The revision process of the BBNJ international agreement and the role of NGOs

By ZHAO Yan

Abstract: The resumed 5th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC-5.2) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) concluded on March 3, 2023 (local time), and the role of NGOs reflected in the revision and shaping of the new BBNJ international agreement is worth exploring. The issuance process of the BBNJ international agreement, and the legal basis and role of NGOs in international affairs and the process of international law formulation are worth summarizing and exploring. This study arranges the existing literature and the data and information related to BBNJ IGC5.2 on the official website, and further sorts out the legal sources of the international status of NGOs, the establishment of consultative status with the UN, and the limitations of their roles and functions. Based on this, it can be concluded that the voice mechanism of NGOs is limited and its future road is arduous, striving to provide some reference for follow-up research on the second-hand literature resources.

Key words: BBNJ, global ocean governance, NGOs, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

ZHAO Yan. The revision process of the BBNJ international agreement and the role of NGOs on the international stage. BioGreen - Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development. Vol. 1, May 2023. Total Issues 40. ISSN2749-9065