Coastal Resilience Webinar Series: “Conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: the role of science in the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement” by Virginie Tassin Campanella

We are pleased to announce the next session of the Coastal Resilience webinar series, organized jointly with our alliance partners Deltares and CMCC.

The June 25 webinar will feature Virginie Tassin Campanella, legal expert and founder of VTA Tassin, an international consultancy specializing in ocean governance and sustainability. Her presentation will provide participants with a foundational understanding of the BBNJ Agreement’s objectives and operational mechanisms through the Conference of the Parties.

Focusing on key areas such as environmental impact assessments, area-based management tools, technology transfer & capacity building, and marine genetic resources, this session will highlight the science-policy-business interface and the growing involvement of civil society, including academia, in shaping the future of ocean governance.

Abstract

This class aims to provide participants with a foundational understanding of the objectives of the BBNJ Agreement—the latest implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, adopted in 2023—and its operational framework through the Conference of the Parties. Focusing on the four key areas regulated by the agreement—environmental impact assessments, area-based management tools, technology transfer & capacity building, and marine genetic resources—this presentation will explore the critical and complex role of science in its implementation. It will examine the science-policy-business nexus and highlight the evolving role of civil society, including academia and scientific experts, in the unique consultation mechanisms established under the agreement. Designed for participants from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, this class welcomes all who are interested in understanding the intersection of science, law and ocean governance.