In recent years, the Arctic has undergone profound change, causing near irreversible modifications to the fragile and vulnerable Arctic marine ecology and environment. These changes have in turn prompted States to act – either unilaterally or through cooperative action – to protect the Arctic marine ecology and environment by addressing biodiversity conservation, new and exploratory fisheries, marine pollution, and scientific cooperation.

In parallel, an ongoing process towards the adoption of a global treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, (BBNJ), has entered a critical phase, with an intergovernmental conference launched at the United Nations in December 2017. A BBNJ Treaty aims at establishing global rules on crucial conservation, research and innovation themes such as marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments and the access and utilization of marine genetic resources.

A large part of the Arctic Ocean is located beyond national jurisdiction and will fall under the scope of a BBNJ Treaty. This side event will explore questions related to the possible interactions between the existing Arctic marine governance framework and a BBNJ Treaty, including the options currently on the table with regards to institutional arrangements. Each speaker will discuss the possible implications of a BBNJ Treaty for an effective, ecosystem-based Arctic marine biodiversity governance through the lenses of cooperation and compatibility.

Program (Tentative)

10:00   Words of Welcome. Prof. Tore Henriksen, K.G. Jebsen Centre for the Law of the Sea, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

10:05   Prof. Raul Primicerio, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

10:20   Dr Vito De Lucia, Postdoctor Fellow, K.G. Jebsen Centre for the Law of the Sea, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

10:35   Ambassador David A. Balton, Senior Fellow, Wilson Center, Washington DC, USA

10:50   Mr Christian Prip, Senior Research Fellow, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Oslo

11:05   Ms Kristine Dalaker Kraabel, PhD Research Fellow, K.G. Jebsen Centre for the Law of the Sea, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø

11:20   TBC

11:35   Discussion and Concluding Remarks

 

For more information about this side event, contact Maria Varteressian, Manager, Arctic Frontiers Arena, maria@arcticfrontiers.com