1st Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on an International Legally Binding Instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
4-17 September 2018 | UN Headquarters, New York
IGC 1 Summary Highlights
Highlights for Monday, 17 September 2018
On Monday, 17 September, the closing plenary of the first 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 heard a report of the Credentials Committee. President Lee provided an overview of progress made during IGC-1, including: different options on funding; procedural options on area-based management tools and marine protected areas; practical modalities for environmental impact assessments; and approaches to move forward on access and benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources. She confirmed that she will prepare a document, well in advance of IGC-2, to facilitate text-based negotiations, containing treaty language and reflecting options on the four elements of the package. She lauded delegates’ flexibility, commitment, and well-prepared interventions, and gaveled the meeting to a close at 10:41 am.
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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Highlights for Friday, 14 September 2018
On Friday, 14 September, the plenary of the first 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 (ABNJ) heard reports from Informal Working Groups on:
- capacity building and technology transfer (CB&TT);
- area-based management tools (ABMTs);
- environmental impact assessments (EIAs); and
- marine genetic resources (MGRs), including questions on benefit-sharing.
Plenary also discussed the way forward.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Friday, 14 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Friday, 14 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Thursday, 13 September 2018
On Thursday, 13 September 2018, at the first 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 (ABNJ), the informal working group on marine genetic resources (MGRs) continued to exchange views on:
• access and benefit-sharing (ABS);
• monitoring; and
• definitions and principles.
The informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs) completed its work, and was followed by a short plenary.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Thursday, 13 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Thursday, 13 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Wednesday, 12 September 2018
On Wednesday, 12 September, during the first 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 (ABNJ), the informal working group on marine genetic resources (MGRs) continued to exchange views on:
• scope, including digital sequence information;
• access;
• benefit-sharing, including modalities and beneficiaries; and
• intellectual property rights.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Wednesday, 12 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Wednesday, 12 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Tuesday, 11 September 2018
The informal working group on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) focused on:
• decision-making process;
• monitoring, review, and reporting; and
• strategic environmental assessments.
The informal working group on marine genetic resources (MGRs), facilitated by Janine Coye-Felson (Belize), considered material, geographical, and temporal scope.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Tuesday, 11 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Tuesday, 11 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Monday, 10 September 2018
The informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs) discussed global, regional, and hybrid approaches, focusing on:
• the decision-making process;
• consultation; and
• institutional arrangements.
The informal working group on environmental impact assessments (EIAs), facilitated by René Lefeber, the Netherlands, focused on:
• relationships with other agreements; and
• criteria and thresholds.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Monday, 10 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Monday, 10 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Friday, 7 September 2018
Delegates at 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) continued to exchange views in an informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer (CB&TT). The informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs) started its work, focusing on:
• objectives;
• process; and
• relationship with other instruments.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Friday, 7 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Friday, 7 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Thursday, 6 September 2018
Delegates at 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) continued to exchange views in an informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer, focusing on:
• modalities;
• a clearinghouse;
• monitoring and review; and
• finance mechanism.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Thursday, 6 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Thursday, 6 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Wednesday, 5 September 2018
Delegates at the first 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) continued to exchange general statements in a morning plenary. In the afternoon, they convened in an informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer, focusing on:
• legal nature;
• objectives;
• modalities; and
• institutional aspects.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Wednesday, 5 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Wednesday, 5 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
Highlights for Tuesday, 4 September 2018
The first 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 with general statements, focusing on:
• key features of the ILBI;
• priority issues to be addressed in the ILBI; and
• expectations concerning the process towards developing a zero draft.
For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
+ Visit the web coverage for Tuesday, 4 September 2018
+ Read the ENB daily report for Tuesday, 4 September 2018, in HTML or PDF format.
SIDE EVENT COVERAGE
BBNJ IGC 1 Resources
- BBNJ Website
- BBNJ IGC 1 Documents
- BBNJ IGC 1 Agenda
- BBNJ IGC 1 Organization of Work
- President’s Aid to Discussions
IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage
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- 19th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, 18-22 June 2018, UN Headquarters, New York
- BBNJ PrepCom 4, 10-21 July 2017, UN Headquarters, New York
- BBNJ PrepCom 3, 27 March - 7 April 2017, UN Headquarters, New York
- BBNJ PrepCom 2, 26 August – 9 September 2016, UN Headquarters, New York
- BBNJ PrepCom 1, 28 March - 8 April 2016, UN headquarters, New York
- ENB Coverage of Oceans Meetings
- ENB Coverage of Fish Stocks Agreement Conferences
IISD Resources
- OCEANS-L - A Mailing List for News and Announcements on Oceans Policy Issues
- SDG - A Mailing List for News on Sustainable Development Policy
- SDG Update Newsletter - A compilation of news, commentary and upcoming events published on the SDG Knowledge Hub
- SDG Knowledge Hub - An Online Resource Center for News and Commentary Regarding the Implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Linkages Update - International Environment and Sustainable Development News