The Agreement 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 Agreement) was adopted by consensus on 19 June 2023 at the further resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, convened under the auspices of the United Nations. This is an outcome of nearly 20 years of discussions in different formats.
Fifth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (2004)
The General Assembly first considered issues relating to addressing the threats and risks to vulnerable and threatened marine ecosystems and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction at its fifty-eighth session. Pursuant to General Assembly of 23 December 2003, the fifth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, which took place from 7 to 11 June 2004, organized its discussions around the topic: “New sustainable uses of the oceans, including the conservation and management of the biological diversity of the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction”.
Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (2006 – 2015)
In its of 17 November 2004, the General Assembly decided to establish an Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction. The Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group held nine sessions between 2006 and 2015. Pursuant to of 9 December 2013, the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group made on the scope, parameters and feasibility of an international instruments under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Among others, the Working Group recommended that the General Assembly decide on the development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Preparatory Committee established by 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 (2016 – 2017)
In its of 19 June 2015, the General Assembly decided to develop 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. To that end, it decided to establish, prior to holding an intergovernmental conference, a Preparatory Committee, to make substantive recommendations to the General Assembly on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument. The Preparatory Committee convened for four sessions in 2016 and 2017. At its fourth session, held from 10 to 21 July 2017, the Preparatory Committee adopted its .
Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (2018 – 2023)
In its of 24 December 2017, the General Assembly decided to convene an Intergovernmental Conference, under the auspices of the United Nations, to consider the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee on the elements and to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, with a view to developing the instrument as soon as possible. The Intergovernmental Conference held one organizational meeting and five substantive sessions between 2018 and 2023. The Conference was closed on 20 June 2023, following the adoption by consensus of the BBNJ Agreement on 19 June 2023.