Negotiating Biodiversity Conservation in the High Seas:
An ecosystem approach

Since 2017, the United Nations has been negotiating a new agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The postponement of the fourth and final round of negotiations due to COVID-19 offers an opportunity to take a look at the still controversial questions and to discuss possible solutions. In Global Governance Spotlight 1|2020, Vito De Lucia, associate professor at the Arctic University of Norway, argues that the negotiation break should be used to overcome the boundaries of individual governance instruments in the sense of a comprehensive ecosystem approach. The focus should be on complementarity, coordination and compatibility between the instruments and in line with the 2030 Agenda.