WILL THE BBNJ AGREEMENT SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HIGH SEAS BIODIVERSITY?BBNJ Agreement • April 19th, 2021
Contract Type FiledApril 19th, 2021This paper explores the question of whether and to what extent the BBNJ Agreement, currently under negotiation under the auspices of the UN, will provide opportunities to develop and support measures relating to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on high seas biodiversity and ecosystems. While there are obvious connections between the BBNJ Agreement and climate, particularly in respect of the parts related to area-based protection and environmental impact assessment, this paper will critically examine more generally the extent to which the BBNJ agreement provides an opportunity to connect the law of the sea and the climate regime and to integrate climate concerns into high seas decision-making affecting biodiversity and ecosystems.