First to finish, what comes next? Putting Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology under the BBNJ Agreement into practice

The completion of negotiations on capacity building and the transfer of marine technology (CBTMT) was a critical milestone that paved the way for the adoption of a historic new UN ocean treaty that was twenty years in the making. The CBTMT part is crucial to enable the effective and equitable implementation of this treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the two thirds of the ocean that lies beyond national jurisdiction. We present key advances made by the treaty concerning the “what”, “how” and “why” of CBTMT: from including key definitions, a common vision, and mechanisms for diverse voices to drive action - to institutionalising processes for funding and measuring of outcomes. We identify five key remaining questions and efforts needed to support the ratification of the treaty in the short term, and to prepare for implementation in the long term: (i) country-driven needs assessments and action plans; (ii) measures to monitor and review the quality of capacity building; (iii) support for key people and processes, including in relation to the Committee; (iv) information sharing and cooperation; (v) funding. We argue that preparations for the implementation of the CBTMT provisions of the Agreement are needed now. We propose that governments, research organisations, non- and inter- governmental organisations and funding bodies engage in a coordinated effort to address the remaining questions, give countries the confidence to ratify the treaty, and ensure that the advances made by the treaty on paper are put into practice.