1st Session of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement and the Convening of the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement

The first session of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission begins today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and will take place over the next two weeks (12-25). DOSI delegates are on the ground, ensuring that the deep sea is a central part of the conversation. This historic meeting is setting the stage for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, which aims to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) — nearly two-thirds of our global ocean.

Delegates will decide key structural elements:

• • Rules of procedure for the future Conference of the Parties (COP)
  • Terms of references and rules of procedure of the subsidiary bodies established under the Agreement
  • Selection process for the Scientific and Technical Body
  • Location and structure of the Secretariat
  • Financial and implementation mechanisms

As the world takes this next step toward a unified ocean governance framework, DOSI is working towards advancing strong, science-based approaches in policy decisions to ensure the deep sea — Earth’s largest, least known ecosystem — is effectively protected.

Daily coverage of the event produced by Earth Negotiations Bulletin is available here.