The Ocean

Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)

• In its resolution 72/249 of 24 December 2017, the General Assembly decided to convene an Intergovernmental Conference, under the auspices of the United Nations, to consider the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292 of 19 June 2015 on the elements and to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• On 19 June 2023, the Conference adopted, by consensus, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (A/CONF.232/2023/4). 

Group of Friends to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution

• The Group of Friends to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution has been established under the co-chairmanship of Maldives, Norway and Antigua and Barbuda and was launched on World Ocean Day, 8 June 2020 with 46 Member States of the UN.
• With plastic production expected to further triple in the next two decades, and the overuse of single-use plastics which having contributed to a global, environmental catastrophe, a number of engaged and active countries began discussions late 2019 at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the potential for working together to coordinate and build on these efforts to address marine plastic pollution taking place in various forums and at various levels of government and society.

UN Oceans Conference

• The Ocean Conference, is a series of conferences held since 2017, to identify ways to address the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and Sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. 
• The first conference was co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden, from 5 to 9 june 2017 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 
• The second conference was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, and held from 24 June to 1 July 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference came on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to identify common solutions to realise the SDGs. 
• The third UN Oceans Conference will be held in June 2025, and will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution

• As mandated by UNEP/EA.5/Res.14, which was passed during the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established to develop an international legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The ambition is to complete negotiations by the end of 2024.
• The first session of the INC took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay from 29 November to 2 December 2022. The second session of INC took place in Paris, France from 29 May to 2 June 2023. The third session of INC will take place from 13-19 November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The Republic of Maldives has been an active participant in these negotiations.