De Maribus

Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 77/248 (para. 275), the resumed fifth session of the intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument 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 is currently being held, 20 February – 3 March 2023, at UNHQ (New York, USA). In preparation for the resumed fifth session, a Further refreshed draft text of an 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 (12 December 2022) (see further, tracked changes version) was made public on 1 February 2023. Furthermore, on 1 February 2023 the Compilation of outcomes of small group work submitted after the issuance of the Refreshed draft text and Ending point of the Facilitators-led discussions held on 26 August 2022 was made public. For further information see previous reporting.

Following previously reported draft resolutions and consultations, on 20 February 2023, the ICJ Core Group of Nations, led by the Republic of Vanuatu, released a Final Draft Resolution entitled, Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change, for consideration of co-sponsorship by 1 March 2023. Adoption by the UN General Assembly is expected to be sought by proponents in March/April 2023. The operative provision would request an ICJ advisory opinion on the following question:

Having particular regard to the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the duty of due diligence, the rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the principle of prevention of significant harm to the environment, and the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment,
(1) What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations;
(2) What are the legal consequences under these obligations for States where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment, with respect to:
(a) States, including, in particular, small island developing States, which due to their geographical circumstances and level of development, are injured or specially affected by or are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change?
(b) Peoples and individuals of the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change?”

UNGA Draft Resolution (20 February 2023), Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change

Informal translations of the final Resolution are available in French, Spanish and Portuguese on the Vanuatu ICJ Initiative website.

On 6 February 2023 the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) approved, with amendments, Recommendations in regard to the partial revised submission made by the Russian Federation in respect of the Arctic Ocean (3 August 2015; Addenda 31 March 2021 (previously reported)). The CLCS Recommendations include:

119. The Commission recommends that the Russian Federation proceeds to establish the outer limits of the continental shelf from fixed point 2G2_rev to fixed point 3E1_fin in Nansen Basin, from fixed point 4G1_rev to fixed point 8H11 in Amundsen Basin, and from fixed point 10H1_rev to fixed point 10D161 in Canada Basin (Figure 25; Table 3 of annex I).

120. Due to insufficient data and information provided for the outer edge of the continental margin, the outer limits of the continental shelf in the southern part of Amundsen Basin have not been defined (see chapters 3 and 5).The Commission recommends that the Russian Federation makes a partial revised submission in respect of its continental shelf in that area.

121. The Commission recognizes that the establishment of the final outer limits of the continental shelf of the Russian Federation in the Arctic Ocean may depend on continental shelf delimitation with neighboring States.

CLCS, Summary of the Recommendations, pp. 38-40.

For further information see Russia’s partial revised Submission in respect of the Arctic Ocean, including communications received from Canada, United States of America and Denmark, as well as the previous findings and recommendations concerning a partial revised submission in respect of its extended continental shelf in the Central Arctic Ocean (Submission by the Russian Federation).

On 9 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 77/118: Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments, without a vote. On 20 December 2022 UNGA adopted Resolution 77/242: 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, without a vote, which envisages the convening of a high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, supported by Costa Rica and France Finally, on 30 December 2022, UNGA adopted Resolution 77/248: Oceans and the law of the sea, (draft resolution currently accessible) with a vote (159-1-3).

For further information see reporting of the debate, as well as coverage (2) of the plenary meetings of the General Assembly to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS (see: Resolution 77/5)

As of 1 January 2023, the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS) is comprised of six States, who are Parties to the COSIS Agreement (Article 3(2)). In order of date of effect, the Parties are Antigua and Barbuda (Definitive signature, 31 October 2021); Tuvalu (Definitive signature, 31 October 2021); Palau (Accession, 1 November 2021); Niue (Accession, 13 September 2022); Vanuatu (Accession, 2 December 2022) and St Lucia (Accession, 7 December 2022).

For more information on the Commission’s activities see previous reporting (2), (3), (4).

As previously reported, on 23 May 2019 Canada had made a partial submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean. On 19 December 2022 Canada submitted its Addendum to the Partial Submission of Canada to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, see executive summary (french), to the CLCS. As summarised in the executive summary:

This addendum to the 2019 partial submission delineates additional outer limits of continental shelf, including along the full length of the Central Arctic Plateau (Lomonosov Ridge, Alpha Ridge and Mendeleev Rise, with the intervening Podvodnikov Basin and Makarov Basin), beyond 200 M from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Noting in particular article 77 [of UNCLOS], Canada reserves the right to submit information in respect of other areas or portions of its continental shelf.

This submission is made, consistent with article 76(10) and article 9 of Annex II of [UNCLOS] without prejudice to future delimitation between Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark, the Russian Federation and the United States of America.

Addendum to the Partial Submission of Canada to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, pp. 5 and 10.

For more information see here and UN Doc. CLCS.84.2019.LOS (Continental Shelf Notification) (20 December 2022).