Govt decides to ink marine agreement

UN convention offers fair, equitable regime on access to marine genetic resources

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has decided to sign an agreement on a fair and equitable international regime for access and sharing benefits of marine genetic resources.

This agreement will work as an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdictions.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination informed the federal cabinet in a recent meeting that the United Nations General Assembly had adopted an agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ Agreement) on June 19, 2023. The agreement has so far been signed by over 90 states and came into force after being ratified by 60 nations.

It was informed that the agreement would establish several new mechanisms, including the designation of marine protected areas, regulations for environmental impact evaluation, equitable distribution of marine genetic resources, capacity building and transfer of marine technology.

The agreement offers multiple opportunities that Pakistan could benefit from, including a fair and equitable international regime on access and sharing benefits of marine genetic resources.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened three inter-ministerial meetings to decide whether Pakistan should sign the agreement and which ministry should take the lead and responsibility for its implementation. Consequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved a summary for approval of the prime minister for signing the UN agreement.

It was pointed out that on the PM's directives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a summary to the cabinet. However, the Cabinet Division returned the summary with the advice that the Ministry of Climate Change, being the relevant ministry, should submit it for consideration.

The meeting was told that the Ministry of Climate Change was in the process of preparing a Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)-funded capacity-building project worth Rs200 million to manage increased workload under the BBNJ Agreement. Furthermore, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) also offered financial and technical assistance amounting to $175,000 for ratification support and the implementation of readiness activities.

These two projects will help build the capacity of Ministry of Climate Change in implementing the agreement in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Consequently, the support of relevant stakeholders, as indicated in the inter-ministerial meetings conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and comments from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Fisheries Development Board and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research were included in the summary.

Additionally, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs also supported the signing of the agreement. Pakistan's permanent mission in New York called for making the Interpretive Declaration at the time of signing the agreement, which was also shared with line ministries for their comments and support.

The cabinet was informed that the PM had reviewed the relevant summary, moved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and approved its submission to the cabinet for approval. The cabinet considered the summary, submitted by the Climate Change Division, and approved the proposal.