Theme and topics
Marine biodiversity is facing unprecedented pressures from climate change, overexploitation of marine resources, pollution, habitat degradation, and emerging industrial activities in the ocean. As marine ecosystems transcend national boundaries, their conservation and sustainable use require coordinated legal and institutional responses across multiple jurisdictional levels.
Recent developments, including the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, the implementation of the marine-related targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and growing initiatives to expand marine protected areas and restore ocean ecosystems, reflect a significant evolution in marine biodiversity governance.
This International Conference seeks to explore how international law, regional frameworks, and domestic implementation mechanisms are addressing contemporary challenges in the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
Abstracts may link to any of these topics. Particular (but not exclusive) attention will be given to the following topics:
- – International Legal Frameworks for Marine Biodiversity Governance
- – Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and the Future of Ocean Governance
- – Marine Protected Areas and Ecologically Significant Marine Zones
- – Environmental Impact Assessments in Marine Environments
- – Marine Spatial Planning and the Regulation of Competing Ocean Uses
- – Marine Biodiversity and the Blue Economy
- – Marine Ecosystems Restoration and Nature-Based Solutions
- – Climate Change Impacts on Marine Biodiversity
- – Marine Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing Mechanisms
- – Judicial and Compliance Mechanisms in Marine Biodiversity Protection
Abstract submissions
Abstracts should be no more than 400 words and include the following information:
- – Title, research question and core structure of the proposed presentation
- – Author(s)’ first and last name
- – Institutional affiliation(s)
Abstracts should be submitted to environmental-law@lisbonpubliclaw.pt by 15 September 2026.
For more information, please contact environmental-law@lisbonpubliclaw.pt.
