Seize the Moment: Towards Fairer Capacity Building and Marine Technology Transfer

A new international legally binding instrument, developed under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), will focus on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. International experience has highlighted that an integrated and well-resourced multilateral approach is needed to promote needs-based capacity building and technological support. A mutually supportive interpretation of international law instruments by UN member states can help those most dependent on technology transfer and capacity building — in particular the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) — to safeguard and fully implement present standards. This briefing illustrates how different areas of international law provide guidance on how to fulfil the duty to cooperate on marine science and technology in a way that meets LDCs' needs and priorities.