KINGSTON, Jamaica (14 July 2015) – – In his statement as the newly elected President of the Council at the 21st Session of the ISA, Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji, has called for Council to take note of the Post 2015-United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda blueprint.
The Agenda’s 17 sustainable development goals and 169 targets are new global goals in areas critical to humanity – people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership – the outcome of two years of intensive public consultation, balancing economic, social and environmental development.
Ambassador Thomson drew the Council’s attention to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” which include a range of specific goals related to marine pollution, management of marine ecosystems and the conservation of marine protected areas and further commits to ensuring the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He said SDG14 would bring accountability to all organizations and agencies that play a role in the sustainability of ocean’s health and that the Council’s stewardship must always be above reproach.
He continued that it was within this global context of equity, universality and sustainability that Council begin their deliberations at the ISA’s 21st session, vested with the management of over half of the planet’s surface, (the Area).
Ambassador Thomson was elected Council President for the 21st Session at the first Council meeting today, 14 July 2015 and will preside over agenda items which include the consideration of draft exploitation regulations and an application for a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules by China MinMetals Corporation, sponsored by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
During the next two weeks, Council will also make decisions on the following matters:
- Decision on the application for plan of work submitted by China MinMetals Corporation;
- Decision on the proposed procedures and criteria for the extension of an approval of plan of work for exploration;
- Decision on the report and recommendations of the Finance Committee, if any;
- Decision on the report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission during this session, if any;
- Decision on the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, if any;
- Decision on the draft agreement of cooperation between IMO and ISA; and
- Decision on the draft MOU between ISA and the Pacific Community.
Click here for the full Statement . For the full listing of Session documents, visit our 21st Session webpage.
* *** *