News Features

 

Rolph Payet joins world leaders in discussing plastic waste management
In the lead-up to UNEA-5.2, BRS Secretariat Executive Secretary addresses the positive impact of the Plastic Waste Amendments on curbing plastic pollution.

Rolph Payet joins world leaders in discussing plastic waste management

Rolph Payet joins world leaders in discussing plastic waste management
 
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Join us in the fight against gender bias that holds girls back from studying STEM, and impedes women from pursuing successful careers in science fields.

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
 
Send your submissions for the Generation Connect E-Waste Iconathon by 18 March 2022!
ITU is organising an icon design contest to raise awareness about the global e-waste issue, leveraging the participation of youth. The BRS Secretariat is proud to support the initiative.

Send your submissions for the Generation Connect E-Waste Iconathon by 18 March 2022!

Send your submissions for the Generation Connect E-Waste Iconathon by 18 March 2022!
 
Reports of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Convention COPs (online segments) are now available in all UN languages
The reports are available to view or download in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian.

Reports of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Convention COPs (online segments) are now available in all UN languages

Reports of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Convention COPs (online segments) are now available in all UN languages
 
Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022
The Executive Secretary and team whish you Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022.

Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022

Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022

The Executive Secretary and team whish you Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022.

Validating Argentina’s recycling efforts
The Basel Convention Regional Center for South America launches protocol for the certification of recycling plants managing plastic materials.

Validating Argentina’s recycling efforts

Validating Argentina’s recycling efforts

With hundreds of millions practicing it around the globe, recycling is no longer a novel concept. However, those who recycle with the best intentions but no real understanding of the divergent practices that currently exist in the recycling industry, risk generating waste contamination.

In Argentina, the Basel Convention Regional Center for South America (CRBAS) is working on bridging these gaps in understanding through the development of a project that will align recycling industry practices and bolster public trust in the recycling process. On 14 December 2021, CRBAS launched a protocol, which certifies that plastic recycling plants meet and operate under the same specific, high quality, environmental standards.

Supported by the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI), and the Argentine Chamber of the Plastic Recycling Industry (CAIRPLAS), the Protocol for the Certification of Recycling Industries of Plastic Materials aims to improve the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.  To further support the project’s uptake and implementation, CRBAS is also developing training workshops for auditors, and organizing certification audits throughout the country to award the INTI/CAIRPLAS seal.

If the protocol is met with a positive response in Argentina, there are plans to replicate in other Latin American and Caribbean countries. The overall project falls under the Basel Convention’s Small Grants Program on Plastic Waste, implemented worldwide by the Regional Centers of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions, and funded by the Norwegian government development agency, Norad.

More information on the launch of the Protocol for the Certification of Recycling Industries of Plastic Materials is available here.

BRS in the 10th Green Standards Week
BRS Deputy Executive Secretary will open the High-level Dialogue on Sustainable E-waste Management and Circular Economy in Latin America. Register here.

BRS in the 10th Green Standards Week

BRS in the 10th Green Standards Week
 
Launch of the Stockholm Convention Electronic Reporting System for 5th reporting cycle
The questionnaire, which has been revised to include reporting on additional chemicals, is now available to Parties through in all six UN official languages. Join one of our webinars on 6 or 8 December to learn more about it!

Launch of the Stockholm Convention Electronic Reporting System for 5th reporting cycle

Launch of the Stockholm Convention Electronic Reporting System for 5th reporting cycle
 
New Greening the Blue report highlights steps taken to lessen UN family’s environmental footprint, and impact of COVID-19
The BRS Secretariat, one of 56 UN entities included in the report, is carbon neutral for the 8th year in a row.

New Greening the Blue report highlights steps taken to lessen UN family’s environmental footprint, and impact of COVID-19

New Greening the Blue report highlights steps taken to lessen UN family’s environmental footprint, and impact of COVID-19

Greening the Blue Report 2021 reveals impacts of COVID-19 on UN system’s environmental footprint

Greening the Blue Report 2021 - The UN system’s environmental footprint and efforts to reduce it, is the first edition to reveal impacts on the UN system’s environmental footprint due to COVID-19. The annual report provides UN system-wide data on the environmental impact areas and management functions identified in the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System 2020-2030, Phase I: Environmental Sustainability in the Area of Management. The 2021 edition of the Report, which provides 2020 data, was launched on Monday 8 November. The full Report and UN entity-specific data are available online at www.greeningtheblue.org.

The Report focuses on the environmental impacts of over 315,000 personnel in Headquarters, field offices and operations on the ground. Data from 56 UN system entities is included in the Report. Highlights include:

Greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting

With significant worldwide travel restrictions and large portions of UN personnel working from home, the UN system generated approximately 25 per cent fewer GHG emissions than in 2019. The steep reduction in GHG emissions reflects the sudden and dramatic adaptations in operations that had to be made throughout 2020, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the UN system produced ~1.5 million tonnes CO2eq, with per capita emissions of 5 tonnes CO2eq. The UN system’s emission by source were 32% from air travel, 55% from facilities, and 12% from other forms of travel. Of the reported 2020 emissions 99% were offset.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed on many entities’ a radical change in work and travel patterns. This has however also highlighted the opportunity the UN system has to revisit its working and travel modalities and come closer to the ambitious emissions reductions’ targets that it has set for itself for 2030.

BRS performance

In 2020, the BRS Secretariat, through its operations and facilities, emitted 53 tCO2eq in total or 0.76 tCO2eq per capita – much lower the UN average. When breaking down emissions by source, 74% came from air travel and the remaining 26% came from our facilities.

The Secretariat is also pleased to announce its climate neutrality for the 8th year in a row, meaning that it offsets 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions.

For further details, please visit Greening the Blue where you will find more information relating to activities at the UN system level as well as in the BRS Secretariat. Please also consult the Secretariat’s sustainability webpage.

More information

For more information on the methodologies and data collection used, and for the full Greening the Blue report 2021 please visit the Greening the Blue website.

For more information on the methodology related to travel emissions provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation please visit the ICAO website.

For information on climate neutrality, please visit the UNFCCC website.

For more information, please contact:

UN Environment Programme

E-mail: unepnewsdesk@unep.org.

UN Palais des Nations in Geneva turns green as key climate change talks begin at COP-26, 1 November 2021
Landmark building illuminated by Basel Convention green to highlight links between climate change and chemicals and waste, including plastic waste.

UN Palais des Nations in Geneva turns green as key climate change talks begin at COP-26, 1 November 2021

UN Palais des Nations in Geneva turns green as key climate change talks begin at COP-26, 1 November 2021
 
Grenada becomes a Party to the Basel, Rotterdam, & Stockholm Conventions
Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm Conventions continue to move towards universal coverage as Grenada deposits its instruments of accession, with entry into force on 13 January, 2022.

Grenada becomes a Party to the Basel, Rotterdam, & Stockholm Conventions

Grenada becomes a Party to the Basel, Rotterdam, & Stockholm Conventions
 
Drowning in Plastics: Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics
This compilation of eye-catching graphics, developed by UNEP, GRID-Arendal and the BRS Secretariat, aims to provide a complete overview of the global challenges related to marine litter and plastic waste through a condensed descriptions of key thematic areas and eye-catching graphics.

Drowning in Plastics: Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics

Drowning in Plastics: Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics
 
E-waste in the context of a sustainable digital transformation in Africa and in Latin America: webinars 28-30 September 2021
Join these webinars, organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNECE, BRS and other partners, discuss challenges and opportunities offered by a digital transformation.

E-waste in the context of a sustainable digital transformation in Africa and in Latin America: webinars 28-30 September 2021

E-waste in the context of a sustainable digital transformation in Africa and in Latin America: webinars 28-30 September 2021
 
BRS highlights interactions between plastic waste and food through social media campaign
Click to view the new social media cards, produced as a contribution to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, 23 to 24 September, in New York and online.

BRS highlights interactions between plastic waste and food through social media campaign

BRS highlights interactions between plastic waste and food through social media campaign
BRS Chief addresses plastic waste crisis on UN News
Listen to the latest installment of Dateline Geneva, featuring an exclusive interview by the BRS Executive Secretary Rolph Payet, and interventions by Plastic Is Forever photo exhibition finalists.

BRS Chief addresses plastic waste crisis on UN News

BRS Chief addresses plastic waste crisis on UN News
 
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