On the 18th and 19th of March 2025, UNEP Law Division, in collaboration with the UNEP Ecosystems Division hosted a two-part webinar series on the Interlinkages Between the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) and Biodiversity, Chemicals and Waste-Related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). These webinars were a follow-up to the Second Global training organized by UNEP for National Focal Points of the Fifth Montevideo Environmental Law Programme, held in Nairobi, in June 2024 in partnership with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs. 

The adoption of the BBNJ Agreement on 19 June 2023, marked a historic step towards global ocean and environmental governance. Once the BBNJ Agreement enters into force, successful implementation will rely on the establishment of cooperative and synergistic relationships with other relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies while respecting their respective mandates. This includes the thematic and substantive work undertaken by biodiversity, chemicals and waste-related MEAs and Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs), which is of direct relevance to BBNJ Measures.  

During the webinars, attendees heard from a range of experts and had the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the BBNJ Agreement and its relationship with related MEAs, particularly those focused on biodiversity, waste, and chemicals. Through these fruitful discussions, UNEP took steps towards strengthening synergies between the selected MEAs to support the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. Additionally, UNEP identified areas of cooperation and technical support that the organisation can provide to member states. 

For more information on the webinar series, please visit the UNEP Website. 

You can also watch the webinar recording here. 

To learn more about the BBNJ Agreement, you are welcome to take the self-paced introductory course developed by UNEP in cooperation with the UN Office of Legal Affairs, and the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS). 

For further enquiries, please contact the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme V Secretariat at unep-montevideo@un.org.