Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Capacity-building
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Fundraising
Policy influencing/advocacy
Scientific/technical activities
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
2023
• Secured funding through Ledunfly to continue work on promotion of Moratorium
• Attended 28th session of the ISA (both 1st part in March, and 2nd part in July) (report pending)
o IUCN key messages produced ahead of the meeting: iucn-key-messages-isa-july-2023_0.pdf
o Active participation in the discussions
o Organizing of a side event on the Periodic review of the Authority under Art. 154 of UNCLOS
• Recorded a podcast on Deep Seabed Mining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCjaGV5u7MI&list=PLEuneE-bMnuHHsrGEnesmDXs9uucohjcY
• Organize a webinar on the Two-year rule: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8iZQtpVC4&t=3s
• Co-organize an event at the Geneva Graduate Institute on 3rd May 2023 entitled: Deep seabed mining and the International Seabed Authority: What is currently happening, and where are we headed?
• Reviewed a deep seabed mining moratorium bill for New-Caledonia which is now posted on the Congress website: https://www.congres.nc/textes/projet-de-loi-du-pays-portant-moratoire-sur-lexploration-et-lexploitation-des-ressources-minerales-au-sein-de-lespace-maritime-de-la-nouvelle-caledonie-rapport-n-38-g/>.
- IUCN produced a film " The Trouble of Mining the deep" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BQuU6JbeL4&t=26s
- IUCN Organize a webinar on the Two-year rule: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8iZQtpVC4&t=3s
- IUCN Director General’s open letter to ISA Members on deep-sea mining: https://www.iucn.org/dg-statement/202303/iucn-director-generals-open-letter-isa-members-deep-sea-mining
- Letters were also sent to all IUCN State Members copying their permanent Mission in Geneva.
2022
• Much of the following done in close collaboration with IUCN France Committee and members.
• Organization of an expert panel discussion on IUCN Resolution 122 in the lead up to CBD COP15, the upcoming CBD SBSTTA meeting and other ocean conservation-related events in 2022. Webinar covered science and equity, issues of governance, social licence, finance, liability, and alternatives for a decarbonised future. Replay webinar 1 and webinar 2.
• Attendance to the 27th Session of the International Seabed Authority Council and Assembly Meetings:
o From 21 March-1 April 2022;
o From 18 July to 5th August 2022; and
o From 31 October-11 November 2022
• Promotion at UNFCCC COP27 in consultation with Government of Chile
• Contribution to DeepSea Day on 5th December
• Update of the IUCN issues brief: Deep-sea mining - resource | IUCN
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
2023
• The pace of the negotiations at the ISA, with three multiple-week sessions a year, is challenging and unsustainable for many. It is critical as under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Area and its mineral resources are the common heritage of humankind and thus the negotiations need to be inclusive and representative.
• Securing funding is another challenge. After many back and forth, some funding has been secured through Ledunfly philanthropy, for specific activities with a particular messaging.
• The polarized views on the "moratorium" approach present many challenges too. IUCN does its utmost to explain why the moratorium is the way forward by focusing on the various arguments, without doing a campaign-type of approach.
2022
• Limited capacity to follow the ISA proceedings, especially as remote attendance is not always made possible by the ISA Secretariat. Sending a representative for IUCN has helped follow and intervene on behalf on the Union.
• Lack of transparency from ISA
• Not having a unified language – moratorium is putting some stakeholders off in openly supporting the resolution.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
• Continue supporting and influencing the negotiations.
• Working further on the governance aspects. The work on the period review under 145 is a first step in that direction.
• As the Government of Nauru notified the ISA in June 2021 of their intention to start deep-sea mining triggering a rush to finalise the ISA regulations by summer 2023, IUCN will continue pushing for a moratorium unless and until the conditions detailed in resolution 122 are met.
• Continue to building a coalition of willing using international gatherings (COPs etc…) to gain and maintain momentum
Are these actions planned for yet:
