The Side Event on Capacity Building as a Key Aspect of a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and Options on Approaches, Modalities, and Strategies that took place on April 17, 2018 during the organizational meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) (General Assembly resolution 72/249)16 to 18 April 2018, New York, focused on tangible recommendations on options for capacity building and technology transfer for discussion by decision makers at the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference. The event featured eleven key speakers, and drew about 85 participants. Co-organizers of the event included the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, Global Ocean Forum/International Coastal and Ocean Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan. See the side event agenda here. 

The Side Event highlighted the work being done on the Policy Brief on Capacity Building as a Key Aspect of a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a multi-author, multi-institutional effort, led by the GEF/FAO/GOF Capacity Development Project and its Communities of Practice, involving a set of 38 Organizing Authors and Contributing Authors from around the world. The Policy Brief focuses, in particular, on alternative modalities for capacity building and technology transfer in BBNJ taking into account the diversity of needs/capacities in different regions and of existing efforts in capacity building by the United Nations, international or­ganizations, non-governmental organizations, and the academic sector relevant to BBNJ; options for and relevant experiences related to building a clearinghouse mechanisms for capacity building and technology transfer; and considerations and options relevant to financing. Various experiences with and perspectives on capacity building and technology transfer by the Kingdom of Tonga, the IOC/UNESCO, the Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,  the Government of Portugal, and the World Maritime University were highlighted at the side event. The presentations are available here.

Initial draft sections of the Policy Brief on Capacity Development on the following topics—Overview of Capacity Policy Brief, Clearing-house Mechanism, Options for Fi­nancing, and Possible Modalities for Linking Global, Regional, and National Level Capacity Building Efforts are available here. Please send any comments to Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Global Ocean Forum, bilianacicin-sain@ globaloceans.org, preferably by May 1, 2018. A draft of the Policy Brief will be completed by June 1, 2018.

Photos by I. Fujii, OPRI-SPF

The United Nations held the fourth meeting of the Preparatory Committee established by the General Assembly resolution 69/292: Development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ PrepCom 4) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 July 2017. In parallel to this important effort to strengthen legal institutions around ABNJ, the Global Ocean Forum, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNEP World Conservation and Monitoring Centre (WCMC), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation co-organized the side event. Please see the attached leaflet for the event.

The side event focused on modalities, experiences, and lessons learned in existing efforts at capacity development in ABNJ, and explored possible ways of moving forward on this central issue in the BBNJ process. 13 speakers presented their perspectives on the capacity development discussions in the BBNJ process thus far, best practices from existing capacity development efforts, and options for future capacity development in ABNJ to over 60 attendees. Members of the Global Ocean Forum also presented the results of a capacity development needs assessment survey, conducted as part of the GEF/FAO/GOF Common Oceans Project.

Resources:

Summary documents:

Summary and Outcomes

Common Oceans Capacity Development in ABNJ Survey Results

Presentations:

Introduction by the Co-Chairs – Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Global Ocean Forum and Mr. Blaise Kuemlangan, FAO

Overview of Capacity Development Issues and Possibilities in the BBNJ Process – Dr. Marjo Vierros, Global Ocean Forum

Lessons Learned Regarding Capacity Building in ABNJ: Emphasis on RFMOs and Tuna Management – Mr. Alejandro Anganuzzi, FAO and IOTC

Lessons Learned Regarding Capacity Building in ABNJ: Regional Experiences on Area-Based Planning and Management in ABNJ – Ms. Merete Tandstad, FAO, and Ms. Hannah Thomas, UNEP World Conservation and Monitoring Centre

Relevant Experiences on Capacity Development from Related Conventions – Ms. Leah Karrer, Global Environment Facility

Perspectives on Capacity Development and Technology Transfer – Ms. Harriet Harden-Davies, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Expert and University of Wollongong

The Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action (ROCA) is a multi-stakeholder initiative involving governments, international agencies, NGOs, scientific institutions, private sector, and subnational authorities to advance the oceans and climate agenda (especially in the UNFCCC, the UN Ocean Conference, and in other United Nations fora), and at the national level in all countries.  ROCA was launched at the UNFCCC COP 22 in Marrakech, Morocco.  The ROCA works to implement the Strategic Action Roadmap on Oceans and Climate:  2016-2021, first discussed at the Oceans Day at COP 21 in Paris 2015, and then prepared in detail by 37 international experts throughout 2016 and highlighted at the Oceans Action Day at COP 22 Marrakech (November 12, 2016).

The ROCA partners held their first Working Meeting on 22-23 May 2017 at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) headquarters in Paris, France. The purpose of this Working Meeting was to operationalize the five-year ROCA initiative together with partners and other interested parties, and to discuss and move forward on priority actions to advance the oceans and climate agenda in the next five years.  A more detailed description of the ROCA initiative is found later in this post.

The intent of the Working Meeting is to move forward on the oceans and climate agenda, with special emphasis on the low carbon Blue Economy, at the national level and in all relevant UN fora, especially the UNFCCC, contributing as well to advancing the oceans and climate issues through the forthcoming Our Ocean Conferences (Malta 2017, European Commission; Indonesia 2018, Government of Indonesia; Norway 2019, Government of Norway).

Type of Partners involved

Governments, international agencies, provincial and local governments, civil society (NGOs, private sector, academic/scientific institutions)

ROCA Leadership

Global Ocean Forum * Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO * Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan * Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal

Initial Partners

Coastal Zone Canada Association * Conservation International * Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative * Duke University * EUCC * Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations * Future Ocean Alliance * IUCN * Global Ocean Forum * Government of Grenada *  Government of Palau * Government of Seychelles * Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO * International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification* Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan * Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal * Ocean Recovery Alliance, Hong Kong* Pacific Community * Plymouth Marine Laboratory * Scripps Institution of Oceanography * South Pacific Regional Environment Programme * The Nature Conservancy * University of Delaware * UN Environment * World Ocean Network * World Ocean Observatory *

Formal Registration of ROCA

ROCA is being registered as an initiative in the UNFCCC context and as a voluntary commitment in the UN Ocean Conference, June 2017

Expressions of Interest in ROCA

Expressions of interest to participate in the ROCA initiative will be considered by the ROCA leadership.  Please send a note regarding your interest to Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Global Ocean Forum, bilianacicin-sain@globaloceans.org

Implementing the Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action

ROCA works to implement the recommendations the Roadmap presents in six major areas:  1.  Central of role of oceans in regulating climate, 2. Mitigation, 3.  Adaptation and Blue Economy, 4.  Displacement, 5.  Financing, and 6.  Capacity development, for implementation in the next 5 years.

For each of these issues, the Roadmap addresses:

1)  the current status of the issue (and, as relevant, the science related to the issue)

2)  the current state of play of the issue within the UNFCCC

3)  the opportunities and pathways that may be available within the UNFCCC to advance the issue in the next five years

4)  the opportunities and pathways that may be available outside of the UNFCCC to advance the issue

5)  financial considerations regarding each issue

The Roadmap report features a Foreword by H.E. Ambassador Ronald Jumeau, Ambassador for Climate Change and Small Island Developing State Issues, Republic of Seychelles; H.E. Ambassador Caleb Otto, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Palau to the United Nations; and H.E. Ambassador Angus Friday, Ambassador to the Unites States of America, the United Mexican States, and the Organization of American States, Embassy of Grenada, Washington DC.

Resources:

Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action Initiative (ROCA) (brochure)

Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action Report: https://globaloceanforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/strategic-action-roadmap-on-oceans-and-climate-november-2016.pdf 

Summary of Roadmap: https://globaloceanforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/final-roadmap-summary-nov-7-2016.pdf 

Final Program with Detailed Times Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action May 22-23, 2017 UNESCO

Advancing the Oceans and Climate Agenda for the Next Five Years

Outcomes and List of Participants ROCA Meeting May 22-23, 2017 UNESCO

The Oceans Action Day at COP 22, part of the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Agenda, is organized under the leadership of H.E. Minister Hakima El Haité, High-Level Champion for Climate Change, Morocco, and H.E. Mr. Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Morocco. The main organizers of Oceans Action Day at COP 22 are the Government of Morocco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Global Ocean Forum, and the Ocean and Climate Platform.  The co-organizers include the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission/UNESCO; the Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan; the Oceano Azul Foundation and Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal; and the World Bank. Please see the Oceans Action Day at COP 22 leaflet.

The Oceans Action Day at COP 22 will bring together leaders in the UNFCCC negotiations, high-level representatives from governments, intergovernmental/international organizations, and civil society to advance the oceans and climate change agenda at COP 22 and beyond. The major objectives are to:

– Highlight examples of adoption and implementation of the Paris Agreement;

– Lend political support and provide suitable policy options in the implementation of actions on oceans, seas, coasts, and small island developing States (SIDS) issues in the context of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 14 on oceans and seas;

– Connect the oceans, coasts and climate initiatives generated at and following COP 21 with national actions plans, initiatives and commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the SDGs (as called for in the Road Map for Global Climate Action);

– Showcase and promote financial support and capacity development to enable nations to fulfill their NDCs, with special emphasis on oceans, seas and coasts, and on the concerns from SIDS and African States;

– Develop specific next steps for advancing the oceans and climate issues in the UNFCCC process in the next phase, as part of the Road Map for Global Climate Action, and to implement UN SDG 14.

As part of the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Agenda, all presentations at the Oceans Action Day are expected to stress their connection to particular initiatives and actions that will be taken to advance the oceans and climate issues in the context of the UNFCCC.

All are welcome to participate in the Oceans Action Day at COP 22. However, space is limited and priority will be given to government delegations. All participants need to register by sending a filled out registration form to Ms. Nicole Rucker, mnrucker@udel.edu, by November 7, 2016. Please note that all participants must be accredited to the Blue Zone.