UN Negotiations

Paris Peace Forum: High Ambitions for the High Seas

14 November, 2019

Peggy Kalas – We’re approaching a once in a generation opportunity for transformative change for the ocean – and we need to make it happen.

In 1967, Arvid Pardo delivered his landmark speech before the United Nations General Assembly urging countries to consider the resources of the ocean in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) as “the common heritage of mankind” and the need for international cooperation to protect the ocean for future generations.

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High Seas Alliance – Key Recommendation for IGC3 on the President’s Text

7 August, 2019

The High Seas Alliance welcomes the release of the draft text of an agreement 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 (see Draft Text), and congratulates the President of the Intergovernmental Conference, Ambassador Rena Lee, on this achievement.

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HSA’s Newest Brief – Lessons Learned from Regional and Sectoral Organizations for Conservation in ABNJ

31 May, 2019

As negotiations progress for a new international legally binding instrument (‘Instrument’) on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), the relationship of this new BBNJ Instrument to existing regional and sectoral organizations remains a point of intense debate. The new Instrument presents an opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of existing relevant legal instruments and organizations and bring forward a more coherent and comprehensive approach to the protection and conservation of marine biodiversity in the high seas. This briefing offers examples from existing regional and sectoral organizations to illustrate systemic challenges to conserving biodiversity in ABNJ under the current fragmented ocean governance system. These challenges include:

(i) implementation of the ecosystem and precautionary approach;
(ii) cooperation and communication across sectors;
(iii) adherence to scientific advice;
(iv) achieving consensus on decisions needed to protect biodiversity;
(v) considering climate change impacts in management decisions;
and (vi) inadequate implementation of States’ obligations to conduct environmental impact assessments.

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El Mundo Comienza a Dar Forma a un Tratado para Proteger los Océanos

25 March, 2019

Mario Villar.- EFEverde.- Los países de todo el mundo comenzaron este lunes la segunda ronda de negociación de un tratado para proteger la biodiversidad en los océanos, una reunión en la que deben empezar a dar forma a este ambicioso instrumento que reclaman desde hace años las organizaciones ecologistas.Protección para los océanos

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Amid Mounting Warnings of Ocean Threat, UN Talks Resume on the World’s First Legally Binding Treaty to Protect the High Seas

25 March, 2019

New York, 25 MARCH 2019: Treaty negotiations to conserve and protect nearly two-thirds of the ocean reconvene today at the United Nations (UN) with countries set to begin work towards a first draft text over the coming fortnight.The two-week Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) is the second of four negotiating sessions aimed at sealing a new legally binding treaty to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, commonly known as the high seas. The negotiations are widely regarded as the greatest opportunity in a generation to turn the tide on ocean degradation and biodiversity loss and follow over a decade of discussions at the UN.

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¿Alienígenas en Marte? ¿Y por qué no más Cerca de Casa?

23 March, 2019

Source: Efeverde

El espacio sideral siempre ha cautivado nuestras mentes, pero las profundidades marítimas, aquí mismo en la Tierra, siguen, en gran medida, sin explorar. Doce personas han pisado la superficie lunar, pero sólo tres han surcado las profundidades del océano. La alta mar ocupa la mitad de la superficie del planeta y no tiene ley; ningún país tiene jurisdicción sobre ella. A medida que los avances tecnológicos abren esta última frontera a la exploración, los científicos están comprobando que no es el páramo que una vez pensamos que era—muy al contrario, rebosa vida, el tipo de vida que se ha adaptado de manera extraña pero maravillosa a la supervivencia rodeada de bajas temperaturas, la falta de luz solar y unas presiones altísimas.

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We are at a Critical Juncture of the BBNJ Negotiations

22 March, 2019

After a successful first Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to begin formal negotiations on a new international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), the second session of formal treaty negotiations will take place at UN headquarters in New York City from 25 March – 5 April.

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