The first session of the “Intergovernmental Conference on an International Legally Binding Instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)” (IGC-1) is taking place from September 4 – 17, 2018, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. During this conference, government delegations, and others, are negotiating on the four main elements of BBNJ (1. Marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits, 2. Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, 3. Environmental impact assessments, and 4. Capacity building and the transfer of marine technology) towards the creation of a legally binding instrument on BBNJ under UNCLOS.

The Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) is participating in IGC-1 as an NGO holding special consultative status with the United Nations. OPRI-SPF also co-hosted a side event on September 6 on the theme of capacity building and the transfer of marine technology regarding BBNJ, entitled “Options on Approaches, Modalities, and Strategies on Capacity Development for a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.” During the event, Dr. Atsushi Sunami (President, OPRI-SPF) gave a presentation focusing on efforts by NGOs regarding capacity development and the training of human resources. Around 70 people, mainly from government delegations, participated in the event, which saw lively discussion on various topics.

Side event: Options on Approaches, Modalities, and Strategies on Capacity Development for a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

Presented by: Government of France, Permanent Mission of Barbados, Global Ocean Forum/ International Coastal and Ocean Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF)”

＊For further details, please see the event report here.