Vietnam accelerates preparations for effective implementation of the international marine biodiversity agreement
WVR - On the afternoon of October 31 (local time), within the framework of International Law Week, the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Vietnam and Singapore co-hosted the international seminar on preparatory steps for the effective implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), under the chairmanship of Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
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| Vietnam accelerates preparations for effective implementation of the international marine biodiversity agreement: The seminar was chaired by Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the United Nations. |
The event, co-sponsored by Australia, France, Costa Rica, Belize, and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), attracted leading global experts and scholars in maritime law and representatives from nearly 100 countries across five continents.
The Agreement under the framework of UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) will officially take effect on January 17, 2026, after reaching the milestone of 60 countries ratifying and approving it on September 19. Following the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, a preparatory committee established at the beginning of 2024 has held two sessions to discuss specific regulations on procedures and organization of the bodies and institutions established under the Agreement, such as the Conference of the Parties (COP), the Scientific and Technical Body, the Financial Mechanism, the Information Sharing Mechanism, the Compliance and Implementation Committee, and the Agreement Secretariat, to lay the groundwork for implementing the new, groundbreaking provisions of the Agreement across its four pillars: access, exploitation, equitable sharing of benefits from the use of marine genetic resources; establishment and management of marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments for activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and capacity building and marine technology transfer.
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| The international seminar o preparatiory steps for the effective implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) took place on October 31 (local time). (Photo: WVR). |
With just over two months until the Agreement officially takes effect, speaking at the seminar, the President of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Negotiation of the BBNJ Agreement and the two Co-Chairs of the BBNJ Preparatory Committee emphasized that the Agreement's adoption by consensus and its upcoming effect is just the beginning. Countries need to further accelerate discussions within the Preparatory Committee framework to soon agree on procedural rules and necessary institutional arrangements so that the Agreement's bodies can operate immediately after COP 1 (to be convened between now and January 2027).
Additionally, ambassadors and legal experts from France, Costa Rica, Cabo Verde, Palau, Sierra Leone, AOSIS, and many other countries delved into the significance, opportunities, and challenges for countries, especially developing and small island states, in implementing regulations on environmental impact assessments (EIA), establishing area-based management tools (ABMTs), and building a fair and sustainable financial mechanism based on lessons learned from the operation of various multilateral agreements over time.
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| Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vietnam's candidate for the position of judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, was the keynote speaker at the seminar. |
Participating as the keynote speaker at the seminar, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vietnam's candidate for the position of judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), shared insights on national-level preparations for implementing the Agreement. She affirmed that capacity building and marine technology transfer are crucial components to ensure the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. These mechanisms help developing countries complete their domestic legal and institutional frameworks, as well as train and enhance marine scientific research capabilities, enabling scientists from developing countries to actively participate in the collection, research, and use of marine genetic resources in the high seas and deep seabed.
Developing countries should assess their needs and priorities, promote regional and international cooperation, fully utilize the Agreement's institutions and financial mechanisms, and actively participate in implementing all four pillars of the Agreement. This approach ensures national interests while contributing to the promotion of marine biodiversity protection and the sustainable conservation and use of resources in international waters.
In conclusion, on behalf of the co-hosting and co-sponsoring countries of the seminar, Ambassador Do Hung Viet expressed confidence in the future and opportunities the Agreement brings. He called on countries to continue accelerating institutional and legal preparations at all levels to transition to the implementation phase of the BBNJ Agreement with the spirit of cooperation, constructive dialogue, and goodwill as demonstrated during the negotiation, signing, and ratification phases, ensuring the Agreement's conditions for effectiveness.
| * The BBNJ Agreement was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on June 19, 2023, after nearly two decades of negotiations. It opened for signature in New York on September 20, 2023, and has since been signed by 145 countries and ratified by 75. Vietnam was among the first nations to sign the Agreement on the opening day and is a leading country in completing internal procedures for ratification, directly contributing to the Agreement reaching the condition of 60 ratifications for effectiveness. The organization of this seminar, along with Vietnam's previous efforts and contributions to the BBNJ process, once again affirms Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the international community, joining hands with other nations to address global issues related to seas and oceans.. |
