KIOS and International Maritime Law Association Joint Seminar on Responding to Marine Climate Change

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) and the International Maritime Law Association held a communication forum on the 2nd at KIOST's Busan headquarters to find ways to conserve marine biodiversity and respond to marine climate change.

This event was organized to share awareness of the global issues of climate change and the decline of marine biodiversity and to seek solutions through international maritime law.

Under the theme "Review of Current Issues in International Maritime Law: Marine Biodiversity and Marine Climate Environment," the seminar was attended by over 50 participants from KIOST, the Navy, KMI, the Institute of Public International Law, and universities. It was divided into three sessions: ▲Marine Biodiversity ▲Marine Climate Environment ▲Current Issues in International Maritime Law.

In the "Marine Biodiversity" session, discussions were held regarding the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)" adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, aimed at preventing and restoring biodiversity loss.

Subsequently, the impact on South Korea and response measures were discussed concerning the "Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)," which the international community has concluded negotiations on to protect and sustainably use marine biodiversity in the high seas and deep seabed.

The joint seminar of the International Maritime Law Association is currently underway.

In the "Marine Climate Environment" session, discussions were held to view climate change from a marine perspective rather than a terrestrial one and to seek solutions within maritime law conventions.

Marine climate scientists and maritime law experts from KIOST engaged in discussions to explore interdisciplinary research approaches that can deeply address climate change issues.

In the Current Issues in International Maritime Law session, maritime law issues surrounding South Korea were examined, and a forum was held to analyze and find solutions from the perspective of maritime law regarding unmanned autonomous warships and the Korea-Japan continental shelf joint development agreement, which represent the intersection of marine science technology advancement and maritime law conventions.

Director Kang Do-hyung stated, "Since the oceans are all connected, global cooperation is essential to protect the marine environment," adding, "KIOST will also take the lead in developing marine science technology and strengthening policy capabilities to proactively respond to the new marine environmental governance system."

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