Equity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to inform the EDF-Bezos Earth Fund Blue Carbon Pathways Working Group in its exploration of ‘blue carbon’ as a natural climate solution (NCS) in offshore ocean ecosystems. The report addresses one of the challenges in pursuing this work: i.e. how to understand, conceptualize, and pursue equity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The work is timely given increased recognition of the intersections of biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation; broader societal interest in equity, including within conservation organizations; and renewed interests in ABNJ for their conservation and development potential. The report has four substantive sections, reviewing definitions of and frameworks for equity and the related term justice, followed by equity in biodiversity conservation, oceans governance in ABNJ, and NCS carbon sequestration projects.