Ocean & Climate News

15 May 2025

Welcome to the May 2025 edition of the Global Ocean Forum’s Ocean & Climate News. This issue will focus on the outcomes of the first session of the Preparatory Commission to prepare for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement (PrepCom 1) held in New York City from 14 to 25 April 2025 with a summary and a perspective contribution from the University of Wollongong. The issue will also provide news about the 10th Our Ocean Conference, forthcoming ocean and climate events, and a status update on the Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Project. Please consider donating here to support the Global Ocean Forum’s ongoing mission to promote good governance of the ocean, healthy marine ecosystems, and sustainable development.

First Session of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement

Overview of the First Session of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement

Summarized from reporting by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the PrepCom 1

The 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 Agreement) was adopted in June 2023. The BBNJ Agreement currently has 115 signatories and 21 parties. It will enter into force 120 days after the date of deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession.

Many elements needed for the Agreement to become operational are not yet agreed upon. Thus, in advance of the first meeting of the Agreement’s Conference of the Parties (after it enters into force), the UN General Assembly established a Preparatory Commission or PrepCom. At an organizational meeting held from 24 to 26 June 2024, it was determined that three sessions of the PrepCom would be held through early 2026, with more possible if needed. The PrepCom is tasked with addressing the fundamental aspects that will guide the orderly implementation of the Agreement. The Co-Chairs of the PrepCom are Janine Coye Felson (Belize) and Adam McCarthy (Australia). The Agreement’s Interim Secretariat is the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UN DOALOS).

*First session of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission. Photo by Catie Mitchell*.

Topics of discussion at the PrepCom 1 included the following:

Rules and procedure of the Conference of the Parties (COP);
Rules and procedure and modalities of operation of the subsidiary bodies;
Arrangements for the Secretariat, including the selection of its seat;
Funding of the Secretariat, COP, and subsidiary bodies;
Arrangements with the Global Environment Facility; and
Operationalization of the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM).

PrepCom 1 convened at UN Headquarters in New York from 14 to 25 April 2025, gathering approximately 200 representatives of governments, civil society, and intergovernmental bodies with links to the process. Delegates also held an initial exchange of views on the matters to be considered at PrepCom 2, including cooperation with other instruments, frameworks, and bodies, which is key for the smooth implementation of the Agreement. Following PrepCom 1, the Co-Chairs released a statement at the closing of the first session. An advanced, unedited version of the closing statement is available here as well as the oral reports of the Co-Chairs on the work of the Informal Working Groups delivered during the first session.

Key Takeaways and Insights from the First Session of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission

By Dr. Kristine Dalaker and Dr. Sarah Lothian, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia

Delegations from around the world gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York from 14 to 25 April 2025 for the first session of the Preparatory Commission (PrepCom 1) to prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP).

At the PrepCom organisational meeting in June 2024, two Co-Chairs were elected, Ambassador Janine Coye-Felson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belize to the UN and Mr. Adam McCarthy, Chief Counsel and First Assistant Secretary at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. During their opening remarks at PrepCom 1, the Co-Chairs emphasized that it was ‘time to go to work’ and turn the potential of the BBNJ Agreement into a reality. As PrepCom 1 discussions got underway, it became increasingly evident that the BBNJ process had moved into a critical new phase. Gone were the lengthy policy debates on the ambition for a new treaty to protect marine biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use. Instead, delegations pivoted their focus to the nuts and bolts required to implement and operationalize the BBNJ Agreement.

Guided by the comprehensive documents prepared by the Co-Chairs and the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), as the BBNJ Agreement Interim Secretariat, delegations dove into the technical issues identified at the organizational meeting and formulated into the PrepCom’s Programme of Work. The BBNJ Agreement itself set out a blueprint to follow in generating three main clusters of issues to be addressed in preparation for the instrument’s entry into force, namely, (1) Governance issues; (2) Issues pertaining to the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM); and (3) Financial rules, and financial resources and mechanism.

Prior to PrepCom 1, the Co-Chairs prepared three aids for the purpose of serving as possible starting points for discussions and text-based negotiations, together with guiding questions. These documents proved exceedingly helpful to delegations in formulating national and regional positions and priorities and in drafting interventions. The guiding questions, in particular, served as an effective tool to focus the PrepCom discussions on possible areas of convergence. Ahead of PrepCom 1, the Co-Chairs had also encouraged delegates to review three notes prepared by the Interim Secretariat, which were intended to be used as background and reference points in considering the work before the Commission. It was evident from the start that delegations had heeded the Co-Chairs’ advice, engaged with the documents, and had come to the first session with a spirit of goodwill and cooperation.

Discussions on governance issues focused on the COP’s rules of procedure, the rules of procedure and modalities of operation of the subsidiary bodies, and arrangements for the Secretariat, including selection of its seat. Following the first round of discussions, the Co-Chairs generated a list of key items, which provided helpful guidance on various technical considerations. While delegations were clearly moving towards general convergence on a number of issues, it was also evident that further examination would be required and may reveal potential areas of divergence.

One issue that will require closer reflection at the second session of the PrepCom involves the extent to which Article 6 (no prejudice) and Article 18 (area of application) of the BBNJ Agreement should be incorporated into the rules of procedure of the COP. The call for the incorporation of these articles was initially made by China with the subsequent support of other delegations. This was met with strong opposition from many other delegations asserting that matters of substance should not be included in the rules of procedure. This issue served as a reminder of the distinct possibility that there may be some issues upon which the PrepCom may have difficulty reaching consensus in meeting its mandate to provide recommendations to the first meeting of the COP.

Turning to the next cluster of issues, discussions regarding financial arrangements focused on the funding of the Secretariat, the COP, and subsidiary bodies, together with the arrangements for the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The Co-Chairs’ use of guiding questions was an effective tool in ventilating issues on funding. What became increasingly apparent is that the BBNJ Agreement is not unique when it comes to the establishment of financial arrangements as delegations will encounter the same challenges already played out under other multilateral environmental agreements. It was, however, encouraging to hear that several delegations had committed to making contributions to the Agreement’s voluntary trust fund to facilitate the participation of developing States in the PrepCom process.

The last cluster of issues discussed at PrepCom 1 involved the elements necessary for operationalizing an effective and fit-for-purpose CHM, one that is accessible and optimized for all users. On a positive note, delegations recognized the crucial importance of the CHM to the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement – with one delegate describing it as its “engine”. We were especially encouraged by the sheer number of creative proposals that were put forward by delegations for a phased and incremental approach to the design and building of a fit-for-purpose CHM. We also applauded their eagerness to engage with technical experts to assist in that process, together with their willingness to dedicate the necessary financial resources.

As we look ahead to the second session of the PrepCom, we expect that the Co-Chairs will seek to build on the momentum of PrepCom 1 and will work closely with the Interim Secretariat to prepare updated aids to discussions, in addition to matrixed documents that draw heavily on the elements and lessons learned from existing instruments, frameworks, and bodies (IFBs). In keeping with the second session’s Programme of Work, we fully expect that the matrixed documents will serve as the foundation for discussions on regime interaction and the arrangements necessary to enhance cooperation with relevant IFBs.

The BBNJ Agreement has been heralded as a triumph of multilateralism. In an increasingly unstable world, the first session of the PrepCom served as a welcome reminder of what can be achieved through multilateral dialogue and engagement, and we look forward to participating in and supporting this process moving forward.

Policy Brief on the First Meeting of the BBNJ Agreement Preparatory Commission

The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) is a think tank which facilitates the transition towards sustainable development. In advance of the first meeting of the Preparatory Commission, researchers from IDDRI shared a blog post providing an overview of key issues expected to be discussed during the PrepCom. The blog post spotlighted a Policy Brief on the PrepCom co-authored by Klaudija Cremers, Julien Rochette, Elisa Coccorese, Daniel Kachelriess, and Cymie R. Payne. The brief explains the PrepCom context, mandate, and program of work and highlights key recommendations.

Ocean and Climate Events and Opportunities

10th Our Ocean Conference, Korea 2025

Since 2014, the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) has become a key forum for mobilizing sustainable ocean action and resources through voluntary commitments in six action areas: the ocean-climate nexus, marine protected areas (MPAs), sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, sustainable blue economy, and maritime security. The OOC has mobilized $133 billion in funding for ocean action over the past decade. These and other findings were highlighted in a World Resources Institute (WRI) report on a global stocktake of the OOC which assessed 10 years of international commitments to sustainable ocean action. The report was prepared to mark the conference’s 10th anniversary (WRI).

The 10th Our Ocean Conference, held in Busan, Korea on 28-30 April 2025 focused on the theme ‘Our Ocean, Our Action’ to promote global actions for a sustainable ocean. This Conference primarily focused on the achievements and success stories over the past 10 years while also establishing the future direction for international cooperation over the next decade. This Conference also discussed ‘Digital Oceans’ and the means to drive action as a special focus. Digital Oceans is being considered as an implementation tool to help achieve a sustainable ocean efficiently.

Nigel Bradly, CEO of EnviroStrat and Policy Advisory Board Member of the Global Ocean Forum, shared his experience participating in the Conference via a post on LinkedIn. He reported on a side event on The Role of Marine Spatial Planning in Building Natural Capital where several interesting perspectives on the topic were shared by participants from Korea, the Philippines, Sweden, Indonesia, World Bank, Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), and EnviroStrat. He mentioned that it appears while there are differences in approach, scale, outcomes and context in the practice of marine spatial planning (MSP), there are many commonalities as well, including the importance of building stakeholder and sectoral support, the crucial role of data and science to enable scenario analysis, the need for comprehensive multi-sectoral MSP, and the need to blend economic, social and environmental evidence-based prioritization and spatial allocation.

Kenya will host the 11^th Our Ocean Conference in 2026.

Call for Nominations for the Informal Advisory Group for Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas

According to the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD) website, Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) are areas of the ocean that have special importance in terms of their ecological and/or biological characteristics, for example, as essential habitats, food sources or breeding grounds for particular species. The work on EBSAs under the CBD has been focused on describing and identifying such special places in the ocean.

The CBD Secretariat is inviting Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations and initiatives to nominate scientific and technical experts to serve on the informal advisory group for EBSAs. The notification is available on the CBD website here. Nominations are due by 13 June 2025.

United Nations Ocean Conference 2025

The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will be held in Nice, France from 9 to 13 June 2025. The conference is co-organized by France and Costa Rica and will bring together UN member states, their heads of state and government, international agencies, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, and international donors. UNOC3 will be focused on accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and will seek to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14).

UNOC3 has identified three main priorities to produce an ambitious Nice Ocean Action Plan: 1) work towards the successful completion of ocean-related multilateral processes to raise the level of ambition for ocean protection; 2) mobilize funding for SDG14 and support the development of a sustainable blue economy; and 3) strengthen and better disseminate marine science knowledge for better policymaking.

The Global Ocean Forum is co-organizing a Blue Zone side event in collaboration with the International Science Council, Université Côte d’Azur and other partners titled Bridging Science, Policy and Action: Enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration for inclusive and equitable ocean management and governance. The side event will be held on Friday, 13 June at 12:15-13:30 PM in Room 5 of the Blue Zone conference venue. The event will explore how co-produced, transdisciplinary science and cross-sectoral ocean governance and cooperation, involving intergenerational and cross-scale multi-stakeholders, can drive effective conservation and sustainable use.

In alignment with the Blue Zone event theme, the Global Ocean Forum launched a Voluntary Ocean Commitment in March 2025 to accelerate and contribute to the implementation of SDG14 in collaboration with the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense, Monmouth University-Urban Coast Institute, Nausicaá National Sea Centre, Instytut Oceanologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Today We Have, EurOcean, EMBRC-BE Marine Training Unit of the Universiteit Gent, and the World Ocean Network. The Ocean Commitment, Advancing Multi-stakeholder and Intergenerational Initiatives for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Ocean, was developed in response to a call for action to mobilize stakeholder support for the overarching theme of UNOC3. Find more information about the Global Ocean Forum’s role in this voluntary commitment here.

Finally, the Global Ocean Forum is also supporting the organization of a Green Zone side event led by the World Ocean Network in collaboration with the French Biodiversity Agency with support from the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme, Youth and Environment Europe, and Nausicaá National Sea Centre. Focused on bolstering youth engagement with the BBNJ Agreement, the proposed event will feature an intergenerational dialogue featuring young ocean advocates, Early Career Ocean Professionals, government leaders and BBNJ experts. The dialogue will address the urgent need for ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement.

Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2025

The first Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue was mandated by UNFCCC COP25 and held in December 2020. The Glasgow Climate Pact invited the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Chair to hold an annual dialogue, starting in June 2022, to strengthen ocean-based climate action. The COP Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan mandated that future dialogues, from 2023, should be facilitated by two co-facilitators. The co-facilitators are selected by Parties biennially and are responsible for deciding the topics of the dialogue in consultation with Parties and observers.

The 2025 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue will be co-facilitated by Ulrik Lenaerts (Belgium) and Carlos Márcio Bicalho Cozendey (Brazil). The co-facilitators outlined their vision for the dialogue through a reflection on the role of the ocean within the UNFCCC process in a letter to Parties and Observers shared on 24 March 2025. A virtual informal exchange of views on the preparation for the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2025 was held on 3 April 2025. A recording of the webcast and agenda is available here. The dialogue will be held in June 2025 as part of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies meeting (SB62) now referred to as the June Climate Meetings (16-26 June 2025).

COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion

The Global Ocean Forum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory will once again co-organize the Virtual Ocean Pavilion at the UNFCCC COP30 with support from Ocean Generation and other partners. Now in its fifth year, this year’s Virtual Ocean Pavilion will continue its mission of connecting all on our incredible blue planet. New focal areas that will be highlighted during the COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion include collaborative initiatives involving the three Rio Conventions, national and regional action focusing on the BBNJ Agreement, and the outcomes of the third United Nations Ocean Conference.

An organizational meeting with past collaborating partners was held on 13 May 2025 with representatives from over 30 organizations in attendance. Expressions of interest in collaborating on the Virtual Ocean Pavilion are welcome. Contact Catie Mitchell and Thecla Keizer for more information.

Additional Upcoming Ocean Events in 2025

In addition to the events highlighted above, there will be several major ocean events to look forward to in 2025, including the following:

One Ocean Science Congress, 4-6 June 2025, Nice, France
Blue Economy & Finance Forum, 7-8 June 2025, Monaco, France
OCEANS 2025, 16-19 June 2025, Brest, France
June Climate Meetings, 16-26 June 2025, Bonn, Germany
London Climate Action Week (LCAW), 21-29 June 2025, London, UK
Second session of the Preparatory Commission for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, 18-29 August 2025, New York, United States
UNFCCC COP30, 10-21 November 2025, Belém, Brazil

Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Project

Cross-sectoral Project Updates

The Cross-sectoral Project is approaching the end of its second year of implementation. The Project has finalized drafts of 18 national ABNJ profiles as part of a capacity needs assessment on cross-sectoral ABNJ management and governance in the Southeast Pacific and the Pacific Islands region. Two regional ABNJ profiles are also in development. The information gathered through this baseline analysis can also support country efforts for ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. As part of the capacity needs assessment, the project is conducting preliminary, job and population analyses, and validation workshop for each pilot region. The Universidad Católica del Norte and the University of the South Pacific are leading the capacity needs assessment activities in the Southeast Pacific and the University of the South Pacific respectively, with support from the Global Ocean Forum.

Ms. Eugenia Merayo Garcia, Gender Specialist of the Project, has completed a review and enhancement of the Project’s Gender Action Plan. This enhanced Gender Action Plan will be utilized to ensure gender considerations are well incorporated into Project activities and outputs. Eugenia will also serve as a Project representative on the Gender Working Group of the Common Oceans Program.

A self-paced e-learning course on ABNJ is in development among project partners. This course will provide an introduction to marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) and an overview of ABNJ management and governance issues. The course is expected to be launched in June 2025 at UNOC3.

The Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur (CPPS) is organizing a working group focused on ABNJ including the implementation of the Cross-sectoral Project in the Southeast Pacific. The working group will involve representatives from CPPS member countries: Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. The first meeting of the working group will be convened at UNOC3.

Cross-sectoral Project Engagement at the First Meeting of the BBNJ Agreement Preparatory Commission

The Global Ocean Forum was represented at the first session of the BBNJ Agreement Preparatory Commission (14-25 April 2025) by Miriam Balgos, Executive Director; Tony MacDonald, Board Director; and Catie Mitchell, Policy Analyst. Tony attended the first day of PrepCom 1 while Miriam and Catie attended the first week.

Global Ocean Forum engagement during PrepCom 1 focused on connecting with representatives of 18 target countries from the Pacific Islands and Southeast Pacific in pursuit of capacity needs assessment objectives under the Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Project. In addition, the Global Ocean Forum interacted with a wide range of civil society organizations and was able to organize meetings with the International Seabed Authority and the International Indian Treaty Commission. Additional project partnerships were explored with representatives from IDDRI, the University of Wollongong, Conservation International, Pew Charitable Trusts, the Forum Fisheries Agency, the High Seas Alliance, and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

Support the Global Ocean Forum

Please consider donating to our 2024-2025 campaign of the Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain Memorial Fund to enable the Global Ocean Forum to support Fellows, the Virtual Ocean Pavilion at the UNFCCC COPs and the biennial reports on Assessing Progress on Ocean and Climate Action (ROCA Reports) for years to come. We also welcome donations to our general program operations that will directly support the implementation of our Strategic Plan for 2024-2030 with program development across four focal areas: Ocean & Climate, ABNJ, Blue Economy, and Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management.

Prepared by Catie Mitchell and Miriam Balgos