On 15 January 2026, the Under鈥慡ecretary鈥慓eneral for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskj枚ld, led an online meeting of UN鈥慜ceans Principals focused on strengthening coordination, collaboration, and the overall impact of capacity鈥慴uilding across the UN system.
听Participants also endorsed the 2026 UN鈥慜ceans Work Programme.
听Opening the meeting, the Legal Counsel emphasized the critical role of UN鈥慜ceans as a platform that unites UN entities to pool expertise, harmonize efforts, and provide sustained, meaningful support to Member States on ocean and coastal issues. She underscored the particular importance of this meeting in light of the upcoming entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement on 17 January 2026.
听Representatives from twenty鈥憈wo entities stressed the need to scale up capacity鈥慴uilding鈥攅specially scientific and technical support for developing countries鈥攖o help address growing ocean challenges, meet obligations under global frameworks, and advance ocean conservation and its sustainable use.
听As UN鈥慜ceans Focal Point, Ms. Hammarskj枚ld affirmed her commitment to strengthening cooperation across the UN system and supporting collective efforts to enhance capacity鈥慴uilding.
