BBNJ Agreement's Clearing–House Mechanism: AI for good?

The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) established a key information system for implementation: the Clearing–House Mechanism (Mechanism). The BBNJ Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) is currently working to operationalize it, which will eventually replace interim measures. The Mechanism is designed to support the Agreement's four main elements: Marine Genetic Resources including fair and equitable benefit sharing, Area-Based Management Tools, including Marine Protected Areas, Environmental Impact Assessments, and capacity building as well as technology transfer. It will also facilitate secretariat functions and address related matters. The potential integration of advanced IT technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), into the Mechanism has not yet been confirmed by the PrepCom. However, the use of AI is referenced in the Consolidated draft study on the technical aspects of operationalizing the Clearing–House Mechanism, which was issued for the third PrepCom session. In this paper, AI is considered as a possible overlay to the Mechanism, a tool that could be incorporated after the system becomes operational. AI has the potential to enhance user experience without affecting the Mechanism's core workflows or underlying authority. While AI could improve user access and usability for open and restricted data within the Mechanism, its incorporation presents actual, potential, and perceived risks. This article explores how AI-supported tools might be integrated, especially for the capacity building and technology transfer needs assessment stages and proposes three key safeguards to address risks. Additionally, regarding perceived risks, such as misinformation, this article recommends strong engagement with administrators and users on awareness raising. Finally, the article highlights the importance of co-developing protections for traditional knowledge if handled by the Mechanism, with Indigenous Peoples and local communities leading such efforts. If the Advisory Mechanism on Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and traditional knowledge, as suggested by Pacific Small Island Developing States, is established, this group could collaborate with the secretariat and stakeholders to propose safeguards or to prohibit AI use for information related to traditional knowledge, and present recommendations to the Conference of the Parties.