, Chile L-R: IGC-2 dais on the informal working group on marine genetic resources with Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, Facilitator of the informal working group on marine genetic resources; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS; Bingzhuo Li, UNDOALOS; and Bart Smit Duijzentkunst, UNDOALOS Saravanane Narayanan, India Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Phi Mai Lien Vu, Viet Nam Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, ICEL Duncan Currie, High Seas Alliance Muriel Rabone, Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative L-R: Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS; Bingzhuo Li, UNDOALOS; and Bart Smit Duijzentkunst, UNDOALOS Leonito Bacalando Jr., Federated States of Micronesia Salaseini Tagicakibau, Fiji Lionel Yee, Singapore Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Peyami Kalyoncu, Turkey Evan Bloom, US Tumelo Selolwane, Botswana Giridhar Kowtal, Australia Plenary view of the informal working group on marine genetic resources Informal Working Group on Area-Based Management Tools Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on area-based management tools IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Fuad Bateh, Palestine, on behalf of the G-77/China Florian Botto, Monaco Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Sophie Mirgaux, EU Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines Martín Mainero, Argentina Alain Tellier, Canada Evan Bloom, US, with Gou Haibo, China Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS, in conversation with Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh Delegates from Germany

Highlights for Monday, 25 March 2019 IGC-2 participants observing a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the recent tragedies in Ethiopia and Indonesia and the passing of Amb. Virachai Plasai, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN The second 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 of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) opened on Monday, March 25, 2019. Delegates first engaged in a general exchange of views, broadly related to the key features of an ILBI, including their priorities based on issues to be discussed as contained in the President’s Aid to Negotiations. They then began their deliberations on the President’s Aid, focusing their attention on benefit-sharing in relation to marine genetic resources. During the lunch break, two side-events were held: “Towards an Effective High Seas Treaty: Building on and Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance” presented by Germany and the STRONG High Seas Project; and "No fish left behind: fisheries under BBNJ” presented by the Nippon Foundation. In the corridors, many participants agreed that the President’s Aid to Negotiations is inclusive and helpful in driving the negotiations forward. Some expressed concern about gaps in the options laid out in the document, stressing that these will need to be covered during the following two weeks, if future treaty text is to be comprehensive.For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC 2. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. View of the opening plenary IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore Miguel de Serpa Soares, Secretary-General of the IGC, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Fuad Bateh, Palestine, on behalf of the G-77/China Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Delegates from the EU consulting Juliette Babb-Riley, Barbados, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Sira Swangsilpa, Thailand Andreas Papaconstantinou, EU Arnavaz Ghobadi Langroudi, Iran, on screen Mohamed Atlassi, Morocco María Juliana Tenorio, Colombia Franck Kokou Kpayedo, Togo Gou Haibo, China Shanti Utami Retnaningsih, Indonesia Generoso Calonge, the Philippines Duncan Currie, High Seas Alliance Alfonso Ascencio-Herrera, International Seabed Authority Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, International Council of Environmental Law Ariel Hernán Troisi, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) Lydia Slobodian, International Union for Conservation of Nature Takehiro Nakamura, UN Environment Programme Informal Working Group on Marine Genetic Resources L-R: Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, Facilitator of the informal working group on marine genetic resources; Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS Barbara Boechat, Brazil Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland Evan Bloom, US Salaseini Tagicakibau, Fiji