Biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) is dynamic, interconnected, and vital to planetary health, and its conservation and sustainable use requires a coherent and collaborative approach. This panel will examine what is meant when referring to biodiversity of ABNJ, how biological and ecological processes span and connect to areas within national jurisdiction and coastal ecosystems, and how biodiversity can be maintained in the present and the future.

This session will explore how science and diverse forms of knowledge can be embedded within the BBNJ Agreement’s institutional framework. Speakers will discuss the interplay between scientific research, policy-making, and treaty implementation, considering opportunities for cooperation with existing international frameworks and bodies.

Climate change presents profound challenges for ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ. This discussion will address: climate change modelling, monitoring, and reporting to ensure fit-for-purpose management measures; the use of environmental impact assessments and area-based management tools in shifting ecological conditions; and ways to apply precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches in uncertain futures.

As the BBNJ Agreement moves toward implementation, the creation of its Scientific and Technical Body is a pivotal step. This session will explore its potential mandate, structure, legitimacy, and working methods, drawing lessons from analogous scientific advisory mechanisms in other regimes.

The BBNJ Agreement recognises the value of traditional knowledge alongside scientific evidence. This panel will bring together Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) representatives, legal experts, and practitioners to discuss how such knowledge systems can be respectfully integrated into decision-making processes.

More information coming soon.

Examinations of the role of science and knowledge in other international frameworks can offer valuable lessons for the BBNJ community. This panel will consider examples from fisheries, seabed mining, and shipping, discussing how cross-boundary cooperation, industry engagement, and adaptive governance can strengthen BBNJ implementation.

Science and knowledge-sharing require sustained resources. This session will examine innovative finance mechanisms – from multilateral funds to blue finance and private sector partnerships – and explore how these can support science through capacity-building and marine technology transfer, particularly in the Global South.

Marine genetic resources (MGRs) sit at the intersection of cutting-edge science, conservation, and global equity. This panel explores how emerging tools, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) and conservation genetics, are transforming our understanding and governance of MGRs and interactions with DSI. Speakers will discuss how mechanisms like the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) and benefit-sharing frameworks can promote equitable access, transparency, and capacity-building across regions.