UN: agreement on a new treaty on BBNJ

States have agreed to recommend to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) elements to be considered in the development of a new treaty on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). A Preparatory Committee was tasked with advising the UNGA on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument under the UNCLOS. It recommended that the UNGA take a decision, as soon as possible, on the convening of an intergovernmental conference to consider the recommendations on the elements and elaborate the text of a treaty. The UNGA is to decide at its next session on the convening and starting date of an intergovernmental conference to elaborate on a treaty. More information is available here.