Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A Scientific and Technical Body (STB) is to be established under the BBNJ Agreement to provide high-quality assessments to support policy decisions. However, its terms of reference and modalities yet to be determined. Based on the three effectiveness factors of saliency, credibility and legitimacy, we classify the existing STB operational modalities into evaluation-oriented modality, recommendation-oriented modality, and decision-oriented modality. After comparing the three STB operational modalities, we conclude that the STB/BBNJ should be designed mainly based on a decision-oriented modality. Under this modality, the STB/BBNJ terms of reference may follow the principles of maintaining STB independence and preventing excessive powers. In accordance with the principles and to realise the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, we suggest that the STB/BBNJ institutional arrangements should consider to include (1) a multidisciplinary expert involvement mechanism; (2) a transparent oversight mechanism; (3) dynamic adjustment mechanism; and (4) cooperation and coordination mechanism.
Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Authors: You Li, Xiaoyi Jiang
Institution: Wuhan University
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4409750628