This briefing gives a step-by-step guide to how states can ready themselves for the first meeting of the preparatory commission (PrepCom) for the UN's biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
The international community is about to embark on the next critical stage of the BBNJ process. To ensure that the BBNJ Agreement is operational once it enters into force, the UN General Assembly has established a PrepCom to prepare for both the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties. It is considered critical to the acceleration of the ratification process and early implementation of the Agreement.
The way in which the PrepCom will be conducted marks a significant departure from the modalities of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference negotiations. This briefing note offers a guide to the measures that a state can take to prepare for the first session of the PrepCom, broken down into three essential steps.
- Consult with stakeholders
- Appoint a national focal point and establish a steering committee
- Review documents prepared by the PrepCom co-chairs and BBNJ Secretariat