World Oceans Day

  Single-use Plastic . A cheap convenience has rapidly become a global crisis.⁣ ⁣ Understand The problem of plastic waste⁣ Plastic's health & environmental impacts⁣ Solutions for reducing plastic pollution⁣ ⁣The Global Plastics Treaty is a proposed legally binding UN instrument to end plastic pollution by addressing the full life cycle of plastics , from production to disposal. After a final round of negotiations in August 2025 ( INC-5.2 ) concluded without a full agreement due to divisions on key issues like production caps versus waste management , future talks are needed to finalize the treaty. The treaty aims to establish common global standards, promote a circular economy, and implement measures like bans on problematic products, improved design, and extended producer responsibility. The World Resource Institute .

   The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Credentials of representatives (item 6) Other matters (item 7) Closure (item 8) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General Assembly decision 78/560, the first s...

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting back on parallel meetings Rules of Procedure of the Conference of the Parties (Cluster I: Issue 1) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General A...

 The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements for the functioning of the secretariat, including its seat (Cluster I, Issue 4) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General Assembly dec...

The Sargasso Sea Commission will share experiences from over a decade of work to conserve the Sargasso Sea, which is directly related to part III of the agreement on area-based management tools Watch the Navigating the BBNJ agreement: Sargasso Sea experience (BBNJ prepcomm2 side event)! . Meetings & Events

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting back on parallel meetings Terms of Reference and modalities for the operation of, and rules of procedure for, the subsidiary bodies (Cluster I: Issue 2) Selection process for the members of the Scientific and Technical Body and the other subsidiary bodies (Cluster I: Issue 3) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biol...

 The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies (Cluster I: Issue 6) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Co...

Each month, we share three pieces of ocean science news that caught our eye: Researchers uncover the cause of the devastating sea star wasting disease epidemic , bringing hope for sunflower sea stars and kelp forests. Over the past ten years, this epidemic has killed 90% of the global population of sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides), severely impacting kelp forests—key marine ecosystems that support biodiversity and coastal communities. Ocean air may help to live longer : a new study by the University of Ohio found that people in coastal regions enjoy life expectancies a year or more above the U.S. average, while city dwellers near inland rivers and lakes may face shorter lifespans. Researchers suggest the difference comes from environmental and social factors: cleaner air, cooler summers, recreation opportunities, and higher incomes near the coasts versus pollution, poverty, and flood risks inland . The findings reveal that not all “blue spaces” are equal, challenging ...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies (Cluster I: Issue 6) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the C...

 The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies (Cluster I: Issue 6) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Co...

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies (Cluster I: Issue 6) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conf...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Terms of Reference and modalities for the operation of, and rules of procedure for, the subsidiary bodies (Cluster I: Issue 2) Selection process for the members of the Scientific and Technical Body and the other subsidiary bodies (Cluster I: Issue 3) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 ...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies (Cluster I: Issue 6) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the C...

 The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting back on parallel meetings Modalities for the operation of the Clearing-House Mechanism (Cluster II, Issue 7) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursua...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting requirements (Cluster I: Issue 5) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General Assembly decision 78/560, the first session of the Comm...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting back on parallel meetings Arrangements for the functioning of the secretariat, including its seat (Cluster I, Issue 4) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreem...

 The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Modalities for the operation of the Clearing-House Mechanism (Cluster II, Issue 7) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General Assembly decision 78/5...

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting back on parallel meetings Terms of Reference and modalities for the operation of, and rules of procedure for, the subsidiary bodies (Cluster I: Issue 2) Selection process for the members of the Scientific and Technical Body and the other subsidiary bodies (Cluster I: Issue 3) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biolo...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements for the functioning of the secretariat, including its seat (Cluster I, Issue 4) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General Assembly de...

A Panel Discussion on Establishing National Frameworks and Leveraging International Cooperation , including in Marine Science, for the Effective Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. Related Documents:  Agenda ,  Concept Note  and  Flyer . Watch Building Capacities for the BBNJ (BBNJ PrepComm2 Side Event)! Meetings & Events

 The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Modalities for the operation of the Clearing-House Mechanism (Cluster II, Issue 7) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to General Assembly decision 78/5...

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Financial Rules governing the funding of the COP and the funding of the secretariat and any subsidiary bodies (Cluster III, Issue 8) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreemen...

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Reporting back on parallel meetings Operationalization of other provisions on financial resources and mechanism (Cluster III, Issue 10) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agree...

  The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Item 5 (continued) Arrangements with the GEF to give effect to the relevant provisions on funding (Cluster III: Issue 9) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues:  Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of 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 and to prepare for the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. Pursuant to Gene...

The second session of the Commission is scheduled to be held from 18 to 29 August 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Opening (item 1) Adoption of the Agenda (item 2) Programme of work (item 3) Appointment of members of the Credentials Committee (item 4) Consideration of the matters to be addressed by the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement at its first meeting and additional matters, as identified by the Preparatory Commission (item 5) Rules of Procedure of the Conference of the Parties (Cluster I: Issue 1) The BBNJ Agreement addresses four main issues:  Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; Environmental impact assessments; and Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. In its resolution 78/272, the General Assembly decided to establish a preparatory commission to prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement under the Uni...