Events

The year will end with eyes on the International Conference on Marine Biodiversity, held in Auckland, New Zealand. Drawing together leading academic scientists, researchers and scholars, the conference aims to be a dynamic exchange of intellectual innovations, recent scientific findings and general opportunities and challenges within fields related to marine biodiversity. The conference could highlight science-led pathways that can complement the long-awaited Treaty for the High Seas.

Note: In June 2022, Canada announced that it will host COP15 in December 2022. The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was initially scheduled to take place in October 2020 and has been delayed four times due to the COVID pandemic. The COP15 negotiations are the crucial decision point for adopting a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which currently includes a target to protect at least 30 percent of land and water by 2030. A broad coalition of countries currently support the 30x30 target, though many suggest that sufficient funding and ongoing monitoring will be essential to the long-term success of a potential framework.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) addresses environmental issues under IMO’s remit. This includes the control and prevention of ship-source pollution covered by the MARPOL treaty, including oil, chemicals carried in bulk, sewage, garbage and emissions from ships, including air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Other matters covered include ballast water management, anti-fouling systems, ship recycling, pollution preparedness and response, and identification of special areas and particularly sensitive sea areas. The 79th session of the MEPC in December 2022 will build upon progress from the 78th session taking place in June 2022.

IMPAC is an international forum to discuss marine protected areas (MPAs) that assists in the establishment and management of MPA networks by informing, involving, and influencing stakeholders. The congress happens every four years and brings together marine conservationists, managers, practitioners and scientists from across the world to share their experiences and knowledge of marine conservation and marine protected area establishment.