After a 2010-2020 UN Decade on Biodiversity, 2021 promises to be a decisive year for global ocean conservation, the future of which will be molded by two major events: the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Conservation Congress and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15). This ambitious COP will determine the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This webinar will focus on the ocean biodiversity side of the upcoming negotiations. IUCN Members have actively prepared these events. Three main subjects were covered in the 109 motions adopted by the IUCN in preparation for the World Conservation Congress: recommendations on protecting endangered species and ecosystems, supporting policies and strategies for more efficient protection of biodiversity, and implementing stronger actions against anthropogenic pressure on nature. Thirty motions covered ocean protection and conservation. Each motion has been approved by the IUCN members, representing both States and national NGOs.
 

With speakers representing a wide diversity of actors (IUCN, CBD, NOAA, WWF), this webinar will be an opportunity to better understand the ocean-related negotiation process, from the IUCN motions to preparing COP 15. How do different actors take part of the process – and how do international negotiations actually work? What are the messages they will bring to the COP 15? What are the main stakes of the Global Biodiversity Framework? And, last but not least, how did the global pandemic mark the preparation of these events?

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Moderators:

• Yuna Sellami

• Louise Ras

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Panelists:

• Minna Epps, Director Global Marine & Polar Programme (GMPP), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

• Joseph Appiott, Programme Management Officer, Marine, Coastal and Island Biodiversity, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UNEP

• John Armor, Director , Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA's National Ocean Service, Marine Protected Areas Agency Partnership (MPAAP) Secretariat

• Jessica Battle, Senior Global Ocean Governance and Policy Expert, Lead No Deep Seabed Mining Initiative, WWF

The one-hour round-table discussion will be followed by half an hour of privileged exchanges with the speakers. So prepare your questions and join us on March 25!

This webinar is brought to you by the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), the Ocean University Initiative and will be available in French 🇨🇵 and English 🇬🇧.