Using Science, Knowledge & Tools to operationalise the BBNJ Agreement

Background

A legally binding agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) is the third implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Entry into force in January 2026 marks 20 years since discussions at UN level had begun. The BBNJ Agreement combines the conservation of marine species and their sustainable use and includes diverse stakeholders in the future design of ocean governance, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, scientists, industry, and decision-makers. It is a significant step towards comprehensive protection and use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The Agreement establishes a number of subsidiary bodies and mechanisms for its implementation: a scientific and technical body, providing science and knowledge advice in the process; a clearing house mechanism as a centralized data sharing platform, a financial mechanism, and various committees on benefit-sharing, capacity building and technology transfer, and implementation and compliance. Science and knowledge play a crucial role in the implementation of the agreement and are the focus of this course. 

Course overview and objectives

This online training introduces the BBNJ Agreement and focuses on the role that ocean science and knowledge play for its implementation, including implications for the global community and opportunities for science, services and management in and about ABNJ. 

The course aims to support individuals and institutions of diverse groups in understanding the scientific realities of the ocean and data sharing opportunities (i.e. across maritime zones between countries and different ocean depths; between the Exclusive Economic Zones and High Seas; and across sectors and geographical regions for enhanced cooperation and coordination with and among other instruments, frameworks and bodies). 

The use of science and knowledge on the ocean and its marine ecosystems are particularly evident in operationalization of the Agreement’s processes to assess potential impacts on the marine environment of planned activities, including in considerations for strategic environmental assessments and when assessing cumulative impacts, as well as in the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, in the efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity through geographical tools in a dynamic, connected and changing ocean. Additionally, understanding capacity needs, accessing existing capacity building and technology transfer initiatives, provided by different institutions and linking different types of ocean data and information can strengthen our knowledge on marine biodiversity in an interconnected ocean. 

Format and Duration

This is a self-paced online course, comprising various learning resources, activities and assessments, with a total of 20 hours estimated for completion.

Language of instruction: English

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course, learners will: 

• Have an improved understanding about the context out of which the BBNJ Agreement emerged 
• Be able to detail its objectives and four pillars 
• Recognize the potential implications of the BBNJ Agreement for national, regional and global contexts—particularly in terms of ocean science, area-based management, activities in ABNJ, environmental impact assessment, and capacity building and the transfer of marine technology 
• Be able to name databases and services useful for the operationalization of the BBNJ Agreement 
• Know how to consider the scientific realities of a connected and changing ocean in policy measures and management 
• Be sensitive to a variety of actors active in exploring, protecting, using and valuing the ocean.
• Recognize factors for successful operationalization of the agreement.