Project Lead
Dr Siva Thambisetty, Associate Professor of Law, LSE Law School
What did the project team do?
The United Nations has been working to form a legal framework for the protection of marine biodiversity and the fair sharing of its resources. This project aimed to influence negotiations over the ‘‘Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction’’, a historic agreement setting out key principles, obligations and processes that states must uphold in the high seas to protect marine life and ensure fair use of marine genetic resources collected in these waters. The project sought to ensure the Treaty would set out how any gains made through discoveries in the high seas would be shared equitably across all nations, rather than solely benefit richer countries.
As the expert on the G77+China Group of Developing Countries, and advisor to the group’s Chair, Cuba, Dr Siva Thambisetty co-authored key briefing documents setting out proposals on marine genetic resources. She redrafted several articles to better reflect G77+China positions, analysed developed country positions in real time, aided informal closed door negotiations on specific issues, coordinated external expert input, and was instrumental in formulating an alternative proposal for monetary benefit-sharing
Working with the research company, One World Analytics, the project also offered a technical solution through a prototype of a batch identifier enabling samples to be identified as coming from areas beyond national jurisdiction.
What did they achieve?
Proximity to negotiators gave Dr Thambisetty a clear understanding of the nuances, potential sticking points, and wider political pressures that needed to be addressed to reach an agreement. Influenced by the project team’s work, the final Treaty text contained both the principles and processes that would enable equitable sharing of benefits from genetic materials found in the high seas.
The batch identified prototype was accepted and represented a major win for developing countries. The team also pushed to ensure the Treaty established reporting obligations once any publications, patents or products are developed from these genetic resources.
While the Treaty must still be formally ratified, this is the next step towards ensuring the world’s oceans are managed in a sustainable and equitable way.
Who were the beneficiaries?
- Developing countries
- Supranational organisations
- National policymakers
- Environmental bodies
Find out more
Hear more about the project in this video or read the Research for the World article, Protecting the high seas.