Venue of the meetings
The eighteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention and the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention will be held back to back from 19 to 30 April 2027 at the following venue:
Panama Convention Center
Amador, General Juan D. Peron Street
Panama City, Panama
Located on the Amador Causeway
(Approximately 15–20 minutes from downtown Panama City)
Internet: https://panamaconventions.com/en
https://panamaconventions.com/en/how-to-get/
Registration
Information on the online registration, to take place by Friday, 20 November 2026 for Parties and by Friday, 11 December 2026 for observers, is provided in the invitation letter to Parties, respectively notification to observers.
On-site registration will open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, 18 April 2027, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, 19 April 2027, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the remaining days of the meetings. Security checks will be carried out at the conference centre each time you enter the venue. Please note that owing to the high number of participants expected, we strongly recommend that you register on Sunday or as early as possible.
Security identification documentation and badges for meeting participants
Security identification badges are issued to participants upon arrival at the meetings and upon completion of the relevant registration procedure. Meeting participants may collect their security identification badges at the registration desks upon presentation of one of the following identification documents:
- Valid national passport issued by a government recognized by the United Nations;
- Valid national ID card issued by Panama;
- Valid travel document recognized by the United Nations.
Schedule of the meetings
On Sunday, 18 April 2027, preparatory meetings, including regional groups and bureaux meetings, will be held. Information on the preparatory meetings will be announced on the meetings’ website at: https://www.brsmeas.org/2027COPs.
The meetings will be opened on Monday, 19 April 2027, at 10 a.m. The schedule of work for the meetings will be made available on the documents webpage following the joint meeting of the bureaux of the conferences of the Parties on 23 and 24 November 2026.
Delegates wishing to attend only specific sessions of the meetings should keep in mind that the order and timing of sessions may change, depending on decisions made by the bureaux of the conferences of the Parties and on the time required for discussion. Delegates are invited to take this into consideration when making their travel arrangements.
Financial support for the participation of developing-country Parties and Parties that are countries with economies in transition
Depending on the availability of funds, financial assistance to help defray the cost of attending the meetings will be made available to developing-country Parties and Parties that are countries with economies in transition for one representative per State per convention to which the State is a Party, to a maximum of three representatives per State, for up to the full two-week duration of the meetings.
It will not be possible for the Secretariat to consider requests for financial assistance or replacements of designated representatives after the Wednesday, 11 November 2026 registration deadline. Due to the high number of travellers, the Secretariat will not be in a position to accommodate requests for private deviations from the official itinerary provided by the travel agent, including selecting a specific route or airline.
Credentials (for representatives of Parties to the conventions)
Parties are invited to transmit credentials for their registered representatives. In accordance with rule 18 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, rule 19 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention and rule 19 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, Parties must submit the credentials of the representatives, as well as the names of the alternate representatives and advisers, who will constitute the delegation for your State or regional economic integration organization to the meetings of those of the three conventions to which their State or regional economic integration organization is a Party. A model form of credentials is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish on the credentials webpage.
In accordance with the respective rules of procedure, credentials must be issued by the head of State or Government, by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or, in the case of a regional economic integration organization, by the competent authority of that organization. Information regarding any change in the composition of the delegation should be submitted using the same procedure. Moreover, credentials shall be submitted if possible, no later than 24 hours after the opening of the meetings (therefore by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 20 April 2027).
The Secretariat invites Parties to submit any electronic copy of credentials in advance of the meetings preferably by Thursday, 1 April 2027 to Ms. Joanne Slotte (email: joanne.slotte@un.org), as doing so will greatly facilitate the clearance process. The Secretariat also invites Parties to hand over the original credentials of their representatives at the meeting venue itself in Panama, at the time of the opening of the meetings.
The bureaux of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions agreed on the approach they will follow when preparing the reports on credentials for the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in 2027. The bureaux agreed that when examining credentials received, they would accept original credentials in good order as well as copies of credentials in good order with the understanding that the original will be submitted as soon as possible.
Guidelines for rules of conduct for meeting participants
The attention of meeting participants is drawn to the following guidelines for rules of conduct developed by the Secretariat available on the following website:
- Guidelines on the use of cameras and audio/video recording devices by participants at meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (BRS) and their subsidiary bodies;
- Guidelines for the participation of representatives of observers at meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (BRS) and their subsidiary bodies;
- Guidelines on preventing and addressing all forms of harassment at meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions.
Side events
Requests for side events need to be made no later than 8 January 2027. Further information on side event, including an online request form and guidance for side event organizers will be made available on the side events webpage in late November 2026. Side event organizers will be informed of allocated slots by 19 February 2027.
Up to two side events can be held in parallel during lunch breaks and in the evenings following the plenary sessions. If more requests for side events are received than there are slots available, organizers of side events may be invited to organize joint events. A draft schedule of side events will be published on the meetings’ website prior to the meetings.
Theme and Fair
The theme of the meetings is: “Make Visible the Invisible”. Focusing on the theme selected for the 2027 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the three conventions, a Fair “From Regional Action to Global Impact” will be organised to raise awareness on the work of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and their contribution towards addressing the crises of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change, showcasing how evidence leads to action. The Fair will have a duration of 3 days during the meetings of the conferences of the Parties and will take place from 21 to 23 April 2027.
Expressions of interest to book an exhibition booth should be sent no later than 8 January 2027. A dedicated online request form, as well as detailed information on the Fair and exhibition booths, will be made available on the Fair webpage in late November 2026.
Promoting sustainability in the preparation and conduct of BRS meetings
Since 2012, the Secretariat has put in place measures to promote environmental sustainability in the preparation and conduct of BRS meetings. In line with the United Nations Climate Neutral Strategy, the Secretariat has been working to improve its environmental performance and has been climate neutral since 2012.
Under this framework, the Secretariat has taken steps to make the 2027 meetings of the COPs climate neutral by offsetting any unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions, in particular from the travel of sponsored participants. Delegates who organize their own travel to and from Panama City are encouraged to offset their travel emissions online. Further information on how to offset travel emissions is available at: Greening the COPs.
In addition, the Panama Convention Center (PCC) has implemented a range of sustainability measures aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, including energy-efficient lighting and climate control systems, wastewater treatment and reuse, and waste collection and recycling. The PCC is also transitioning away from single-use plastics by using biodegradable packaging and replacing plastic bottles with Tetra Pak containers made from sugarcane-based materials. Participants and delegates are strongly encouraged to support these efforts by bringing reusable drinking containers and making use of the waste sorting and recycling facilities available throughout the venue. For more information, consult the Panama Convention Centre Sustainability Guide.
Further information on the Secretariat’s efforts for greening the meetings of the conferences of the Parties and how delegates can support these endeavours is available at: Greening the COPs.
Paperless meeting
The meetings will be paperless, and printed documents will not be available at the meetings. Pre-session documents will be made available on the meetings’ website and in-session documents (such as conference room papers) will be available electronically via wireless intranet.
Making a meeting paperless considerably reduces the cost and carbon footprint of the meeting. A paperless meeting also makes it easier for participants to locate documents and allows for faster preparation and distribution of conference room papers.
To facilitate the paperless nature of the meetings, participants are requested to ensure the following:
- Each participant should bring a laptop computer containing basic applications, including Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Reader and updated antivirus software.
- Laptops should be pre-checked for viruses and confirmed as virus-free prior to arrival at the meetings. Virus-free laptops are crucial to the success of a paperless meeting.
- Participants should bring a memory stick that has been pre-checked for viruses for the purpose of transferring documents.
- Laptops should be configured for a standard wireless (Wi-Fi) connection. If in doubt, please check with your local information technology expert.
- Participants should bring an appropriate adaptor to enable laptops to be connected to Panamanian power sockets.
- When completing the registration form of the meetings, participants should include a current e-mail address, so that they can be sent correspondence relating to the meetings.
Visa
It is the responsibility of each participant to apply for the required visa. Where required, visas must be obtained prior to arrival. Please refer to the Quick Guide for participants requiring a visa to enter the Republic of Panama provided by the government of Panama to determine whether you need to apply for a visa and to consult relevant procedures. Since visa requests will require a certain processing time, it is highly recommended that participants requiring visa register as early as possible. Visa applications can only be started following the approval of your registration and the issuance of related confirmation and visa support letters.
Medical and travel insurance
The United Nations does not cover life or medical insurance for participants. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the participant or that of your Government to ensure adequate insurance coverage prior to travelling to Panama.
Accommodation
It is the responsibility of participants to make their own accommodation arrangements. The Government of Panama has negotiated preferential rates with selected hotels. A list of these hotels and the corresponding negotiated rates will be made available shortly through a dedicated Accommodation Guide. The Guide will also provide practical information on hotel locations, booking procedures, transportation arrangements between designated hotels and the Panama Convention Center, and other relevant details to assist participants in planning their stay in Panama.
Local transportation
Participants will have several transportation options available for travel from Tocumen International Airport to Panama City, as well as for local transportation during their stay, including authorized airport taxis, ride-hailing services such as Uber, the Panama Metro, and other transportation arrangements that may be established for the 2027 BRS COPs.
Participants are advised to use authorized and identifiable transportation services and to confirm the estimated fare or applicable rate before beginning their journey when using taxis. When using ride-hailing applications, participants should verify the vehicle, licence plate and driver information displayed in the application before entering the vehicle. Participants should also exercise normal precautions when travelling, particularly when carrying passports, luggage, electronic devices and other valuables. Information on the Panama Metro, including operating hours, connections from Tocumen International Airport, fares and practical instructions for using the system, will also be made available to participants.
A detailed Transportation and Practical Mobility Guide will be shared with participants before the meetings, providing information on airport transfers, local transportation options, public transportation, estimated fares, and routes to the Panama Convention Center. Details of any dedicated transportation services, including routes, schedules and pick-up points, will also be provided in advance.
Security and Personal Safety
Panama will implement the appropriate security arrangements for the 2027 BRS COPs in coordination with the relevant national authorities and the meeting organizers. Participants are nevertheless encouraged to observe normal personal safety precautions throughout their stay. Participants should keep their passports, travel documents and valuables secure; avoid carrying unnecessary amounts of cash; use authorized or recognized transportation services; and remain attentive to their personal belongings, particularly at airports, transportation terminals, tourist areas and other crowded public places. Participants are also encouraged to follow any security instructions or advisories communicated by the BRS Secretariat or the Panamanian authorities before and during the meetings. Information on relevant emergency contacts, security assistance and procedures to follow in case of an emergency will be provided to participants as part of the practical information for the 2027 BRS COP.
Electricity
| Voltage: 120 volts
Frequency: 60 Hz
Plug/socket: A (NEMA 1-15) and B (NEMA 5-15) |  |
Currency and Banking
Currency: The official currency of Panama is the Balboa (PAB), which is equivalent in value to the United States Dollar (USD). In practice, the United States Dollar is the currency in circulation, and all prices are quoted in USD.
ATMs are widely available throughout Panama City, including at Tocumen International Airport, Panama Convention Centre, shopping centres, hotels, and commercial areas.
International debit and credit cards are widely accepted.
Restaurants
A catering facility will be available within the Conference Centre offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Additional dining options are also available in the vicinity of the Convention Center and in nearby areas of Panama City, offering a variety of local and international cuisine at different price ranges. More detailed information will be provided to participants closer to the meetings, including a list of nearby restaurants and cafés, their approximate locations and distances from the Convention Center, opening hours, and other practical information to assist participants in planning their meals during the meetings.