AMBASSADOR Peter Thomson of Fiji, in his statement as the newly elected president of the Council at the 21st session of the ISA, on Tuesday called on the council to take note of the Post 2015-United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda blueprint.

The Agenda’s 17 sustainable development goals and 169 targets are new global goals in areas critical to humanity — people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership — the outcome of two years of intensive public consultation, balancing economic, social and environmental development.

Ambassador Thomson drew the Council’s attention to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) — “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” — which includes a range of specific goals related to marine pollution, management of marine ecosystems and the conservation of marine protected areas. SDG 14 also further commits to ensuring the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Thomson said said SDG14 would bring accountability to all organisations and agencies that play a role in the sustainability of ocean health and to that end said the Council’s stewardship must always be above reproach.

He continued that it was within this global context of equity, universality and sustainability that the Council begin its deliberations at the ISA’s 21st session, vested with the management of over half of the planet’s surface, (the Area).

Ambassador Thomson was elected Council President for the 21st session of the International Seabed Authority Tuesday and will preside over agenda items which include the consideration of draft exploitation regulations and an application for a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules by China MinMetals Corporation, sponsored by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Over the next two weeks, the Council will also make decisions on the following matters:

* The application for plan of work submitted by China MinMetals Corporation;

* Proposed procedures and criteria for the extension of an approval of plan of work for exploration;

* The report and recommendations of the Finance Committee, if any;

* The report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission on the work of the Commission during this session, if any;

* The draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, if any;

* The draft agreement of cooperation between the International Maritime Organisation and the ISA; and

* The draft MOU between ISA and the Pacific Community.