International ocean management debates will swell

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
International Agreement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ocean Management ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
General Assembly Resolution ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
New Institutions ◽  
High Seas

Subject Management of the oceans and biodiversity. Significance This year, negotiations on a new international agreement to govern biodiversity conservation on the high seas, entitled 'Biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction' (BBNJ), will commence. This follows a UN General Assembly resolution in December 2017. The first round of talks will begin at the UN's New York headquarters from September 4-17, but an initial organising meeting will convene in March to appoint a conference chair and agree on an initial ‘zero draft’ preliminary text. Impacts Pressures to establish new institutions to govern oceanic issues, and controversies over their remit, will grow. Formal talks will provide campaigning opportunities for marine-conservation-oriented civil society groups. Concerns about high seas climate geoengineering (counteracting climate change, such as via iron fertilisation) will grow.

International high seas biodiversity concerns to rise

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Marine Resources ◽  
International Treaty ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
Core Issues ◽  
High Seas

Subject High seas biodiversity. Significance The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction took place in New York last month, making notable progress on the structure of a new international treaty on governance of the high seas. Divergences nevertheless remain on several long-debated core issues, such as the complexity of regulations required to designate new marine protected areas (MPAs), and the depth of obligations, including by the private sector, to share benefits from extracting living marine resources. Impacts Common standards will be developed for collecting and sharing data on high seas fishing and other activities. High seas scientific research will face a new regulatory environment after the treaty enters into force. Flag states will face scrutiny over flags of convenience, hindering firms’ moves to shift ship registrations to less strict jurisdictions.

Conservation on the High Seas: Developing the Concept of the High Seas Marine Protected Areas

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen N. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Orkney Islands ◽  
South Orkney Islands ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
High Seas

Abstract This article explores developments in connection with marine protected areas (MPAs) on the high seas, beginning with a brief survey of existing high seas MPAs, recent initiatives such as the designation of the South Orkney Islands MPA, the creation of a network of OSPAR MPAs and the work undertaken by the UN General Assembly on developing a framework for oceans governance in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It considers: the absence of a clear legal basis for the creation of MPAs on the high seas; the relationship between MPA designation and traditional high seas freedoms; and the complex jurisdictional arrangements that govern activities on and in the high seas.

UN drug failings will spur Latin American reforms

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Drug Problem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unilateral Action ◽  
Drug Policies ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Policy Shifts

Subject The UN met last week to discuss global drug policies. Significance A three-day UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) in New York ended on April 21, having failed to deliver substantive changes to international drug policy. The event was brought forward from 2019 at the behest of Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico due to the severity of drug-related violence in those countries. Having failed to shift policies away from current punitive approaches, they are likely to follow the growing number of countries that are decriminalising drugs. Impacts The global schism on drug policy will deepen, seeing state policies diverge. Colombia and Mexico will take more unilateral action, starting with moves to decriminalise cannabis and legalise medical marijuana. Successful policy shifts in Colombia and Mexico will provide a strong case for more international change at the UNGASS 2019 review. However, marijuana decriminalisation in Colombia and Mexico could see armed groups increase kidnapping and extortion.

North Korea peace process may hit sanctions roadblock

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Peace Process ◽  
Foreign Minister ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Us South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
The Us ◽  
Un General Assembly

Significance It expands the peace process launched at the summit in April, including a military annexe with concrete measures to reduce border tensions. Kim also recommitted to denuclearisation, if in vague terms. Nonetheless, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the summit. Moon is to meet Trump in New York on September 25. Pompeo is seeking talks with North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, who will attend the UN General Assembly. Impacts If Kim offers more on denuclearisation, Moon will press for some relaxation of sanctions to facilitate economic cooperation. If not, Washington may try to rein Moon in; that would strain the US-South Korean alliance, which is probably one of Kim’s aims. Pyongyang has repudiated or failed to implement past agreements, and could again if Kim feels US pressure is excessive.

The Global Compact for Migration: Lessons for the Unity of EU Representation

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Melin
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Negotiation Process ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Global Compact ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
General Assembly Resolution ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Institutional Aspects

Abstract In December 2018, the Global Compact for Migration was first adopted at the Marrakesh intergovernmental conference to be later endorsed as an UN General Assembly Resolution in New York. From an EU perspective, what started out as a common project to manage migration globally, not to say externally, became a fiasco for the unity of EU representation on the international scene. Unlike the negotiations of international agreements which are framed by the procedure set out in Article 218 TFEU, the negotiations of international soft law do not benefit from a clear legal framework. The Court of Justice has given some indications on the procedural and institutional aspects relevant for the negotiations of international soft law instruments in the Council v. Commission (C-660/13) case but many uncertainties remain. The purpose of this article is to draw lessons from the negotiation process of the Global Compact for the unity of EU representation.

Marine Protected Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Some Practical Perspectives for Moving Ahead

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina M. Gjerde ◽  
Anna Rulska-Domino
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
Political Commitments ◽  
High Seas

Abstract Despite strong legal duties and political commitments for marine conservation and ecosystem-based management, biodiversity in the high seas and the Area (jointly referred to as areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ)) is under increasing threat. One important tool for enhancing conservation and multi-sectoral cooperation is the establishment and maintenance of representative networks of marine protected areas (MPAs). This commentary reviews potential avenues for accelerating progress towards representative MPA networks as part of a larger-scale effort towards improving the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. It builds on the report by Petra Drankier, Marine Protected Areas in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, Report on Research Question 2 of the Study on ‘Biological Diversity and Governance of the High Seas’ (2011), which describes the applicable global and regional conventions by discussing the strengths and weaknesses of proposed avenues for progress, including a possible multilateral agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC). The commentary concludes with some observations for a pragmatic path ahead.

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