The online course “Using Science, Knowledge and Tools to operationalise the BBNJ Agreement” aims to support the global ocean science and policy community with key resources to start operationalising the BBNJ Agreement.
As the BBNJ Agreement moves from adoption to implementation, critical gaps in science, data, capacity and investment must be addressed to ensure effective and equitable delivery.
Ocean science and knowledge are central to implementing the BBNJ Agreement. They underpin processes to assess the environmental impacts of planned activities, including strategic environmental assessments and cumulative impact analyses, and support the creation of area-based management tools, such as marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in a dynamic, interconnected ocean.
Developed by the Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO’s OceanTeacher Global Academy, this course focuses on the role of ocean science and knowledge in implementing the BBNJ Agreement — complementing existing efforts across the global ocean community to support stakeholders in operationalising the Agreement.
Free, open to everyone, and self-paced, the course totals around 20 hours and features the contributions of over 80 world-leading ocean experts. Its three modules covers:
- The historical background, core concepts and conventions underlying the BBNJ Agreement
- The Agreement’s four main pillars: Marine genetic resources; Area-Based Management Tools, including Marine Protected Areas; Environmental Impact Assessments; and Capacity-building and the Transfer of Marine Technology
- The Agreement’s main implementation mechanisms
This introductory course is the first part of an upcoming broader series of online and in-person trainings dedicated to supporting Member States, institutions and individuals to harness existing ocean science and knowledge to implement the BBNJ Agreement.
Registrations are open, and the course will start on 13 April — enrol now here.
