Welcome to the introductory page for the following module: Utilization of Genetic and Biological Resources and International Law: Recent Developments and Future Trends.
This module lasts approximately 5 hours.
The sustainable management of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in bio-based industries (e.g. agriculture, botanicals, cosmetics, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals) must now account for the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) measures envisaged by the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, which entered into force at the international level on 12 October 2014. The Protocol, a sub-treaty of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), establishes governing norms and obligations for the access and use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in member jurisdictions. This course explores core issues in ABS, legislative approaches from various jurisdictions, and key challenges and areas of opportunity. In the Nagoya era, proactive organizations are capitalizing on legislative developments to enhance global supply chain integrity, security and functional equity, and do so in an economically, socially and environmentally sound manner.
Primary Instructors
Freedom-Kai Phillips
Freedom-Kai Phillips, MA (Seton Hall), LLB (Dalhousie), LLM (Ottawa), is Research Associate with the International Law Research Program (ILRP) at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a Legal Research Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), and the Manager of the CISDL International Secretariat. Mr. Phillips has most recently served as Interim Director of the Centre for Law Technology and Society, at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. In the past Mr. Phillips has served as Legal Researcher for the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, a representative to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, and as a private sector sustainability consultant. His research focuses on access and benefit sharing (ABS), governance of marine and terrestrial biodiversity, financial incentives relating to sustainable development, carbon offsetting and renewable energy promotion, and legal measure to support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).