The BBNJ Youth Network (BYN) is an emerging group of young people who share the vision of an inclusive youth-led constituency for the BBNJ - the UN's process for the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, often referred to as the high seas.
Many youth-led constituencies already exist for other UN fora, such as climate (YOUNGO) and biodiversity (Global Youth Biodiversity Network, GYBN).
We are not representing any existing organizations or groups and are here to give a space for youth voices to be expressed and listened to in a process which will affect the youngest generations the most. In fact, the BBNJ concerns half of the Earth’s surface and it’s largest ecosystems, but has so far not had any youth engagement.
BYN is also a place to build capacity for youth in the BBNJ process. The Network will provide a space for youth to learn more about the BBNJ process and the high seas in general.
If you would like to join the network, please fill in the form below. The last negotiating round of the BBNJ, i.e. Intergovernmental Conference nr. 4 (IGC4), is scheduled for August 2021, so we’ll have to act fast in order to get a youth constituency formally included in the BBNJ agreement text!
We may send you emails, or add your number to a relevant whatsapp/telegram/signal group. Also, let us know if you have relevant experience to participate in these early stages of establishing the constituency:
bbnjyouthnetwork@gmail.comThe BYN is intended for ages 18-35.