European Union

On Tuesday, 6 September, the second session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 2) on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument 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) convened in plenary throughout the day. Delegates continued discussions of possible areas of convergence and areas for further discussion on area-based management tools, including marine protected areas. They then considered possible areas of convergence and areas for further discussion on environmental impact assessments (EIAs), focusing on: transboundary impact assessments, monitoring and review, and stakeholder consultations. Delegates also heard a partial report from Rena Lee (Singapore), the facilitator of the informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer. 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 For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Catherine Boucher, Canada, and Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway  Zentaro Naganuma, Japan, with John Brincat, EU Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica, and Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway John Adank, New Zealand, and Michael Bliss, Australia From L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago; Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS; Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea Zakieh Taghizadeh and Momtaz Djamchid, Iran Rena Lee (Singapore), Facilitator of the informal working group on capacity building and transfer of marine technology Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria Thembile Joyini, South Africa Michael Bliss, Australia Mohamed Atlassi, Morocco Xinmin Ma, China Prim Masrinuan, Thailand Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Lucía Raffin, Argentina Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS, with Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago Cristian Laborda Mora, Chile, and Alistair Graham, Australia Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago Alice Revell, New Zealand Wini Broadbelt, EU Christoph Reusser, Switzerland Natalie Morris-Sharma, Singapore Kristina Gjerde, IUCN Margo Deiye, Nauru Juliette Babb-Riley, Barbados Ignacio Cazaña, Paraguay Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh Delegates conferring From L-R: Ainhoa Pérez Puyol, Victor Escobar and Carlos García Soto, Spain A moment of silence in memory of Ebenezer Apreku, Ghana Around the Venue Reclining Figure: Hand, Henry Moore The Japanese Peace Bell

On Friday, 2 September, the second session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 2) on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument 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) convened in plenary throughout the day. In the morning, plenary continued deliberations of possible areas of convergence and areas for further discussion on marine genetic resources, including benefit-sharing. Following an oral report by John Adank (New Zealand), facilitator of the informal working group on area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, plenary discussed possible areas of convergence and areas for further discussion, including on definitions, principles and approaches, and governance. 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 For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Gina Guillén-Grillo and Rolando Castro, Costa Rica Martijn Peijs and Sidney Kemble, the Netherlands James Ndirangu Waweru, Kenya, with Thembile Joyini, South Africa Christian Prip, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, and Kimo Goree, Vice-President, IISD Wini Broadbelt and René Lefeber, the Netherlands John Brincat, EU, with Gina Guillén-Grillo, Costa Rica Margo Deiye, Nauru, for Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Sesselja Sigurðardóttir, Iceland Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Essam Yassin Mohammed, Eritrea John Adank, New Zealand, facilitator of the informal working group on area-based management tools Alistair Graham, Australia, and Jessica Battle, WWF Martin Zvachula, Federated States of Micronesia, reading the ENB Anca Leroy, EU, with Andreas Lunn, Denmark The African Group conferring From L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS); Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago; Charlotte Salpin, UNDOALOS; and Alice Hicuburundi, UNDOALOS Ignacio Cazaña, Paraguay Chair Eden Charles, Trinidad and Tobago Maria Pilikou, Cyprus Zentaro Naganuma, Japan Prim Masrinuan, Thailand for the Group of 77 and China Xinmin Ma, China Janine Coye-Felson, Belize Khurshed Alam, Bangladesh John Brincat, EU Maruthadu Sudhakar, India Michael Bliss, Australia Participants consulting Around the Venue Non-Violence, by Fredrik Reuterswärd Sphere Within a Sphere, by Arnaldo Pomodoro A view of the UN headquarters from the rose garden

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress (WCC) started on Thursday with almost 10,000 participants. During the opening ceremony in the morning, Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige said an island is a “microcosm of Planet Earth,” and he announced the Hawaiʻi Sustainability Initiative. President Tommy Remengesau, Palau, said President Obama’s designation of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument “cements his legacy as an ocean leader.” Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), presented the UN Secretary-General's warmest congratulations and strong support, and reminded participants that “no task is too big if we act together.” IUCN President Zhang Xinsheng said the WCC is about moving the 2015 historical agreements to action. In the afternoon, Pacific Island leaders, governors and mayors from the cities and states on the Pacific Rim attended the Pacific Ocean Summit to consider the actions and commitments required for the establishment of the 2030 Pacific Ocean Partnership. On increasing ocean resilience, Aliki Faipule Afega Gaualofa, President of Tokelau, said “the Pacific Ocean is our teacher, our elder and our home,” further highlighting that ocean health is interdependent with quality of life and climate change. Henry Puna, Prime Minister, Cook Islands, emphasized that traditional approaches must be nurtured and integrated into ocean resilience efforts. In the evening, participants joined a reception featuring tastings by 20 of Hawai‘iʻs top chefs along with live music by Hawai‘iʻs own Jack Johnson. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has produced daily reports, daily web coverage, summary videos from the Forum and the Members Assembly, as well as a summary report from the IUCN Congress 2016, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth and Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Opening Ceremony and Statements Delegates watch traditional Hawai‘ian dancers during the opening ceremony Kamana‘opono Crabbe, Office of Hawai‘ian Affairs Sally Jewell, US Secretary of the Interior David Ige, Governor of Hawai‘i Brian Schatz, US Senator, Hawai‘i Tommy Remengesau, President of Palau Norbert Kurilla, Slovakia, EU presidency Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Corbett Kalama, Kamehameha Schools Trustee Zhang Xinsheng, President, IUCN Press Conference View of the dais during the press conference David Ige, Governor of Hawai‘i Sally Jewell, US Secretary of the Interior Brian Schatz, Hawai‘i Senator Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General Participants asking questions during the session Pacific Ocean Summit Participants gather for the Pacific Ocean Summit John De Fries, Department of Research and Development, County of Hawai‘i President Hilda Heine, the Marshall Islands President Peter Christian, the Federated States of Micronesia Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UNEP Alan Arakawa, Mayor, County of Maui, Hawai‘i Kosi Latu, Director General, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Aliki Faipule Afega Gaualofa, President, Tokelau Henry Puna, Prime Minister, Cook Islands Edouard Fritch, President, French Polynesia Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Solomon Islands Siaosi Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister, Tonga Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu Participants make personal commitments to protect the Pacific Ocean Around the Venue Braulio Dias, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Executive Secretary, speaks with a participant John Scanlon, Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), speaks with a participant Delegates meet informally (L-R): Aliki Faipule Afega Gaualofa, President, Tokelau; Irina Bokova, Director-General, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and Braulio Dias, CBD Executive Secretary Delegates during the opening ceremony Delegates from Tonga Media throughout the day Delegates during the evening reception