Negotiator's toolkit

This comprehensive knowledge base will help you to understand and navigate multilateral environmental negotiations and related processes.

Negotiator's toolkit

Browse all resources

Resource type

  • Rules of procedure
  • Case studies
  • Manual
  • E-learning course
  • Video
  • Presentation
  • IISD/ENB summary meeting report

Topics

  • Environmental Governance
  • Climate and Atmosphere
  • Biological diversity
  • Marine and Freshwater

MEAs

  • Barcelona Convention
  • BBNJ Agreement
  • CBD
  • CITES
  • CMS
  • UNEA
  • UNFCCC

Keywords

Showing 1 - 9 of 15 results
Video
|
2023

Video example of election of Bureau members by secret ballot at the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2).

Topics:
Environmental Governance
Keywords:
Secret ballot, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, International Agreement
inc-2 bureau
Case studies
|
2023

Decision-Making by Consensus

Examples highlighting how decision-making by consensus is not always straightforward, including a video of the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution (INC-2) showing the Chair's response to a number of points of order raised on this
MEAs:
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Topics:
Environmental Governance
Keywords:
Consensus, Voting, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, Formal objection
PDF Case-studyVideo Example
doha case study image
Case studies
|
2023

Elections by Secret Ballot

Includes examples of provisions on elections by secret ballot and video example of election by secret ballot at the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (INC-2).
MEAs:
United Nations Environment Assembly,
Convention on Migratory Species,
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Topics:
Environmental Governance
Keywords:
Secret ballot, Voting, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, International Agreement
Elections by Secret Ballot Case-Study.pdfVideo of election of Bureau members by secret ballot at INC-2 in Paris
plenary image
IISD/ENB summary meeting report
|
2022

5th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the BBNJ

Despite more progress at this two-week session than over the last decade, delegates were unable to reach consensus on a new high seas treaty addressing marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and, instead, suspended the session, to be resumed

MEAs:
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
Topics:
Biological diversity,
Marine and Freshwater
Keywords:
Biological diversity, Sustainable use, Regional groups, Consensus, International Agreement, United Nations General Assembly, Environmental Impact Assessment, In situ, Capacity building, Small Island Developing States, Strategic environmental assessment, Mutually Agreed Terms, Traditional Knowledge, World Trade Organization, Precautionary principle, Package deal, Indigenous peoples, Intellectual property rights, World Intellectual Property Organization, Assessed contribution
Manual
|
2022

Managing Processes within the Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity: A Guide for Presiding Officers

MEAs:
Convention on Biological Diversity
Topics:
Biological diversity
Keywords:
Voting, Working group, Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Subsidiary body, Point of order, Amendment, Amendment, Consensus, Negotiating blocs, Secret ballot, Formal objection, Information document, Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, Financial rules, Compliance Committee, Non-governmental organizations, Small Island Developing States, Subsidiary Body for Implementation
manual cover
IISD/ENB summary meeting report
|
2022

4th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the BBNJ

At the most productive meeting so far, “unprecedented progress” was made in discussions on marine genetic resources, including benefit sharing, area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building and the transfer of marine technology.

MEAs:
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction
Topics:
Biological diversity,
Marine and Freshwater
Keywords:
Environmental Impact Assessment, Regional groups, Capacity building, Sustainable use, International Agreement, Listing, Traditional Knowledge, United Nations General Assembly, Mutually Agreed Terms, Technology Transfer, Indigenous peoples, Biological diversity, Financial rules, In situ, Strategic environmental assessment, Assessed contribution, Compliance Committee, Precautionary principle, Small Island Developing States
E-learning course
|
2022

Online Negotiations

As COVID-19 restrictions made in-person meetings impossible, many United Nations and Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) meetings have moved to a virtual format. This course takes a closer look at how these negotiation processes are dealt with in a virtual context.
Topics:
Environmental Governance
Keywords:
Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, COVID-19 pandemic, Meetings, Compliance Committee, Voting, Subsidiary body, Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, Biosafety, Compliance, Consensus, Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, Standing Committee, Non-governmental organizations, Regional groups, Economic Commission for Europe, Least Developed Countries
Online negs cover image
Presentation
|
2021

UNEP Training Presentation on Virtual Negotiations

Virtual MEA negotiations training provided by UNEP at the 17th Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (University of Eastern Finland – UNEP).
Topics:
Environmental Governance
Keywords:
Meetings, United Nations Environment Programme, Voting, Subsidiary body, Consensus, Standing Committee, Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, United Nations General Assembly, Compliance
Virtual MEA negotiations presentation.pdfView
virtual negotiations presentation cover
Presentation
|
2021

Rules of Procedure and Consensus in MEA Negotiations: UNEP Training Slides

Topics:
Environmental Governance
Keywords:
Consensus, Voting, United Nations Environment Programme, Point of order, Conference Room Paper
rop presentation cover