This Side Event addresses possible modalities for capacity development on the other three major emphases of the BBNJ Agreement—area-based management (ABMTs), environmental impact assessment (EIAs), and marine genetic resources (MGRs), taking into consideration the possible impacts of climate change.

This is a multi-author, multi-institutional effort, led by the GEF/FAO/GOF Capacity Development Project and its Communities of Practice, involving a set of 39 Authors, contributing in their personal capacities. The Policy Brief addresses the challenges of capacity building, relevant international prescriptions on capacity development, discussions on capacity in the BBNJ process so far, existing efforts in capacity building relevant to BBNJ, financing capacity building for BBNJ, a possible clearing-house mechanism, and possible modalities for linking capacity efforts at global, regional, and national levels. The paper is intended to contribute directly to the discussions at the Intergovernmental Conference on development of an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).

This Side Event features a Policy Brief on Capacity Development 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 Project on Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which provides practical analyses and suggestions for capacity development related to BBNJ for input into the BBNJ negotiations.

Program of the High-Level Dialogue and Global Media Forum taking place on the occasion of the inauguration of the world's first-ever large high seas aquarium and exhibit: Nausicáa, the French National Sea Center in Boulogne-sure-mer, France, from 26-28 June 2018. 

This side event focuses on tangible recommendations on options for capacity building in BBNJ for discussion by decision makers at 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 (General Assembly resolution 72/249).