European Union

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

  Family photo at the entrance of the Oceanographic Institute The 10th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) convened on Monday, 25 March, at the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco. The meeting addressed the theme of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and took place under the presidency of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. The event gathered more than 140 participants representing international organizations, governments, academia, the private sector and NGOs. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco opened the meeting, stating that the MBI helped put MPAs on the international agenda. He stressed the role of MPAs as an effective tool against the threats facing the ocean, as well as their economic benefits. In the first session, participants discussed how to collectively continue developing MPAs whilst ensuring their efficiency. The discussion highlighted the work carried out to clarify the classification system of MPAs. It also underlined the need for effective MPA management through regular financial resources and the gaps in knowledge in marine ecosystems. In the second session, participants considered how coherent MPA networks contribute to protecting species, in particular the role of local communities’ knowledge and social skills. Discussions highlighted the importance of international cooperation for building ecological corridors, and coherence across jurisdictions to secure effective MPA networks. Keynote speeches were delivered by: Brune Poirson, Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Chuanlin Huo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China José Apolinario, Portuguese Secretary of State for Fisheries, underlined Portugal’s efforts to lead the race on MPAs in Europe and announced that the Second UN Ocean Conference will be held in Lisbon in June 2020. He also stressed the creation of a coalition of Portuguese stakeholders that brings knowledge and expertise upon which to design new MPAs. Updates were also provided regarding several key current topics: Peggy Kalas, the High Seas Alliance, and Marco Lambertini Director General, WWF International, presented the work of the High Seas Alliance to foster an ambitious Treaty with a global mechanism to establish a network of MPAs in the high seas. Geneviève Pons, Jacques Delors Institute, presented the efforts of the Antarctica2020 platform to secure large MPAs in the Southern Ocean. Sabine Jessen, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and Dan Laffoley, IUCN, presented the outcomes of the last International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4) and what is to be expected from the next edition in Vancouver, Canada. François Simard, on behalf of Inger Andersen, Director General, IUCN, concluded the meeting by stressing that for MPAs to be effectively and equitably managed, more work needs to be done on: partnerships, connectivity aspects, and MPAs’ integration into the wider seascape and blue economy. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided a web update from the 10th Monaco Blue Initiative. In addition, IISD Reporting Services produced a briefing note, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by M. Dagnino - Institut océanographique   L-R: Vincent Meriton, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles; Jane Lubchenco, Oregon State University; HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco; Brune Poirson, Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France; Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries; and Haydee Rodríguez, Vice Minister of Waters and Seas, Costa Rica   L-R: Romain Renoux, Association for sustainable financing of MPAs in the Mediterranean; Mark J. Spalding, Ocean Foundation and Commissioner of the Sargasso Sea Commission; Jane Lubchenco, Oregon State University; and François Houllier, Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer   Jane Lubchenco, Oregon State University   François Houllier, Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer   L-R: Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries; Alexander Tudhope, University of Edinburgh; Puri Canals, Mediterranean Network of Marine Protected Areas; Olivier Laroussinie, Deputy delegate to the Sea and Coastline, Ministry for the Ecological & Inclusive Transition, France; Haydee Rodríguez, Vice-Minister of Waters and Seas, Costa Rica; Serge Planes, National Centre for Scientific Research, France; and Rachel Graham, MarAlliance   José María Figueres, Former President of Costa Rica and Co-Chair of Ocean Unite   Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean   L-R: Olivia Langmead, Plymouth University; Abdou Karim Sall, MPA Joal Fadiouth, Senegal; Maria Damanaki, The Nature Conservancy; Vincent Meriton, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles; Mia Pantzar, Institute for European Environmental Policy; and Peter Herzig, GEOMAR   José Apolinario, Secretary of State for Fisheries, Portugal (photo courtesy of Cedou)   Chuanlin Huo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China (photo courtesy of Cedou)   L-R: Peggy Kalas, the High Seas Alliance; Genevieve Pons, Jacques Delors Institute; Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International; Sabine Jessen, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society; and Dan Laffoley, International Union for the Conservation of Nature   Robert Calcagno, CEO, Oceanographic Institute, and Brune Poirson, Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France   Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International A view of the room during the event  

Highlights for Wednesday, 20 March 2019 Fernando Coimbra, Brazil The second Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group was drawn to a close Wednesday with the adoption of a provisional agenda and dates for the third session, which will convene for three days from 20 to 22 May 2019. The three-day arrangement was agreed as part of a compromise after a series of exchanges on scheduling, taking into account the need to allow for adequate time for the OEWG to meet the demands of its mandate from the UN General Assembly (UNGA resolution 72/277). The Co-Chairs will also make themselves available for informal consultations on the preceding weekend.Co-Chairs Francisco Duarte Lopes, Portugal, and Amal Mudallali, Lebanon, will circulate elements of draft recommendations during the intersessional period, as delegations prepare to move to negotiations on a series of emergent recommendations to the UN General Assembly, possibly including a legal instrument, high level declaration, and other possible responses to gaps or challenges in international environmental law (IEL) and related instruments.In a non-exhaustive oral summary of points addressed during the second session, the Co-Chairs noted discussion on: A broad approach to gaps, understood as lacunae, deficiencies or challenges in IEL or related instruments; The interpretation, unequal application and lack of consistency in approaches to IEL principles; Different views on the nature of a new instrument, including the possibility of a legally or non-legally binding instrument; a high-level declaration; and/or a document from the UN General Assembly; Agreement on strengthening international environmental governance, following observations on a lack of system coherence, implementation challenges, and a failure to adequately reflect the interdependent nature of the earth’s ecosystems; and The need to address and strengthen the roles of UNEP and UNEA in line with paragraphs 88 and 89 of the Rio+20 outcomes document, in the context of strengthening international environmental governance and IEL on a system-wide basis across the UN system. Delegations were invited to submit further recommendations to the Co-Chairs by 12 April.The day began with a moment of silence to mark the passing of Ambassador Brenda Muntemba of Zambia, who died in a road traffic accident, and a tribute to three UN interpreters who lost their lives in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in the run-up to the meeting.Mudallali then thanked the OEWG for their hard work before Duarte gavelled the close of the meeting at 16.04. For more details, read our summary and analysis of the second Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 2nd Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Tumasie Blair, Antigua and Barbuda Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon Jamil Ahmad, UNEP Maribe Mujinga Nsompo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Alejandro Garofali and Marcelo Cousillas, Uruguay Jamil Ahmad, UNEP, with Peter Doran, IISD Reporting Services (IISD-RS) Patrick Luna, Brazil, and Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal From L-R: Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal; Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon; Jamil Ahmad, UNEP; and Fernando Coimbra, Brazil From L-R: Nathan Glassey, New Zealand; Trevor Analo, Australia; and Vigen Ananyan, Armenia Helge Elisabeth Zeitler and Sebastian Gil, European Union Alexandros Kolliopoulos, Greece, with Thomas Liébault, France Jamil Ahmad, UNEP, with Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal Abdullah Tawlah, Saudi Arabia Songelael Shilla, Tanzania View of the dais during the session Suzan Moh'd Al Ajjawi, Bahrain Shannon-Marie Soni, Canada Jin Sun, China Meriem El Hilali, Morocco Camila Zepeda Lizama, Mexico Jacqueline Ruesga, Canada Carmen Marques Ruiz, European Commission Participants conferring before the session Aldo Claure Banegas, Bolivia Esther Nkomo, Zambia Camila Zepeda Lizama and Erasmo Martínez, Mexico Alphonce Muia, Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA), with Isis Gondola, Panama Nassira Rheyati, Morocco, and Mariline Diara, Senegal Natalie Jones, IISD-RS, with Jacqueline Ruesga, Canada The Mexican delegation. From L-R: Lino Santacruz Moctezuma, Azucena Sahagun, Camila Zepeda Lizama, and Erasmo Martínez Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, and Andrés Cordova, Ecuador Delegates conferring during the session Delegates conferring a break Laura Bullon-Cassis and Natalie Jones, IISD-RS, with Marco Crugnola, Switzerland Marta Juárez Ruiz, Costa Rica Delegates from the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) Around the Venue

Highlights for Tuesday, 19 March 2019 View of the dais during the plenary session On Tuesday, delegations completed their deliberations based on four guiding questions issued by the Co-Chairs, Amal Mudallali, Lebanon, and Francisco Duarte Lopes, Portugal. The questions invited delegations to address: Options to address possible gaps or challenges related to principles of International Environmental Law (IEL); Options to address possible gaps related to the governance structure of IEL; Options to address gaps or challenges relating to implementation of IEL; and Options to address specific regulatory regimes or environment-related instruments. An intensive round of bilateral activity involving advocates of a global pact also engaged the attention of delegations on the margins of the meeting in Nairobi.While some delegations continued to probe proposals for a new instrument and other related options, other delegations began to outline possible outcomes from the OEWG process, including: An instrument incorporating a human rights and gender approach, and reference to planetary boundaries; A compilation instrument incorporating the main principles of IEL; A legally binding instrument or treaty, with provisions to safeguard or enhance environmental protection, and a list of IEL principles; A high-level non-binding declaration incorporating the issues raised at the OEWG; and A single outcome or an approach combining legally-binding and non-binding elements. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 2nd Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon Kathryn Youel Page, US Vinicius Trindade, Brazil Kangayatkarasu Nagulendran, Malaysia Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Carmen Marques Ruiz, European Commission, with José Juste-Ruiz, Spain Khawla Al-Muhannadi, Environment Friends Society, and Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt From L-R: Lino Santacruz Moctezuma, Camila Zepeda Lizama, and Erasmo Martínez, Mexico Shannon-Marie Soni, Canada, and Yacouba Savadogo, Burkina Faso Abdelrahman Al-Gwaiz, Saudi Arabia Andrés Cordova, Ecuador Helge Elisabeth Zeitler and Gudi Alkemade, European Union Mariline Diara, Senegal Ana Peña, Peru Diégo Colas, with Remi Cluset, France Marta Juarez Ruiz, Costa Rica Elizabeth Taylor, Colombia From L-R: Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal; Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon; and Jamil Ahmad, UNEP Yann Aguila, International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) Fabienne McLellan, OceanCare María Caridad Balaguer Labrada, Cuba Stadler Trengove, UN Legal Officer Peter Doran, IISD Reporting Services (IISD-RS), with Anthony O'Grady, Ireland IISD-RS writers discussing with Yann Aguila and Marie-Cécile de Bellis, ICEL André Costa Lapeira and Peter Pitrez, Portugal Nino Gokhelashvili, Georgia Between Sessions

Highlights for Friday, 15 March 2019 UNEA-4 President Siim Valmar Kiisler, and Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP On Friday, delegates attended two Leadership Dialogues in the morning, while ministers delivered national statements. The dialogues addressed, in turn, life-cycle approaches to resource efficiency, energy, chemicals and waste management, and innovative sustainable business development at a time of rapid technological change. Reporting back to plenary in the afternoon, the dialogue moderators highlighted the need for a significant shift toward sustainable consumption and production (SCP), They noted there is no single definition of a sustainable lifestyle, but that a collaborative effort by all stakeholders can create a chain reaction of change, “if we have the courage to make it happen.”In the afternoon closing plenary, delegates adopted the Ministerial Declaration, 26 resolutions and three decisions, addressing many global environmental issues including marine litter and microplastics, single-use plastics, sustainable nitrogen management, and the empowerment of women and girls in environmental governance. They also adopted the UNEP Programme of Work and budget for 2020-21. The US disassociated itself from the Ministerial Declaration, and expressed its reservation regarding references in the resolutions to several international agreements, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, stating that these have no standing with regard to negotiations on trade.Many delegates expressed appreciation for the efforts of UNEA-4 President Siim Kiisler, the Committee of Permanent Representatives, and the UNEP Secretariat in preparing for and supporting the meeting. They also welcomed incoming UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.The plenary elected Ola Elvestuen, Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway, as President of UNEA-5, and Nomvula Mokonyane (South Africa) as Rapporteur. They elected office bearers representing all regions.Delegates witnessed a presentation by children of water samples from special places around the world, and a video message from UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador). Kiisler thanked all participants warmly, and gaveled UNEA-4 to a close at 7.30 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from OECPR-4 and UNEA-4, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Plenary Session Harry Verhaar, Philips Lighting Marcin Krupa, Katowice City Mayor, Poland View of the dais during the plenary session Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt Daniel Wai-Poi, New Zealand Solitaire Townsend, Futerra Rebecca Freitag, Youth Delegate for Sustainable Development Wanjiru Waweru, Funkidz Shady Rabab, Rabab Luxor Art Collective Ola Elvestuen, President of UNEA-5, and Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway UNEA-4 President Siim Valmar Kiisler receiving a Testimony of Appreciation from Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, and Michał Kurtyka, President of the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Committee of Permanent Representatives Chair Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, Ghana, and Committee of the Whole Chair Fernando Coimbra, Brazil Koleka Anita Mqulwana, South Africa Erasmo Martínez and Lino Santacruz Moctezuma, Mexico Yannis Derbali, UNEP, and Pedro-José Espinosa, UN Office at Nairobi (UNON) From L-R: UNEA-4 President Siim Valmar Kiisler; Erik Grigoryan, Minister of Nature Protection, Armenia; and Vigen Ananyan, Armenia Patrick Luna, Brazil, and Hugo Schally, EU Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo and Jamil Ahmad, UNEP Leadership Dialogue: Life-Cycle Approaches to Resource Efficiency, Energy, Chemicals and Waste Management From L-R: Moderator Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair, International Resource Panel; Inga Rhonda King, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); Sarah Chandler, Apple Inc; Michael Gotsche, BASF-Africa; Stefanie Hellweg, ETH Zurich; and Leyla Acaroglu, UNEP Champion of the Earth Moderator Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair, International Resource Panel Stefanie Hellweg, ETH Zurich Sarah Chandler, Apple Inc Inga Rhonda King, ECOSOC President From L-R: Michael Gotsche, BASF-Africa; Stefanie Hellweg, ETH Zurich; and Leyla Acaroglu, UNEP Champion of the Earth Leadership Dialogue: Innovative Business Development at a Time of Rapid Technological Change Moderator Felix Dodds, University of North Carolina Hugh Weldon, 2018 Young Champion of the Earth From L-R: Pierre Courtemanche, CEO, GeoTraceability; Priya Mehra, Victory Farms; and Jane Nyakang'o, Kenya National Cleaner Production Centre Elizabeth Taylor, Colombia Carole Dieschbourg, Minister for the Environment, Luxembourg National Statements in UNEA-4 Plenary Michał Kurtyka, UNFCCC COP24 President Suleiman Hassan Zarma, Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing, Nigeria Fadi Jreissati, Minister of Environment, Lebanon Josefa Leonel Correa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Alexander Teabo, Minister for Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development, Kiribati Malik Amin Aslam, Federal Minister and Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Climate Change Joseph Séka Séka, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Côte d'Ivoire Eneida De León, Ministry of Housing, Territorial Planning and Environment, Uruguay Closing Ceremony L-R: Inger Andersen, incoming Executive Director, UNEP, Siim Kiisler, UNEA-4 President, and Joyce Msuya, acting Executive Director, UNEP, water seedlings with freshwater collected by children from special places around the world as a symbol of global unity. In memory of the people lost after the Ethiopian Airlines 302 crash Around the Venue The Flipflopi Project: a boat built entirely from plastic collected on beaches and roadsides in Kenya The Ecological Pavilion: an entirely 3D printed pavilion made of biodegradable bamboo