European Union

The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention (BC COP13), eighth meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP8), and eighth meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP8) began in Geneva, Switzerland. Meeting jointly in plenary throughout the day, the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) COPs first heard opening statements. Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment noted that the BRS Conventions cover the “worst chemicals,” and drew linkages between the work of these COPs and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Minamata Convention. Delegates then adopted the agendas and organization of work for each of the COPs, and discussed coordination and cooperation among the BRS Conventions. The COPs established a joint contact group on the review of synergies arrangements. During lunch, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) hosted a side event discussing past and future programming for impact. The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) held an event titled: “Toxic toy or toxic waste? Recycling POPs into new products.” In the afternoon, the COPs discussed matters related to the implementation of the Conventions, including international cooperation and coordination, technical assistance and financial resources. The COPs then established a joint contact group on technical assistance and financial resources. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided digital coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 2017 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Ceremony A yodelling performance opens the meeting Opening Plenary View of the dais during the opening plenary Mohammed Khashashneh, Basel Convention COP 13 President Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland Bill Murray, Executive Secretary, Rotterdam Convention - Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment Ana Berejiani, Georgia, speaking on behalf of Central and Eastern Europe Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Gilani, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group Francis Kihumba, Kenya, speaking on behalf of the African Group Francisco Fabian Saez, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) Reginald Hernaus, EU Matt Cahill, Australia Felix Wertli, Switzerland Side Events Throughout the Day Side event titled 'Looking Back, Looking Forward - Programming for Impact' hosted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Side event titled 'Toxic toy or toxic waste? Recycling POPs into new products' hosted by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the afternoon plenary Sam Adu-Kumi, Stockholm Convention COP8 President Chizuru Aoki, GEF Haendel Sebastián Rodríguez, Colombia Manoj Kumar Gangeya, India Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention Jiří Hlaváček, UN Environment Alfredo José Perez Gonzalez, Venezuela Maryna Belavus, Belarus Fagamou Sy Diop, Senegal Obed Baloyi, South Africa, speaking on behalf of the African Group Evening Reception hosted by the Government of Switzerland Delegates attend the evening reception hosted by the Government of Switzerland Felix Wertli, Switzerland Bill Murray, Executive Secretary,  Rotterdam Convention - FAO Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions Around the Venue Delegates gather for the start of plenary Delegates meet informally Delegates from Libya Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions, and Mohammed Khashashneh, Basel Convention COP 13 President Delegates speak between sessions A 'Toxic Toy Store' highlighting the range of childrens' toys that contain toxic substances

On Friday, 7 April, the plenary of the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) met throughout the day. In the morning, delegates continued discussions on cross-cutting issues, including institutional arrangements, monitoring, review, compliance and dispute settlement. Plenary then debated next steps in the process, including an updated, streamlined Chair’s non-paper based on submissions and PrepCom discussions, and draft substantive recommendations to the UN General Assembly, with an indication of areas of convergence. Delegates also shared expectations about the conduct, priorities and outcome of PrepCom 4. Confirming the need for expeditious intersessional preparations, Chair Duarte gaveled the meeting to a close at 3:47pm. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary and analysis of PrepCom 3 will be available on Monday, 10 April 2017, online at: http://enb.iisd.org/oceans/bbnj/prepcom3/ IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd 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.” Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Sora Lokita, Indonesia Sabita Nakarmi, Nepal Djamchid Momtaz, Iran Horacio Sevilla Borja, Ecuador Lisa Speer, Natural Resources Defense Council L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS John Brincat, EU Audrey Naana Abayena, Ghana Ana Villatta, El Salvador Ma Xinmin, China Napoleon Beras, Dominican Republic Larisa Chernysheva, Russian Federation Dhisadee Chamlongrasdr, Thailand María Alejandrina Sande, Uruguay Kasipo Teo, Tuvalu Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil, gaveled the meeting to a close at 3:47 pm Delegates from Indonesia Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil, with PrepCom 3 delegates

On Thursday, 6 April, the plenary of the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) met throughout the day. Delegates continued discussions on environmental impact assessments, and then tackled capacity building and technology transfer, and cross-cutting issues, including institutional arrangements, monitoring, review, compliance and dispute settlement. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd 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.” Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Cristóbal Hernández Castillo, Chile Maruthadu Sudhakar, India Duncan Currie, Greenpeace International Lydia Slobodian, IUCN Mamadou Diallo, Senegal L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS Rena Lee, Singapore, Facilitator of the informal working group on capacity building and transfer of marine technology Juliette Babb-Riley, Barbados, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Leonito Bacalando Jr., Federated States of Micronesia Ismail Raushan Zahir, Maldives, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Marc Richir, EU Siai Taylor, Cook Islands Luke Roughton, New Zealand Dongmei Tang, China Paulo Chiarelli, Brazil Dilli Raj Ghimire, Nepal Tevita Suka Mangisi, Tonga Harriet Harden-Davies, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Aldo Alexandrow, Venezuela Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil Diedre Mills, Jamaica Carlos Garcia, Guatemala Alain Tellier, Canada Randy Bumbury, Guyana Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria Evan Bloom, US, in a conversation with Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil Delegates from the African Group consulting L-R: Angel Horna, Peru; Derek Campbell, US; Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS; and Javier Gorostegui, Chile L-R: Maria Claudia Velez Crismatt, Colombia; Luis Orozco, Colombia; and Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica L-R: Anca Leroy, France, in conversation with Susan Whelan, the Holy See Delegates from the EU consulting

On Wednesday, 5 April, the plenary of the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened throughout the day. On area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs), delegates discussed three options: a global model, establishing a global institution to consider and decide on ABMT proposals; a hybrid model, reinforcing regional and sectoral organizations’ mandates through regional coordination mechanisms, and providing global guidance to enhance cooperation and global-level implementation oversight; and a regional and sectoral model, recognizing regional and sectoral bodies’ authority for decision making, monitoring and review of ABMTs with the ILBI providing general policy guidance to promote cooperation, without global-level oversight. On environmental impact assessments (EIAs), delegates discussed: assessing transboundary impacts, strategic environmental assessments, scientific review and consultation, other governance aspects and a clearinghouse mechanism. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd 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.” Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Lois Young, Belize Cristóbal Hernández Castillo, Chile Rishy Bukoree, Mauritius Michael Googan, Australia Hina Saeed Baig, Pakistan Zentaro Naganuma, Japan Rolando Castro, Costa Rica Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea L-R: Sophie Mirgaux and John Brincat, EU Djamchid Momtaz, Iran José Luis Fernández Valoni, Argentina Matthías Pálsson, Iceland Kate Neilson, New Zealand Larisa Chernysheva, Russian Federation Coumba Gaye, Senegal Takehiro Nakamura, UN Environment Sora Lokita, Indonesia Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil Duncan Muhumuza Laki, Uganda Lizanne Aching, Trinidad and Tobago Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Ariel Cayanan, the Philippines Ma Xinmin, China Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia Wini Broadbelt, EU L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS Delegates from the EU consulting Asheline Appleton, IISD RS, confers with Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Evan Bloom, US, in conversation with delegates from Mexico

On Tuesday, 4 April, delegates to the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened in plenary in the morning and in the afternoon, with the informal working group on cross-cutting issues completing its work in the morning. In the morning, Amb. Peter Thomson (Fiji), UN General Assembly President, encouraged delegates to bring cooperation, flexibility and determination to the BBNJ process and to participate in the upcoming Oceans Conference, stressing the importance of the BBNJ process in oceans stewardship. In the afternoon, plenary further discussed the scope of benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources, as well as access and benefit-sharing modalities. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has providing daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd 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.” Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Franz Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page President of the UN General Assembly, Amb. Peter Thomson, Fiji President of the UN General Assembly, Amb. Peter Thomson, Fiji Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); President of the UN General Assembly, Amb. Peter Thomson, Fiji; Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; and Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS Margo Deiye, Nauru, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Daniela Diz, WWF Peni Suveinakama, Fiji Susan Whelan, Holy See Alain Tellier, Canada Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Driss Meski, Executive Secretary, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Veronika Frank, Greenpeace International on behalf of the High Seas Alliance Evan Bloom, US Rolando Castro, Costa Rica Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico José Luis Fernández Valoni, Argentina Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, Facilitator of the informal working group on marine genetic resources Riena Dwi Astuty, Indonesia María Claudia Vélez Crismatt, Colombia Ma Xinmin, China Alice Revell, New Zealand Maruthadu Sudhakar, India Metod Špaček, EU Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea Rishy Bukoree, Mauritius Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, IUCN Maria Rowena Romana-Eguia, the Philippines L-R: President of the UN General Assembly, Amb. Peter Thomson, Fiji, in conversation with Chair Carlos Sobral Duarte, Brazil L-R: Sergey Leonidchenko, Russian Federation, in consultation with Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Mexico Delegates from Latin America consulting Amb. Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN and Special Envoy on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in conversation with delegates from Kenya