Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Policy influencing/advocacy
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
• In December 2021, IUCN Ocean Team hold a 3-day expert workshop on Area-based Management Tools in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, at the IUCN Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland.
The overall objective of the workshop was to identify key steps (and challenges) for establishing ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement, using the two areas of the Sargasso Sea and the Thermal Dome as concrete case studies.
Workshop report and Key messages of the workshop were distributed at the IGC-4 of BBNJ. https://www.iucn.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/iucn_abmt_2021_-_key_messages_0.pdf
A follow-up discussion was held on 14 July 2022.
• IUCN had a strong delegation composed of Commissions experts and Secretariat staff members, both from HQ and ORO at each of the two sessions of the Intergovernmental Conference of the BBNJ negotiations in 2022: IGC-4, 7-18 March, and IGC-5, 15-26 August 2022. The presence of IUCN in its role of observer was recognized and appreciated. The delegation, carrying the voices of the Union, promoted the resolution WCC 128 at these occasions, reinforcing the credibility and legitimacy of IUCN in this forum and on this topic.
• Ahead of IGC-5, IUCN published a full Commentary on the further revised draft text of the BBNJ Agreement. The work of the WCEL law experts was absolutely instrumental for this. IUCN also developed and promoted an IUCN Multimedia Story on the issue. High Time for the High Seas (iucn.org)
• A knowledge series with key products to support the work of the negotiators and various experts, was developed and promoted. Material can be found here: Looking towards the resumption of IGC5 - Story | IUCN
• For IGC-5, an IUCN Policy Brief on Innovative financing mechanisms was also put together.
From Members:
Following the BBNJ negotiations IGC4 session (7-18 March 2022), the French Committee of IUCN called on States to finalize and adopt an ambitious and operational high seas treaty at the 5th session scheduled for August 2022 and recalled the Congress recommendations on marine protected areas and environmental impact assessments. On the occasion of the One Ocean Summit in February 2022 in Brest, the EU, joined by 16 other countries, launched the "High Ambition Coalition for a High Seas Treaty" in order to conclude an operational international agreement this year.
Protection de la haute mer : gardons le cap et adoptons un traité ambitieux en 2022 - UICN France (https://uicn.fr/protection-de-la-haute-mer/)
WWF participated and co-financed high-level events supporting the progress on the BBNJ negotiations.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
Despite many progresses, the negotiations did not conclude with an agreement at the end of the planned two weeks of IGC-5 in August 2022. The session was suspended and will reconvene hopefully soon. The date for the resumed IGC-5 is not known yet – as of Oct. 2022.
The challenges are also for the developing countries to have the funds to attend and time to prepare.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
A refreshed commentary of the treaty text will be prepared for the resuming of the IGC-5.
A webinar on the MGR issue is planned for end of November to inform the negotiators with multiple sessions to accommodate the different time zones.
Are these actions planned for yet:
