TM11
Science to support the BBNJ Agreement
Convener:
Hartwig Kremer
Thu, 05 Jun, 12:45–13:45 (CEST)|Room 8
Thu, 12:45
The BBNJ Agreement is grounded in science, with the use of the best available scientific information and the use of relevant traditional knowledge being among its general principles and approaches. Essential to the successful implementation of the Agreement is therefore to have a multidisciplinary, inclusive and accessible science-base that leaves no one behind and is foundational to the value proposition for countries.
In an ABNJ context natural resources have characteristics of global public goods as they happen to be non-excludable and non-rival, their conservation and sustainable use requires international cooperation. A successful implementation of the BBNJ Agreement will likely require mainstreaming biodiversity, its values and ecosystem services into decision-making. It will also require appropriate financing, including innovative financing partnerships and incentivising private-sector financial contributions.
Scientific knowledge is fundamental in the processes under the Agreement relating to the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and to environmental impact assessments. Promoting marine scientific research and marine technology development and transfer are key objectives of the Agreement in relation to marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits, and to capacity-building. A Scientific and Technical Body is established.
The session aims to bring experiences from states parties to Regional Seas Conventions and/or members of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, concerning scientific knowledge gaps and marine technology challenges on national and regional scales in relation to the Agreement. It will further focus on identifying how to consider relevant socio-economic dimensions in national planning.
Questions to be emphasized will include data and knowledge required from science that are critical to countries, institutions, and relevant societal actors. In that context, the multiple dimensions of ecological connectivity between areas beyond national jurisdiction and areas within national jurisdiction will be addressed, as well as the economic, social and ecosystem benefits arising from the BBNJ Agreement. Innovative public-private partnerships to mobilise financial resources will also be explored.
Questions will be centred around:
What data can be leveraged across related multilateral environmental agreements (e.g. CBD, CMS, CITES, Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans…) and regional fisheries management organizations in support of the BBNJ Agreement?
How can we better understand socio-economic dimensions in ABNJ to inform decision-making for the conservation and sustainable use of BBNJ?
How can science and data, including from the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, inform the sustainable management of activities in ABNJ, incl. fisheries, shipping and mining, and assist assessing cumulative impacts on marine biodiversity?
The Townhall aims to share latest science, foster dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in relevant fields and hence to accelerate the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and inform its future implementation. This includes providing a compelling value proposition of the Agreement for States, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, geographically disadvantaged States, small island developing States, coastal African States, archipelagic States and developing middle income countries. Experiences will be shared to explore the science showcasing the significance of BBNJ as a contributor to the achievement of global goals and targets on sustainable development, in particular SDG 14, and other goals and commitments related to marine biodiversity and climate change.
Speakers
- Hartwig Kremer, UN-Environment Programme UNEP, Kenya
- Dmitry Gonchar, United Nations, United States of America
- Manuel Barange, Italy
- Adnan Awad, UNDP, United States of America
- Chris McOwen, WCMC, United Kingdom
- Sheena Talma
- Miguel Bernal, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, FAO, Italy
- Michelle Devlin, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), United Kingdom
- Minna Epps, IUCN, Switzerland
- Martin Koehring, United Nations Environment Programme, United Kingdom
- Ward Appeltans, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Belgium