Hybrid Event: International ocean governance: Unfolding the relation between the new High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) & the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Wednesday 5^th of July 2023, 09:45 – 11:30 CEST 

Hybrid event held at the European Parliament (Room ASP 1E2) & online

 Event Recording

Hosted by MEP Catherine Chabaud

Co-Chair of the ‘Ocean Governance WG’ of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’

After 20 years of negotiations a historical decision was made to regulate all activities in the ocean with the adoption of a new Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Few months earlier, the 15th Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a new plan for people and nature which sets targets to be achieved by 2030. These two important decisions are very closely related. The CBD, with its year-long expertise on genetic resources, Marine Protected Areas and Environmental Impact Assessments can support and inform future decisions adopted in the context of BBNJ, thus playing a key role in facilitating the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework also sets targets for marine conservation that the implementation of the BBNJ treaty will help to achieve.

While a patchwork of international frameworks and bodies has been established in what can certainly be considered a victory for multilateralism, it remains unclear how these will interact and effectively cooperate, starting from the High Seas Treaty and the CBD. This event, organized under the umbrella of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”, will explore the key outcomes of the above decisions and examine the interface between ocean governance and biodiversity. The event will bring together representatives from DG MARE and DG Environment as well as the CBD, FAO, and as examples, representatives from a Regional Seas Organization (OSPAR) and an RFMO (NEAFC).

AGENDA:

The event will be moderated by Minna Epps, Head of Ocean Team, IUCN

09:45 – 09:55:               Welcome and introduction – MEP Catherine Chabaud

09:55 – 10:05:              The new High Seas Treaty – Aurore Maillet, EU Negotiator for the BBNJ treaty, DG MARE, European Commission

10:05 – 10:15:              Intervention by Mery Ciacci, International Relations Officer – Access and Benefit Sharing under the Nagoya Protocol, DG ENV, European Commission

10:15 – 10:25:              The role of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Jihyun Lee, Director of Science, Society and Sustainable Futures Division, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity / UNEP

10:25 – 10:35:              Well-managed fisheries in the High Seas – Dr. Manuel Barange, Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

10:35 – 10:45:              RFMOs and the new High Seas Treaty – Darius Campbell – North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

10:45 – 10:55:               Regional Seas Conventions – OSPAR – Dominic Pattinson

10:55 – 11:25:               Q&A session with the audience

11:25 – 11:30:               Closing remarks – MEP Catherine Chabaud