IOC Working Group on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction
IOC/WG BBNJ

Other

09 December 2025 - 30 June 2027

Location

France


Organiser(s) & Staff
Organiser
Participation

By invitation only.

IOC Working Group on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction
Summary

The group will provide scientific and technical advice and recommendations to support IOC’s commitment, within the IOC mandate, particularly with regard to the BBNJ Clearing-House Mechanism, as well as other key areas of the Agreement. The IOC Chair has appointed Dr Hansan PARK (Vice Chair, Group IV) to chair the IOC/WG-BBNJ, which will provide a progress report on its findings at the 59th Session of the IOC Executive Council in 2026 and at the 34th session of the IOC Assembly in 2027.

Notes

Annex to Decision A-33/4.7
IOC Working Group on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (IOC/WG-BBNJ)
1. Background and Context
The United Nations adopted the Agreement 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) in 2023. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, as a competent international organisation in relation to UNCLOS and the only UN body with a global mandate in ocean science, should play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, particularly in areas related to marine scientific research, capacity building, and the sharing of ocean data and knowledge.
2. Objectives
The IOC Working Group on BBNJ is established to provide scientific and technical advice on matters related to the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement within the IOC mandate, and in particular:
(i)
Develop recommendations for IOC’s potential role in the operationalization of BBNJ e.g., for area-based management tools; EIAs; capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology; and marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits;
(ii)
Identify, in cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of legal Affairs of the United Nations acting as secretariat for the BBNJ Agreement, and promote IOC’s role and contributions towards the establishment and operation of the future BBNJ Clearing-House Mechanism;
(iii)
Review and analyze scientific, technical, and capacity development aspects of the BBNJ Agreement relevant to the IOC;
(iv) Identify needs and modalities to be delivered though IOC mechanisms to support Member States, particularly developing countries, in capacity development initiatives relevant to BBNJ implementation, in cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of legal Affairs of the United Nations acting as secretariat for the BBNJ Agreement.
(v)
Propose strategies and mechanisms for enhancing data sharing and cooperation across national and regional institutions, including though IOC Regional Subsidiary Bodies.
(vi)
Propose mechanisms for cooperation between IOC and BBNJ Agreement.
3. Membership, Chairing and Methods of Work
The Working Group shall be composed of experts nominated by IOC Member States, taking into account regional representation and relevant expertise (e.g., marine science, international law, capacity development, data management), as well as representatives from relevant IOC Programmes and Subsidiary Bodies. The Working Group will be chaired by an IOC Officers (Vice-Chair) to be identified by IOC Chairperson.
The Working Group shall conduct its work through virtual means and will work in English.

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Agenda Documents: 1
Background Documents: 1
Other Documents: 13
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There are 0 participants associated with IOC Working Group on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction .

Participant Stats:
Total Invited: 0
Confirmed: 0
Not confirmed: 0
Unapproved: 0
Not-participating: 0
Rejected: 0
Group(s): IOC - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
 Label(s): no labels
Created at 14:53 on 09 Dec 2025 by Isabel Chavez
Last Updated at 15:53 on 09 Dec 2025 by Sofie de Baenst