The intergovernmental conference to draft the first-ever treaty on the ocean’s biological diversity opened its fifth and likely final session on Monday.
Amidst calls for flexibility, openness and the spirit of compromise that prevailed in 1982, when the landmark “constitution for the oceans” was adopted, the new treaty will aim to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas of the ocean which are beyond the limits of States’ maritime zones.
The session, which runs until 26 August, was convened following a decision taken by the General Assembly in May and is expected to be the final in a series set in motion since 2018 to draft an international legally binding instrument under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
“I am hopeful that we can make real progress in these two weeks, with the aim of finalizing the agreement as soon as possible,” said Intergovernmental Conference President Rena Lee, rallying delegates to roll up their sleeves as they delve into the technical and legal details.
Recalling that the four previous sessions were mandated by resolution 72/249, of 24 December 2017, she said that negotiations are to address marine genetic resources, including questions on benefit-sharing, measures such as area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.
Having studied all proposals made since the fourth session, she prepared a further revised draft of an agreement.
Ms. Lee said that delegates were also asked to submit textual proposals for the fifth session, noting that an article-by-article compilation was issued in early August.
Informal background documents that were provided to delegations included two that had been requested on resource requirements, should the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea be designated as Secretariat under the agreement, and another on global ocean financing.