Advancing standardization of environmental impact assessment for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) standards and guidelines constitute an integral component of the EIAlegal framework in the Agreement under the UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), offering critical technical and methodological support for Parties to enforce EIArules and safeguard the marine environment. Despite the BBNJ Agreement's imminent entry into force, the international standardization process governing scientific and technical dimensions of EIA has yet to be systematically advanced. While existing EIA standards and guidelines under relevant international and regional frameworks or institutions provide valuable precedents, it is imperative to clarify the nature and scope of EIA standards and guidelines within the specific context of the BBNJ Agreement. This article first elucidates the functional roles and development logic of the emerging EIA standards system under the BBNJ Agreement, then reviews the applicability of existing standards and guidelines as well as their coordination mechanisms. Subsequently, it examines systemic challenges and factors in developing EIA standards and guidelines within the architecture of the BBNJ Agreement, and proposes a comprehensive, adaptive and science-based standardization strategy. This study further explores operational pathways and puts forward a priority action matrix for developing related international standards or guidelines, aiming to promote inclusive and equitable standardization process of BBNJ EIA.