The secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the Minamata Convention on Mercury are organizing an online information session on the contribution of the chemicals and waste conventions to Target 7 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)

Thursday 18 April (13h00-15h00 CET)
Language: English
Online, Register here.

The BRS Secretariat participated in the workshop on circular economy considerations and new technologies for combatting climate change, which took place at the ITU Headquarters (ITU Tower building, Room K) in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, 6 May 2024.

While the first part of the workshop focused on new technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, part two discussed the circular economy considerations in combatting climate change. In particular the workshop considered the implications associated with e-waste generation and the need to recycle critical raw materials such as rare earth metals, to prevent scarcity.

The workshop discussed the impact of the recent rise in production of rechargeable batteries and solar equipment, linked to the “greening” of the automotive and energy industries. This is creating an unprecedented demand for certain (rare) raw materials and presents challenges when it comes to recycling e-waste and, more generally, for e-waste management. At the same time, there is significant competition for these same materials, especially from the ICT sector, as countries embark on digital transformation.

The workshop was organized by the ITU and the second part on circular economy was moderated by the BRS Secretariat. For more information on the programme, please visit: Workshop on circular economy considerations and new technologies for combatting climate change (itu.int). Contacts: Francesca.cenni@un.org.

Monday 27 May, 14:00 - 15:30, Room 7, American University of Antigua

The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) will be held from 27 to 30 May 2024 in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Under the overarching theme of “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity", the Conference will aim at assessing the ability of SIDS to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. It will result in an intergovernmentally agreed, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented political outcome document.

A side event is being organized by BRS together with partners from diverse sectors. The event will shed light on how preventing pollution from chemicals and waste and promoting circular economy are fundamental to sustainable development of SIDS. Panelists will discuss the importance of implementing international policy frameworks on chemicals and waste and linkages with climate change mitigation and biodiversity preservation. The key role youth in this regard will be highlighted by the Ashley Lashley Foundation. The Global Environment Facility will explain the benefits of its support to 33 SIDS to improve management of toxic chemicals including persistent organic pollutants and mercury. The World Bank will elaborate on circular economy assessment in SIDS and how tackling plastics and pollution in the tourism sector can create innovative employment opportunities, with examples from Cabo Verde. The event will spotlight exciting initiatives for addressing the environment and health impacts of plastics in Antigua and Barbuda and sustainable financing of chemicals and waste management in Belize. The Pacific Regional Environment Programme will showcase initiatives to reduce marine pollution such as a private-public partnership to rid the region from hazardous wastes.

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) drew to a close on Friday, 1 March 2024. More than 5,600 delegates– representing 190 countries – participated in UNEA-6 which focused on effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

The Assembly adopted 15 resolutions aimed at addressing some of the planet’s most-pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution and desertification. UNEA-6 also adopted a ministerial declaration which reaffirms Member States’ commitment to tackle global environmental challenges and crises and 2 decisions.

Five of the 15 UNEA-6 resolutions relate to the work of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions:

• UNEP/EA.6/L.7 - Promoting synergies, cooperation or collaboration for national implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant environmental instruments
• UNEP/EA.6/L.8 - Environmental aspects of minerals and metals
• UNEP/EA.6/L.9 - Fostering national action to address global environmental challenges through increased cooperation between the United Nations Environment Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme and multilateral environmental agreements
• UNEP/EA.6/L.12 - Sound management of chemicals and waste
• UNEP/EA.6/L.14 - Highly hazardous pesticides

A key highlight of the UNEA-6 was also the first-ever day devoted to showcasing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The successful experience of MEAs shows that Parties are working together to help forge a sustainable future and have helped protect endangered species, limit chemical and waste pollution, and repair the hole in the ozone layer, among other things.

The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions were represented during the MEAs day through the voices of Ms. Maya Berci, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, Mr. Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Shah Gilani, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention, and Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

Beyond the formal UNEA-6 programme, Ms Berci and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions engaged in more than 12 side events addressing a variety of issues ranging from the life-cycle of metals and minerals, cooperation among MEA compliance committees, to linkages between pollution and climate change and biodiversity loss.

Find the programme of BRS engagements at UNEA-6 including recordings of side events.

The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) will take place on 8-12 December 2025.

Photo album

29 February 2024
17:15 – 18:30 p.m. (UTC+3)
Helipad, MEAs events space, Tent C
Nairobi, Kenya

Watch the event recording here

Climate change and pollution often have joint sources and exert combined and mutually reinforcing pressures on the environment and human health.

The sound management of wastes and chemicals, and circular economy approaches, have a critical role to play in addressing climate change. Curbing chemical and wastes pollution offers various co-benefits to tackling climate change, either directly, through sound solid waste management or, indirectly, through the effects of waste prevention, re-use, recycling and resource recovery across economic sectors and through more circular and sustainable products. Circularity approaches could cut global GHG emissions by up to 20% while creating green jobs and improving public health.

By bringing experts from different horizons, the side event will discuss the co-benefits offered by integrated approaches aimed at addressing GHG emissions and releases from pollutants, while preventing trade-offs.

Key areas where synergistic actions can be initiated and which will be showcased at the side event are: policy, through the synergistic implementation of relevant multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), innovation and technology, financing and awareness and education.

Event moderated by:

• Dr. Donald Cooper, Director, Transparency Division, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Opening:

• Ms. Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director, Industry and Economy Division, United Nations Environment
• Dr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Keynote speech:

• Ms. Chizuru Aoki, Lead Environmental Specialist, on behalf of Mr. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Panel discussion:

• Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism, Directorate General for Environment, European Commission
• Ms. Beatrice Cyiza, Director General of Biodiversity and Climate, Ministry of Environment, Rwanda
• Mr. Carlos Silva Filho, President, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
• Mr. Marcos Orellana, UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights
• Mr. Björn Beeler, International Coordinator, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN)

Q&A

Closing remarks:

• Ms. Maya Berci, President of the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, Executive Director, Chemicals Management Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Resources

Photo gallery

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) will take place from 26 February to 1 March 2024 at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. 

UNEA-6 will focus on how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Member States and stakeholders will come together to discuss how to advance effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to address those interconnected planetary environmental crises.

For the first time, UNEA-6 will highlight the importance of cooperation with MEAs with a full day devoted to the discussion on 28 February 2024. The MEAs day will consist of an opening plenary meeting and two consecutive high-level dialogues. It will provide a unique opportunity for the Assembly to enhance its relationship with the MEAs by strengthening convergence of actions and sharing of experiences while also providing increased visibility to the MEAs.

Watch live the Opening plenary of the MEAs Day on 28 February 2024 from 9 to 10 am EAT

Watch live the MEA Dialogue 1: Strengthening the science policy interface for effective implementation of environmental commitments on 28 February 2024 from 10 am to 1 pm EAT

Watch live the MEA Dialogue 2: Strengthening cooperation between UNEA, UNEP and MEAs to enhance effective implementation at the national level including through means of implementation 28 February 2024 from 1 pm to 3 pm EAT

MEAs related events will be organized from 28 February to 1 March at the MEA pavilion and exhibitions of MEAs will run through the full week of UNEA-6.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will actively engage at UNEA-6 to bring attention to the linkages between pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change and show case the work undertaken by Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to tackle those interconnected planetary crises.

BRS Secretariat’s engagement programme at UNEA-6.

All times are in EAT/ GMT+3.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will take part, as an observer, in UNEA-6 and provide information on decisions and ongoing work under the conventions that are relevant to the session’s deliberations.

To that effect, the Secretariat submitted to UNEA-6 the following background notes on the work of the conventions as it relates to the draft resolutions being considered:

• Information document UNEP/EA.6/INF/18 - Information on the work undertaken within the framework of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions as it relates to the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
• Work of the work under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions as it relates to the sound management of chemicals and waste
• Work under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions as it relates to sustainable consumption and production in a circular economy
• Work under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions as it relates to highly hazardous pesticides
• Work under the Basel Convention as it relates to minerals and metals management
• Cooperation between the United Nations Environment Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Photo gallery

The report of the nineteenth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee is now available in all 6 UN languages.

29 February 2024
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (UTC+3)
Helipad, MEAs events Tent, Tent B, Stage 1
Nairobi, Kenya

Watch the event recording here

This event explores areas of cooperation of MEAs Implementation and Compliance Committees to better address the triple planetary crises.

It brings 10 MEAs together through the Chairs of Implementation and Compliance Committees and Secretariats:

• Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Convention on Migratory Species
• Minamata Convention on Mercury
• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
• Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Paris Agreement
• Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Drawing on several recommendations of the General Assembly resolution 73/333 in particular the invitation for Secretariats of MEAs to enhance cooperation and collaboration among themselves, as well as various mandates entrusted to individual MEAs Implementation and Compliance Committees to cooperate with other entities, this event will provide an opportunity to learn from the work and achievements of the various Committees, including collaborative efforts to achieve their objectives.

Examples of existing cross fertilization processes and cooperative activities will be presented, including the convening of dialogues between MEA Committees and other organizations on improving implementation and compliance with obligations of a similar nature, such as national reporting, the development of legislation and combating illegal traffic/trade.

The event will also provide an opportunity to take stock of the contributions of Implementation and Compliance Committees in supporting Parties to achieve the SDGs, including through the Cooperation Framework processes.

Event moderated by:

• Osvaldo Álvarez-Pérez, President of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, President of the Implementation Committee of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Chair of the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade

• Ivonne Higuero, Secretary General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): “CITES compliance mechanism and the role of partnerships”
• Kunihiko Shimada, Chair of the facilitative branch of the Compliance Committee of the Kyoto Protocol: “Experience of the facilitative branch in providing advice and facilitation to Parties in implementing the Kyoto Protocol”
• Christina Voigt, Co-Chair of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee: “The role and function of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee”
• Jimena Nieto, Professor of International Law, Member and Vice-Chair of the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: “Cross-fertilization among compliance mechanisms: the value of informal dialogues and exchanges”
• Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, Convention on Migratory Species: “Cooperation under the Review Mechanism of the Convention on Migratory Species"
• Paulina Riquelme, former Chair of the Implementation and Compliance Committee of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: “National reports and the Implementation and Compliance Committee: experiences from a young Convention”
• Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary, Minamata Convention on Mercury: “Collaboration with other MEAs and relevant outcomes of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention”
• Jason Dunn, Chair of the Implementation and Compliance Committee of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal: “Integrating implementation needs in the broader sustainable development agenda: the experience of the Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee”.

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The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat participated in the second session of the ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (OEWG-2), held from 11 to 15 December in Nairobi, Kenya.

Member States made significant progress, following extensive discussions on institutional arrangements, operating principles, conflict of interest, and other work-related processes and procedures. They have also discussed approaches for establishing strategic partnerships, including with relevant MEAs such as the BRS Conventions.

As decided by Parties in the last Conference of the Parties, BRS Secretariat is cooperating closely with the SPP Secretariat to promote coordination and cooperation, as well as complementarity and no duplication between the work of the panel and the three conventions.

The OEWG agreed on the future intersessional work on preparation of its third and final meeting scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2024.