Hybrid Event: International ocean governance: Unfolding the relation between the new High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) & the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Wednesday 5th of July 2023, 09:15 – 11:00 CEST
Hybrid event held at the European Parliament (Room ASP 1E2) & online
Hosted by MEP Catherine Chabaud
Co-Chair of the ‘Ocean Governance WG’ of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’
REGISTRATION LINKS:
Register here for physical participation to the event.
Register here for online participation to the event.
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).
DRAFT AGENDA:
The event will be moderated by Minna Epps, Head of Ocean Team, IUCN (tbc)
09:15 – 09:25: Welcome and introduction – MEP Catherine Chabaud
09:25 – 09:35: The new High Seas Treaty – Aurore Maillet, EU Negotiator for the BBNJ treaty, DG MARE (tbc)
09:35 – 09:45: Intervention by DG ENV representative (tbc)
09:45 – 09:55: The role of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Jihyun Lee – CBD Secretariat (tbc)
09:55 – 10:05: Well-managed fisheries in the High Seas – Vera Agostini – Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (tbc)
10:05 – 10:15: RFMOs and the new High Seas Treaty – Darius Campbell – North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (tbc)
10:15 – 10:25: Regional Seas Conventions – OSPAR – Dominic Pattinson (tbc)
10:25 – 10:55: Q&A session with the audience, including reactions from additional MEPs (tbc)
10:55 – 11:00: Closing remarks – MEP Catherine Chabaud
