House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
UN ocean negotiations on biodiversity
25 February 2022 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Proposed by Vicky Ford Con Chelmsford
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The UK aims to conclude an ambitious agreement by 2022 at the Intergovernmental Conference for marine biodiversity.
- The UK focuses on establishing MPAs and sharing benefits of research into marine genetic resources.
- The UK has been actively participating in preparatory dialogues and co-hosting workshops for the negotiations.
Issue summary
The statement discusses the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference in March 2022 for negotiating an International Legally Binding Instrument under UNCLOS to conserve marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.
Action requested
The UK aims to conclude an ambitious agreement by 2022, focusing on establishing MPAs and sharing benefits of research into marine genetic resources. The UK has been actively participating in preparatory dialogues and co-hosting workshops to build understanding for the negotiations.
Key facts
- Fourth Intergovernmental Conference takes place at UN in New York from 7-18 March 2022.
- Negotiations aim to address marine genetic resources, area-based management tools (including MPAs), environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building & technology transfer.
- UK delegation is led by the FCDO, working closely with Defra, BEIS, National Oceanography Centre, DfT, MoD, and Natural History Museum.