Areas beyond national jurisdiction or are part of the global commons covering almost half of our planet, providing critical ecosystem services, from fisheries to climate regulation. However only 1.2% of the high seas have been protected, putting biodiversity and the security of our planet at risk.
As of June 2023, an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) has been agreed.
The BBNJ Informal Dialogues bring together government representatives and experts in a Track 1.5 process to make concrete progress toward the signature, ratification, entry into force and implementation of the United Nations ”BBNJ Agreement” – 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.
A ‘Track 1.5’ process is designed in this context as an informal convening space primarily for Member State BBNJ delegates, along with select experts from UN agencies, international, regional and sectoral organizations and bodies and civil society.
The need for renewed and sustained international cooperation to ratify this historic agreement – and work toward its effective implementation – is critical.
Since 2020, the BBNJ Informal Dialogues have convened delegates online and in person. The first two informal BBNJ informal dialogues took place in Oslo (January 2020) and Monaco (March 2020) and brought together a diverse group of government representatives to discuss some of the most pressing areas of treaty’s draft text. In Oslo, the dialogue was hosted at the Norwegian Nobel Institute. In Monaco, the dialogue was hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The high-level segment in Monaco was facilitated by the 68th U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, currently serving as the first United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
The extended intersessional period (March 2020 – March 2022) due to the Covid 19 pandemic, led to the creation of a virtual platform which has provided delegations from capitol levels, as well as United Nations Headquarters in New York, opportunity to participate in and keep up with the treaty process. The virtual platform has enabled wider participation of states in the BBNJ process.
Dialogue Facilitators & Team
The BBNJ Informal Dialogues platform is a programme of the International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding.
Ms. Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli is the BBNJ Informal Dialogues Lead Facilitator. She is an Independent Ocean Expert, Former Secretary of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference, Former Director of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), former Chief of the Treaty Section, Office of Legal Affairs. Ms. Goettsche-Wanli retired from the United Nations in February 2020 after more than 32 years of service, including 6 ½ years as Director DOALOS. Apart from three years when she served as Chief of the Treaty Section, Office of Legal Affairs, she devoted most of her career in DOALOS to the provision of assistance in the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, as well as in supporting the General Assembly and its processes in considering oceans and the law of the sea, including BBNJ (2004 onwards). She served as the Secretary of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference for two years.
Ms. Yolannie Cerrato is Senior Advisor and Facilitator for the BBNJ Informal Dialogues. She is a former career diplomat from Honduras, with more than 15 years of experience in diplomacy and project management. Ms. Cerrato served for seven years as Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) of Honduras to the United Nations (UN) in New York. During her tenure as DPR, she was designated by the President of the UN General Assembly as Co-chair of the AdHoc-Working Group on the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment. Her responsibilities as Co-Chair included facilitating dialogue with members of the UN community to develop a third assessment of the marine environment and a capacity-building program with the aim of strengthening the ocean science-policy interface at national, regional, and global levels. She also served as Coordinator of the Core Latin American group (CLAM) for the negotiations of the Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology part of the UN BBNJ Agreement. Additionally, she has worked as Director for Educational, Cultural and Scientific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras where she led the implementation of educational, social, and scientific projects.
Ms. Gina Torry: The BBNJ Informal Dialogues and its process design is managed by Gina Torry, Executive Director of the International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding. Ms. Torry is an international peace and security expert specializing in support to mediation and peace processes, including technical support to ceasefire agreements and processes. For two decades, she has worked extensively with the United Nations, its Member States, and civil society on the creation and implementation of international law and policy.
Mr. Louis Mondale: Mr. Louis Mondale supports diplomatic outreach and programming for the BBNJ Informal Dialogues and the International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding. With extensive experience working alongside elected state and national leaders, managing high-level political campaigns, and coordinating large-scale convenings, Mr. Mondale has held key roles in for organizations in the political, non-profit, and private sectors.
Advisory Committee
The BBNJ Informal Track 1.5 Dialogues Advisory Committee will comprise 15 Member States and 5 inter-governmental and non-governmental representatives. As of January 2025, Member of the Advisory Committee includes: Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Commission, Federated States of Micronesia, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Natural Resources Defense Council and the High Seas Alliance.
Ad hoc Committee and Consultative Network
The BBNJ Informal Dialogues Ad hoc Committee will work on specific time-bound issues in collaboration with the Advisory Committee. Its composition and tasks will change over time. The Consultative Network will include representatives from government, civil society, and the private sector as well as scientists, economists and academics. It will meet three times a year to discuss crucial and timely issues related to the adoption, entry into force and implementation of the BBNJ agreement. Input from the Consultative Network will be integrated into the substance and planning of the BBNJ Informal Dialogues.
Participating Member States and Regional Groups
Africa Group, African Union, European Commission, LLDCs, PSIDS, CLAM, CARICOM, AOSIS, G77 + China, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Philippines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
Sponsors of the BBNJ Informal Dialogues
The 2024 -2025 BBNJ Informal Dialogues are made possible through the generous support of the government of the United Kingdom, the government of France, the government of Canada, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Sweden, Bloomberg Arcadia Funding Initiative/Oceans 5, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the High Seas Alliance.