14 October 2025

As the global demand for smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels, and other technologies continues to rise, so does the need for the materials that power them. International E-waste Day this year focuses on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) – rare elements essential for creating these technologies and often mined in only a few countries. CRMs such as gold, copper, and nickel are vital to modern technologies such as smart phones, but these materials can be recovered from old or broken electronics stored in homes.

It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more than 130 million metric tons of e-waste produced per year, containing precious metals such as gold, copper, and nickel. The level of e-waste far-outstrips current capacities to properly manage it in an environmentally sound manner[1] as outlined in the Basel Convention.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, together with partners – the European Institute for Innovation and Technology’s RawMaterials Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT RawMaterials - Academy), the university KU Leuven (KUL) in Belgium, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Resources Forum (WRF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – are proud to launch an updated Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), on the E-waste challenge, both in English and in Spanish.

The MOOC includes updated materials and a new course on conformity assessment of e-waste standards and is aimed at students, researchers, policy makers in the environment and telecommunication sectors, practitioners, entrepreneurs, e-waste recyclers and government officials. The MOOC invites participants to become part of the solution to this growing problem. Relevant for developed and developing countries alike, the programme covers all aspects of e-waste with a view to turning the threat of this global explosion of e-waste into an opportunity. The course is organised into five mini courses, which can be completed independently.

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the BRS Conventions, said “E-waste is a growing challenge for our society, and on International E-Waste Day, we join hands to promote solutions, from prevention, recycling and the final disposal, fostering a circular model. The MOOC and live lectures will provide the latest knowledge on critical raw materials recycling from E-waste and the latest research available. The MOOC offers five courses in English and in Spanish that will introduce you to the challenge of e-waste and especially to its environmentally sound recycling. The course will guide you through the issues at stake and will expand on opportunities as well as on possible actions to take at the local, national and regional levels. It will also introduce you to policy tools, standards and best practices for the collection, recycling, and final disposal of e-waste”

“Sound e-waste management is key to our health, environmental sustainability, and recovering valuable raw materials,” said Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. “The ITU standards covered by this course address the entire lifecycle of digital technologies to help you change the equations that lead to e-waste, handle e-waste sustainably, and create new jobs in recycling.”

World Resources Forum Managing Director, Mathias Schluep, said:

"Education is one of the most powerful tools to address the global e-waste challenge. Through the MOOC, we want to empower students, policymakers, and practitioners to see e-waste not as a burden but as an opportunity for innovation and sustainability. At the World Resources Forum, we were proud to contribute to two courses that build on our longstanding engagement in addressing e-waste challenges. Together, these courses provide learners with both the vision and the practical tools needed to understand the complexity of this waste stream and develop effective solutions."

Notes to editors:

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. It is the most comprehensive international environment treaty on hazardous and other wastes and is almost as universal as the United Nations membership, with 191 Parties. With an overarching objective of protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes, its scope covers a wide range of waste subject to transboundary movements: it includes wastes defined as hazardous based on their origin and/or composition and characteristics, as well as four types of waste defined as “other wastes”, namely household waste, residues arising from the incineration of household waste ash, certain plastic waste and certain electronic and electrical waste requiring special consideration.

For more information on E-Waste and the MOOC:

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, please contact asana.greenstreet-tommasino@un.org

International Telecommunication Union, please contact matthew.dalais@itu.int

World Resources Forum, please contact  rebecca.suhner@wrforum.org

UN scientific committee agrees that polybrominated dioxins and furans and mixed polybrominated and polychlorinated dioxins and furans meet all criteria for persistent organic pollutants but defers its decision on moving to the next stage for global action under the Stockholm Convention.

Rome, 7 October 2025 – International experts meeting under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants agreed that newly proposed groups of toxic chemicals—polybrominated dioxins and furans and mixed polybrominated and polychlorinated dioxins and furans—meet all the criteria to be considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) was unable to reach full consensus on whether global control measures are warranted at this stage.

The decision, taken at the Committee’s twenty-first meeting in Rome (29 September–3 October 2025), means that the Committee will continue its work on these chemicals, with a particular focus on information related to long-range environmental transport and adverse effects on human health. If the Committee agrees at a future meeting to move to the next stage in the process of controlling chemicals under the Convention, the proposed chemicals would be forwarded to the governing body of the Convention—the Conference of the Parties—for a final decision on global action and control. Given the deferred decision by the Committee, the earliest date at which the chemicals may be added to the Stockholm Convention by such a decision of the Conference of the Parties would be in 2029.

“The discussions reflected the Committee’s commitment to scientific rigour and consensus-based decision- making,” said Peter Dawson, Chair of the POPs Review Committee. “While further dialogue is needed, there is clear recognition that these substances meet the key criteria for persistence, bioaccumulation, long-range transport, and toxicity.”

Although these brominated and mixed dioxins and furans are not yet listed under the Convention, countries already have legal obligations and practical tools to address similar pollutants.

Under the Stockholm Convention, Parties must promote best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) to prevent and minimize releases of unintentional POPs, including polychlorinated dioxins and furans.

Because the sources and formation mechanisms are similar, these same approaches—improving waste management, ending open burning, and controlling recycling of plastic waste and electronic and electrical waste (e-waste)—can also effectively reduce emissions of brominated and mixed dioxins.

“The Committee’s diligence continues to ensure that there is a sound basis for decision-making by all Parties,” said Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. “By applying best available techniques to manage plastic waste and e-waste and prevent open burning, we can protect human health and the environment today from these chemicals.”

***

NOTES TO EDITORS

A legacy and a new challenge

Dioxins and furans were among the original “dirty dozen” chemicals that spurred the negotiation and adoption of the Stockholm Convention more than 20 years ago. The current discussions reflect the Convention’s ongoing scientific vigilance and its capacity to respond to new and emerging chemical threats.

The Committee’s deliberations in Rome have strengthened and continue to strengthen the scientific understanding of these pollutants and their risks. Experts highlighted the need for enhanced monitoring and research to better understand how long-range environmental transport contributes to adverse human health effects.

The proposal, submitted by Switzerland in 2020, seeks to list polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) and mixed polybrominated and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBCDD/Fs) under Annex C to the Convention, targeting the reduction and ultimate elimination of unintentional releases.

Unlike many other POPs, dioxins and furans are not intentionally produced. They are formed unintentionally during combustion and recycling processes, particularly from materials containing brominated flame retardants. Common sources include open burning of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste), plastic recycling, and waste incineration.

Although trace amounts of brominated dioxins and furans occur naturally, their widespread presence in the environment began in the 1960s, coinciding with the rapid expansion of brominated flame-retardant production and use. Studies show that these brominated and mixed dioxins are now widely present in the environment and in consumer products made from recycled plastics. Alarmingly, children’s toys from 26 countries were found to contain high levels of PBDD/Fs.

Once released, these chemicals persist in the environment for years and can travel great distances through the atmosphere. They have been detected as far away as northern Finland and across remote oceanic regions, at concentrations similar to other well-known dioxins.

They also accumulate in living organisms and move up the food chain, with residues found in fish, marine mammals, livestock, and human tissues worldwide. Their elimination from the human body can take several years, underscoring the risk of chronic exposure.

Like their chlorinated counterparts, brominated dioxins and furans can cause developmental, immune, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects.

Firefighters and e-waste workers show significantly higher exposure levels, while contaminated food remains a major source of intake for the general population. Children are particularly vulnerable—plastic toys made from recycled materials can contribute measurably to their daily dioxin exposure.

For instance, studies have reported egg samples from e-waste sites in Ghana containing up to 300 picograms toxic equivalents (TEQ) per gram of fat, while firefighters’ serum samples showed brominated dioxin levels ten times higher than chlorinated ones.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants aims to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in living organisms, and travel long distances. The Convention currently controls 37 chemicals or groups of chemicals, including polychlorinated dioxins and furans, PCBs, DDT, PFOS, and others.

Through its scientific committee, the POPRC, the Convention continues to evaluate newly identified POPs to ensure that the most dangerous chemicals are addressed through global cooperation, sound science, and shared responsibility.

***

For information on the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention, contact: Kei Ohno Woodall, BRS Secretariat Senior Coordination Officer, kei.ohno@un.org

For media inquiries, contact: Maria Cristina Cardenas, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor of the BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org.

Rome, Italy, 26 September 2025 - From household gardens to large-scale agriculture, pesticides are widely used around the world, but many carry hidden dangers. At a time when one in eleven people face hunger, the sound management of pesticides, together with sustainable agriculture and food systems that protect both people and the environment, is more important than ever. This week, international experts meeting in Rome took a step towards protecting communities and the environment by recommending that methyl-parathion, a highly toxic pesticide, be added to the global watchlist under the Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty that establishes a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

Meeting at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 21^st meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC-21) brought together scientists, government officials, and observers from around the world. Over four days of intense discussion, the Committee recommended the inclusion of methyl-parathion in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention. Annex III lists chemicals, making them subject to the PIC procedure, which requires exporting countries to obtain the prior informed consent of importing countries before such hazardous chemicals can be exported.

In addition, the Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action on seventeen other pesticides that countries had banned or severely restricted due to risks to human health or the environment. The Committee also reviewed three proposals for listing severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPFs). SHPFs are pesticide formulations that produce severe health or environmental effects as defined under the Convention. Developing countries and countries with economies in transition experiencing problems may under the Convention propose the listing of an SHPF based on established criteria.

For each chemical recommended for inclusion in Annex III and subject to the control procedure the Committee prepares a draft decision guidance document. Work is to begin now on preparing this document to accompany the recommendation in relation to methyl parathion. If the Committee finalizes the decision guidance document at its twenty-second meeting in 2026, it can be anticipated that the recommendation on methyl-parathion will be considered at the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (COP-13) in 2027. If approved, methyl-parathion will be added to Annex III, meaning Parties, including developing countries, will be better protected through the right to be informed and to give consent before the pesticide is imported – a crucial step toward sharing responsibility and information, safer trade and stronger protection for farmers, workers, and families worldwide.

By reviewing notifications and making recommendations for action on hazardous pesticides, the Rotterdam Convention continues to support its Parties in making informed choices that safeguard both people and the planet.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Methyl-parathion is an organophosphate insecticide and acaricide formerly used for agricultural use on cotton, garlic, rice, and other crops.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, promotes shared responsibility and facilitates cooperative efforts among its Parties to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes. http://www.brsmeas.org/

For information on the Rotterdam Convention, contact: Christine Fuell, Executive Secretary a.i. of the Rotterdam Convention, christine.fuell@fao.org

For media inquiries, contact: Maria Cristina Cardenas, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor of the BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org

Genève, Suisse, le 8 août 2025 - Le Secrétariat des Conventions de Bâle, Rotterdam et Stockholm (BRS) et le Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM) ont signé un accord de financement d’un montant de 2 millions d’euros pour lutter contre la pollution plastique au Cabo Verde, au Sénégal et dans l’ensemble de l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone. Ce projet triennal vise à renforcer les capacités nationales pour réduire la pollution plastique, assurer une gestion écologiquement rationnelle des déchets plastiques, et protéger la santé humaine et l’environnement.

“Cette subvention de 2 millions d’euros n’est pas seulement un engagement financier – c’est un signal fort du leadership de la France dans la lutte mondiale contre la pollution plastique. Alors que des rapports récents mettent en lumière les risques sanitaires et environnementaux liés à l’exposition aux plastiques, ce partenariat avec le FFEM traduit l’urgence en actions concrètes, aidant les pays à passer des promesses mondiales à des solutions pratiques sur le terrain.”

Rolph Payet, Secrétaire exécutif des Conventions de Bâle, Rotterdam et Stockholm

Ce projet ambitieux BRS–FFEM permettra au Cabo Verde, au Sénégal, ainsi qu’aux pays francophones d’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Tchad, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinée, Guinée-Bissau, Mali, Mauritanie, Niger, Togo) de prendre des mesures concrètes contre la pollution plastique. En renforçant les législations nationales, les institutions et les systèmes de gestion des déchets, le projet soutiendra la mise en œuvre des obligations issues de la Convention de Bâle, tout en préparant les pays aux futures exigences du traité mondial sur les plastiques actuellement en négociation. Le projet repose sur les trois stratégies clés de la Convention de Bâle :

1. Le contrôle des mouvements transfrontières de déchets plastiques,
2. La gestion écologiquement rationnelle (GER) des déchets plastiques,
3. La réduction de la production de déchets plastiques.

En s’appuyant sur des outils développés avec le soutien de la Norvège, le projet bénéficie également d’un fort appui local, notamment via des contributions en nature des gouvernements du Cabo Verde et du Sénégal, ainsi qu’une implication active des acteurs privés et de la société civile, notamment dans les systèmes de collecte et la sensibilisation du public.

Concrètement, que prévoit le projet sur le terrain ?

Sur le terrain, ce projet déploiera un ensemble d’actions puissantes au Cabo Verde et au Sénégal, en combinant des initiatives pilotes ambitieuses avec des réformes nationales essentielles pour générer un changement durable.

Au Cabo Verde, le projet encouragera des pratiques plus écologiques et sans plastique dans l’industrie hôtelière, en réduisant les déchets plastiques grâce à des alternatives intelligentes et durables — telles que l’installation de filtres à microplastiques et la mise en place de systèmes de collecte à petite échelle — afin de rendre le tourisme plus vert et mieux préparé pour l’avenir. Il réunira également des organisations de la société civile au sein d’un réseau national fort, qui portera le recyclage communautaire, les alternatives locales sans plastique et les systèmes de collecte de déchets à petite échelle.

Au Sénégal, de nouveaux systèmes seront mis en place pour collecter et recycler les filets de pêche abandonnés et les sachets plastiques — transformant les déchets plastiques en opportunités économiques et en emplois. Les moyens de subsistance locaux basés sur le recyclage seront renforcés, offrant aux communautés les outils pour assainir leur environnement tout en développant leur économie.

Dans les deux pays, des inventaires des déchets plastiques seront élaborés afin de suivre les flux de plastique, de la production à l’élimination. Les cadres juridiques et politiques seront revus et renforcés pour améliorer l’application des règles de la Convention de Bâle sur les mouvements transfrontaliers de déchets. Le personnel gouvernemental bénéficiera de formations pratiques pour soutenir la mise en œuvre et l’application efficaces des réglementations, tandis que des campagnes de sensibilisation à l’échelle nationale seront déployées — sur les réseaux sociaux, à la télévision, dans des brochures, et au-delà. Des écoles sans plastique seront lancées au Cabo Verde et au Sénégal, pour éduquer et responsabiliser les jeunes à devenir les acteurs d’un avenir plus propre et plus durable.

Enfin, des activités régionales seront également mises en œuvre, telles que l’élaboration d’un plan de collaboration entre les pays francophones d’Afrique de l’Ouest pour renforcer le contrôle du commerce des déchets plastiques, l’élaboration d’une stratégie régionale pour la gestion écologiquement rationnelle (GER) des déchets plastiques, ainsi que des formations régionales sur ces thématiques.

“Le projet BRS-Plastique constitue une opportunité stratégique et opportune pour le Cap-Vert, le Sénégal et, plus largement, l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone. Il témoigne de la forte volonté politique des gouvernements de la France, du Cap-Vert et du Sénégal de s’attaquer à la pollution plastique selon une approche fondée sur le cycle de vie. En s’alignant sur les efforts en cours dans la région, le projet est bien positionné pour générer des résultats plus durables et percutants sur le terrain, améliorant la santé humaine et la protection de l’environnement.”

M. Baba Drame, Directeur au Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Transition Écologique, Sénégal

Pourquoi est-ce important ?

La pollution plastique constitue une crise mondiale croissante, menaçant la biodiversité, les écosystèmes, la santé publique, les pêcheries et les moyens de subsistance locaux. En réponse, la communauté internationale s’emploie à refondre les cadres juridiques pour lutter contre les déchets plastiques à toutes les étapes de leur cycle de vie. La Convention de Bâle sur le contrôle des mouvements transfrontières de déchets dangereux et de leur élimination a introduit en 2021 de nouvelles règles visant à mieux contrôler les mouvements de déchets plastiques, à garantir leur gestion sûre et à réduire leur volume et leur toxicité. Ces amendements sont renforcés par la Convention de Stockholm sur les polluants organiques persistants, qui cible les substances toxiques présentes dans les plastiques, afin de réduire leurs effets nocifs tout au long du cycle de vie.

“Ce partenariat reflète l’engagement fort de la France à passer des paroles aux actes pour mettre fin à la pollution plastique. En investissant dans des solutions concrètes sur le terrain, nous renforçons le leadership régional, soutenons la réduction de la pollution plastique à la source, et contribuons à la mise en œuvre de la Convention de Bâle, tout en créant une dynamique en faveur d’un futur traité ambitieux sur les plastiques.”

Barbara Pompili, Ambassadrice de France pour l’environnement

Dans cette dynamique, lors de la cinquième session de l’Assemblée des Nations Unies pour l’environnement (ANUE-5) en février 2022, 175 pays ont approuvé l’élaboration d’un nouveau traité mondial sur la pollution plastique. Les négociations sont actuellement en cours à Genève, en Suisse (du 5 au 14 août 2025), dans le cadre du Comité Intergouvernemental de Négociation (CIN-5.2). Le projet BRS–FFEM contribue directement à la mission du Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM) de protéger l’environnement mondial en apportant des solutions concrètes, innovantes et évolutives pour la gestion des déchets en Afrique de l’Ouest — en cohérence avec les Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD) et avec l’appui du Centre régional des Conventions de Bâle et de Stockholm basé au Sénégal. C’est un modèle de concrétisation des engagements mondiaux sur le terrain.

“Le projet s’inscrit pleinement dans la mission du FFEM de protéger l’environnement mondial tout en soutenant le développement local. En démontrant des solutions novatrices, évolutives et économiquement viables pour mettre fin à la pollution plastique, ce projet pourra servir de modèle pour une mise en œuvre à plus grande échelle en Afrique, voire dans d’autres régions.”

Stéphanie Bouziges-Eschmann, Secrétaire générale du Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial

NOTES À L’ATTENTION DES RÉDACTEURS

La Convention de Bâle sur le contrôle des mouvements transfrontières de déchets dangereux et de leur élimination, adoptée en 1989 et entrée en vigueur en 1992, est le traité environnemental international le plus complet en matière de déchets dangereux et autres déchets. Elle est quasiment universelle, avec 191 Parties. Son objectif principal est de protéger la santé humaine et l’environnement contre les effets néfastes des déchets dangereux. Son champ d’application couvre un large éventail de déchets faisant l’objet de mouvements transfrontaliers, qualifiés de dangereux selon leur origine, leur composition et leurs caractéristiques, ainsi que quatre types de déchets dits « autres déchets » : les déchets ménagers, les résidus issus de l’incinération des déchets ménagers, certains déchets plastiques et certains déchets électroniques et électriques nécessitant une attention particulière.

La Convention de Rotterdam sur la procédure de consentement préalable en connaissance de cause (PIC) applicable à certains produits chimiques et pesticides dangereux dans le commerce international, adoptée en 1998 et entrée en vigueur en 2004, est administrée conjointement par l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) et le Programme des Nations Unies pour l’environnement (PNUE). Cette Convention juridiquement contraignante compte 167 Parties qui partagent la responsabilité de gérer de manière sûre les produits chimiques dans le commerce international. Elle n’impose pas d’interdictions, mais facilite l’échange d’informations entre les Parties sur les produits chimiques et pesticides dangereux, afin d’éclairer et d’améliorer la prise de décision au niveau national. Par le biais de la procédure PIC, elle fournit également un mécanisme juridiquement contraignant pour appuyer la prise de décision nationale concernant l’importation et l’exportation de certains produits chimiques et pesticides, et diffuse ces décisions aux Parties.

La Convention de Stockholm sur les polluants organiques persistants (POP), adoptée en 2001 et entrée en vigueur en 2004, est un traité mondial qui engage ses 186 Parties à prendre des mesures pour éliminer ou réduire la libération de POP dans l’environnement. Elle vise à protéger la santé humaine et l’environnement contre les produits chimiques qui restent intacts pendant de longues périodes, se dispersent à grande échelle, s’accumulent dans les tissus adipeux des humains et des animaux sauvages, et ont des effets nocifs sur la santé ou l’environnement.

Le Secrétariat des Conventions de Bâle, de Rotterdam et de Stockholm (Secrétariat BRS) appuie les Parties dans la mise en œuvre de ces trois principaux accords multilatéraux environnementaux sur la gestion écologiquement rationnelle des produits chimiques et des déchets, conformément aux mandats propres à chaque Convention et aux décisions de leurs organes directeurs.

Pour toute demande média, veuillez contacter :

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Cheffe d’unité et Conseillère principale en politique et stratégie, Unité politique et

stratégie, Bureau exécutif, Secrétariat BRS, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org | mea-brs-communications@un.org

Geneva, Switzerland, 8 August 2025 - The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) have signed a €2 million financing agreement to tackle plastic pollution in Cabo Verde, Senegal, and French-speaking West Africa. This three- year project will strengthen national capacities to reduce plastic pollution, ensure sound management of plastic waste and protect human health and the environment.

“This €2 million grant is not just a financial commitment—it’s a powerful signal of France’s leadership in the global fight against plastic pollution. At a time when recent reports link plastic exposure to serious health and environmental risks, this partnership with the FFEM turns urgency into action, helping countries translate global promises into practical, on-the-ground solutions.”

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

This bold new BRS–FFEM project will empower Cabo Verde, Senegal, and Francophone West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Togo) to take real action against plastic pollution. By strengthening national laws, institutions, and waste management systems, the project will support countries in meeting their Basel Convention obligations— while also preparing them for future requirements under the forthcoming global plastics treaty. The project’s impact will stretch across governments, businesses, communities, and the informal sector, driving lasting change in how plastic is produced, used, and disposed of. The project tackles plastic pollution through three core strategies of the Basel Convention: 

1. controlling the transboundary movement (TBM) of plastic waste, 
2. ensuring the environmentally sound management (ESM) of plastic waste, and 
3. reducing the generation of plastic waste.

Building on tools developed with Norwegian support, the project also benefits from strong local backing, including in-kind contributions from the governments of Cabo Verde and Senegal and active involvement from private and civil society partners—from running collection systems to the production of awareness- raising materials.

What does this look like in reality?

On the ground, this project will roll out a powerful package of actions across Cabo Verde and Senegal, combining bold pilot initiatives with vital national reforms to deliver lasting change.

In Cabo Verde, the project will promote greener, plastic-free practices in the hotel industry by cutting plastic waste through smart, sustainable alternatives—such as the installation of microplastic filters and the operationalization of small-scale collection systems—making tourism greener and more future-ready. It will also bring together civil society organizations into a strong national network driving community-based recycling, local plastic-free alternatives, and small-scale waste collection systems.

In Senegal, new systems will be set up to collect and recycle discarded fishing nets and plastic sachets— transforming plastic waste into income opportunities and jobs. Local recycling-based livelihoods will be strengthened, giving communities the tools to clean up their environment and grow their economy.

Across both countries, plastic waste inventories will be developed to track plastic flows from production to disposal. Legal and policy frameworks will be reviewed and strengthened to improve enforcement of the Basel Convention’s rules on transboundary waste. Government staff will receive hands-on training to support effective implementation and enforcement, and nationwide awareness-raising campaigns will be rolled out—spanning social media, TV, brochures, and more. Plastic-free schools will be launched in Cabo Verde and Senegal, educating and empowering young people to take the lead in building a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Finally, regional activities will also be implemented, such as the development of a collaboration plan among Francophone countries in West Africa for the implementation of the control of plastic waste trade, the development of a regional strategy for the ESM of plastic waste, and regional training on these topics.

“The BRS-Plastic Project is a timely and strategic opportunity for Cape Verde, Senegal, and French-speaking West Africa more broadly. It reflects the strong political will of the Governments of France, Cape Verde, and Senegal to tackle plastic pollution through a life-cycle approach. By aligning with ongoing efforts in the region, the project is poised to generate more impactful and sustainable results on the ground improving human health and the environment.”

Baba Drame, Director in the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, Senegal

Why this matters?

Plastic pollution is a growing global crisis, threatening biodiversity, ecosystems, public health, fisheries, and local livelihoods. In response, the global community is working to reshape international laws that tackle plastic waste across its life cycle. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, introduced new rules in 2021 to better control cross-border movements of plastic waste, ensure its safe management, and reduce both its volume and toxicity. These amendments are reinforced by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants which target toxic chemicals found in plastics, helping to reduce their harmful impacts across the life cycle.

“This partnership reflects France’s deep commitment to moving from words to action to end plastic pollution. By investing in real solutions on the ground, we are helping to strengthen regional leadership, support the reduction of plastic pollution at source and the implementation of the Basel Convention, as well as build momentum towards a future ambitious plastics treaty.”

Barbara Pompili, French Ambassador for the Environment

Building on this momentum, at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in February 2022, 175 countries endorsed the development of a new global treaty on plastic pollution, with negotiations currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland (5–14 August 2025) at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2). The BRS–FFEM project directly contributes to the FFEM’s mission to protect the global environment by delivering innovative, scalable, and practical waste solutions across West Africa—aligned with the SDGs and backed by the Basel and Stockholm Conventions Regional Centre in Senegal. It’s a model of how global commitments can translate into real-world impact.

“The project directly contributes to the FFEM’s mission to protect the global environment and support local development. By demonstrating innovative, scalable, and economically viable solutions to end plastic pollution, the project will serve as a model for broader implementation across Africa, as well as in other regions.”

Stéphanie Bouziges-Eschmann, Secretary General, French Facility for Global Environment

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992, is the most comprehensive international environment treaty on hazardous and other wastes and is almost universal, with 191 Parties. With an overarching objective of protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes, its scope covers a wide range of waste subject to transboundary movements defined as hazardous based on their origin and/or composition and characteristics, as well as four types of waste defined as “other wastes”, namely household waste, residues arising from the incineration of household waste ash, certain plastic waste and certain electronic and electrical waste requiring special consideration.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2004, is jointly administered by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Environment (UNEP). The 167 Parties to this legally binding Convention share responsibility and cooperate to safely manage chemicals in international trade. The Convention does not introduce bans but facilitates the exchange of information among Parties on hazardous chemicals and pesticides, to inform and improve national decision making. In addition, through the PIC Procedure, it provides a legally binding mechanism to support national decision-making on the import and export of certain chemicals and pesticides and disseminates decisions to Parties.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its 186 Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, or BRS Secretariat, supports Parties implement these three leading multilateral environment agreements governing sound chemicals and waste management, according to the mandates in each Convention and as decided by the governing bodies.

For media enquiries, contact:

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Head of Unit and Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor, Policy and Strategy Unit, Executive Office, BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org and mea-brs-communications@un.org

Geneva, Switzerland, 9 May 2025 — After two weeks of intensive negotiations (28 April to 9 May), the 2025 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions concluded today at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG). Governments from 180 countries adopted a series of bold decisions to advance the sound management of chemicals and wastes, protect human health, safeguard the environment and biodiversity and contribute to tackling climate change.

“These landmark decisions arising from intense multilateral negotiations have a profound impact on how we can address pollution, and its interconnectedness with climate change and biodiversity.” Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

High Level Segment: A Call for United Global Action to Tackle Pollution, Advance Circularity and Strengthen Implementation

The High-Level Segment of the 2025 COPs convened ministers from around the world to reinforce their commitment to addressing pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss through multilateral and integrated action. Key messages included strong support for eliminating persistent organic pollutants (POPs), aligning chemicals and waste management with climate and biodiversity goals, strengthening legal frameworks and promoting regulatory tools such as extended producer responsibility. Governments underscored the need for enhanced technical cooperation, digital traceability and innovative financing, including blended finance, to translate global commitments into inclusive national action.

Basel Convention (BC COP-17) Advances Environmentally Sound Waste Management

In a major step forward, Parties adopted an amendment to Annex IV to update definitions of disposal operations - providing enhanced clarity as to what is defined as waste under the Convention with a view to improving its environmental controls.

Delegates also adopted a new strategic framework for the Convention for 2025-2031, along with recommendations to improve the Prior Informed Consent procedure, the cornerstone of the Convention for controlling transboundary movements of waste. In addition, Parties adopted a range of recommendations from the Implementation and Compliance Committee to enhance the support provided to Parties in fulfillment of their obligations under the Convention.

Further actions were decided to improve the environmentally sound management of e-waste and plastic waste, with a focus on strengthening the implementation of the recent amendments to the Convention addressing these challenging waste streams.

A new area of work was launched on used textiles and textile wastes, exploring the impact of such trade and the challenges faced by Parties, with a view to preparing recommendations on possible options offered by the Convention to address these challenges.

The COP also agreed to several technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of key waste streams, including technical guidelines on UV-328 waste, a persistent chemical used in plastics and by various industries to protect materials from degradation caused by UV radiation. Parties also updated technical guidelines to set more protective threshold values for the destruction of POPs waste. Parties highlighted the need to safely manage used tyres, batteries (including lead-acid batteries and other types) and mercury waste. They agreed to continue developing technical guidelines that set international standards and support countries in creating national laws and strategies needed for effective and sustainable waste management.

Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-12) Strengthens International Trade Governance and Chemical Safety

The Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-12) achieved important progress in strengthening chemical safety in international trade by listing one pesticide and one severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III of the Convention making them subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure and empowering Parties to take informed decisions regarding their future import.

Fenthion is a chemical used in some African countries to control Quelea birds, which can destroy entire fields of grain crops like millet and rice. These birds travel in huge flocks and cause serious damage, especially to small-scale farmers. Fenthion helps protect food supplies but due to its broad-spectrum toxicity and environmental persistence, it can also harm other birds, animals and people if not managed carefully.

Carbosulfan is a pesticide used on crops like rice, cotton and vegetables to kill pests such as insects and tiny worms in the soil. It helps farmers protect their crops and improve yields, but it’s also toxic to humans, wildlife and aquatic life.

“Though listing does not constitute a ban, alternatives with a reduced risk are vital to protect human health and the environment, and at the same time help ensure food security.” Christine Fuell, Executive Secretary a.i. of the Rotterdam Convention

Their listing also reinforces the Convention’s role in promoting transparency and safeguarding human health and the environment. In addition, RC COP-12 approved a programme of work for the Convention’s compliance committee and engaged in intensive deliberations on proposals to enhance the Convention’s effectiveness, underscoring commitment to ensuring safer, more transparent trade in hazardous chemicals globally.

Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12) Decisive Action to Eliminate and Restrict POPs

The Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12) advanced global chemical safety by listing medium chain chlorinated paraffins used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, paints and sealants and long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), commonly used in food packaging and firefighting foams. Listing these chemicals in Annex A to the Convention lines them up for elimination.

Chlorpyrifos, a highly toxic pesticide widely used in agriculture for locust and termite control and known to have adverse effects on the nervous system, was also listed. Specific, time-bound exemptions were agreed for the use of UV-328, a chemical commonly used to protect materials from degradation caused by UV radiation, specifically in the aviation industry, supporting the practical phase-out of harmful chemicals.

Parties recognized that over USD 18 billion of funding is needed to support countries in implementing their obligations under the Stockholm Convention during the 2026-2030 period. This submission, along with the 2025 and 2028 PCB elimination targets, will be prioritized for presentation to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for consideration during its ninth replenishment cycle. The newly operationalized Compliance Committee will provide both targeted and general support to help Parties fulfill their obligations under the Convention.

COPs Reinforce International Cooperation and Support to Advance Chemicals and Waste Management

The Conferences of the Parties (COPs) reaffirmed the vital importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges related to chemicals and waste. Parties adopted key decisions to enhance implementation through technical assistance and improved access to financing. They also committed to stronger collaboration with other environmental agreements and initiatives, including the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC), the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), the Open-ended Working Group on the Science-Policy Panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention, and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and related biodiversity conventions. Governments underscored that sound management of chemicals and waste is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Felix Neureuther Named BRS Conventions Advocate for Clean Mountains and Glaciers

The Conferences of the Parties welcomed the appointment of German alpine ski champion and long-standing environmental advocate Felix Neureuther as the BRS Conventions Advocate for Clean Mountains and Glaciers. In this role, Felix will collaborate with the BRS Conventions to promote prevention, support clean-up initiatives and engage youth - helping to amplify the Conventions’ mission to protect human health and the environment from the harmful impacts of hazardous chemicals and waste.

Notes to editors

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992, is the most comprehensive international environment treaty on hazardous and other wastes and is almost universal, with 191 Parties. With an overarching objective of protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes, its scope covers a wide range of waste subject to transboundary movements defined as hazardous based on their origin and/or composition and characteristics, as well as four types of waste defined as “other wastes”, namely household waste, residues arising from the incineration of household waste ash, certain plastic waste and certain electronic and electrical waste requiring special consideration.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2004, is jointly administered by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Environment (UNEP). The 167 Parties to this legally binding Convention share responsibility and cooperate to safely manage chemicals in international trade. The Convention does not introduce bans but facilitates the exchange of information among Parties on hazardous chemicals and pesticides, to inform and improve national decision making. In addition, through the PIC Procedure, it provides a legally binding mechanism to support national decision-making on the import and export of certain chemicals and pesticides and disseminates decisions to Parties.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its 186 Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, or BRS Secretariat, supports Parties implement these three leading multilateral environment agreements governing sound chemicals and waste management, according to the mandates in each Convention and as decided by the governing bodies.

For media enquiries, contact:

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Head of Unit and Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor, Policy and Strategy Unit, Executive Office, BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org and mea-brs-communications@un.org

Renowned alpine ski legend joins global push to protect mountain ecosystems from plastic and chemical pollution.

Geneva, Switzerland, 6 May 2025 — The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) conventions is proud to announce German World Cup alpine ski legend and environmental advocate Felix Neureuther as the new BRS conventions Advocate for Clean Mountains and Glaciers. A lifelong environmental advocate, Felix Neureuther brings his passion for alpine conservation to the global stage, raising awareness about the threats of plastic and chemical pollution in mountain and glacier ecosystems.

With a career that includes three Winter Olympics, eight World Championships, and multiple medals, Felix Neureuther is also a vocal campaigner for climate action and sustainable development in the Alps. Since retiring in 2019, he has worked closely with scientists and environmental experts using cutting-edge technology to monitor the impact of climate change in high-altitude regions. His mission to protect the mountains and glaciers ecosystems aligns closely with the goals of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and waste.

Plastic is the most common type of pollution found in remote and mountainous areas. The rapid increase in plastic pollution in these regions is driven, to a large extent, by tourism. Adding to the burden, microplastics which travel long distances often end up in remote and mountainous areas from the Arctic to the Alps, and from the Rockies to Mount Everest. Plastic pollution may also contain hazardous chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Likewise, some outdoor waterproof clothing and equipment may contain POPs.

As a BRS conventions Advocate, Felix Neureuther will champion the importance of pollution prevention in fragile ecosystems, support clean-up efforts, and engage youth and communities to act for a healthier planet.  This advocacy is especially timely as the world seeks stronger commitments to end plastic pollution, manage chemicals in an environmentally sound manner, and address environmental crises exacerbated by unsustainable consumption and production patterns. Felix Neureuther's voice will play a pivotal role in connecting science, policy, and public action under the BRS conventions framework.

 “The mountains have given me everything—my passion, my purpose, and my podium. Now it’s time to give back by protecting them from the invisible threat of pollution. Becoming the Advocate for Clean Mountains and Glaciers under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions feels like a natural fit, and I’m proud to help raise awareness for this critical cause.”

Felix Neureuther, BRS Conventions Advocate for Clean Mountains and Glaciers

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992, is the most comprehensive international environment treaty on hazardous and other wastes and is almost universal, with 191 Parties. With an overarching objective of protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes, its scope covers a wide range of waste subject to transboundary movements defined as hazardous based on their origin and/or composition and characteristics, as well as four types of waste defined as “other wastes”, namely household waste, residues arising from the incineration of household wastes ash, certain plastic wastes and certain electronic and electrical wastes requiring special consideration.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2004, is jointly administered by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Environment (UNEP). The 167 Parties to this legally binding Convention share responsibility and cooperate to safely manage chemicals in international trade. The Convention does not introduce bans but facilitates the exchange of information among Parties on hazardous chemicals and pesticides, to inform and improve national decision making. In addition, through the PIC Procedure, it provides a legally binding mechanism to support national decision-making on the import and export of certain chemicals and pesticides and disseminates decisions to Parties.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its 186 Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, or BRS Secretariat, supports Parties implement these three leading multilateral environment agreements governing sound chemicals and waste management, according to the mandates in each Convention and as decided by the governing bodies.

For media enquiries, contact: 

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Head of Unit and Senior Policy Advisor, Policy and Strategy Unit, Executive Office, BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org

Geneva, Switzerland, 2 May 2025 - Over 70 Ministers gathered in Geneva to strengthen global cooperation on the sound management of chemicals and waste through the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions.

The high-level segment, held on 30 April and 1 May under the theme “Make Visible the Invisible – Sound management of chemicals and wastes,” brought together global leaders to explore integrated solutions to the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The event fostered constructive dialogue and strong political engagement, as ministers and senior officials shared national experiences and reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up action on chemicals and waste.

Advancing global commitments

Through dynamic round-table discussions and interactive ministerial panels, the segment highlighted the critical role of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in building safer, more resilient societies. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen multilateralism, bridge implementation gaps and integrate chemicals and waste management across climate, biodiversity and sustainable development agendas.

“We must also acknowledge that multilateralism is facing challenges. Geopolitical tensions and financial crises can at times weaken our ability to act collectively. That is why this conference – and this high-level segment in particular – are also valuable opportunities to reinforce international dialogue, a space where exchange and trust prevail.”

Katrin Schneeberger, State Secretary Federal Office of Environment, Switzerland

Building on recent global milestones—including the adoption of the Global Framework on Chemicals and progress towards a legally binding instrument on plastics pollution, the high-level segment aimed to accelerate progress by spotlighting three critical areas: Pollution, Circularity, and Means of Implementation.

Pollution: Ministers reaffirmed that pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are deeply interconnected and require urgent, coordinated global action. Tackling transboundary pollution and environmental injustice was recognized as a matter of global solidarity and ethical responsibility. They stressed the importance of embedding sound chemicals and waste management in national development frameworks and aligning with global environmental goals.  

The Stockholm convention's work to eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was cited as a model for success, with strong calls to expand efforts to reduce toxic exposures and protect food security, water systems and vulnerable communities.

Circularity: Leaders underscored the vital role of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in strengthening legal frameworks, implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) and reducing hazardous chemicals in product lifecycles.

“The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions are essential global legally binding instruments to address pollution at its source, and to drive individual and collective efforts towards resource use efficiency and circularity.  But for them to succeed, implementation must be strengthened. This means having comprehensive legal frameworks, access to scientific information and expertise, and robust enforcement mechanisms.  We must work together to strengthen national capacities and ensure that technical and financial assistance reaches those countries that need it most.”

Mr. Hammad Shamimi, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention

Ministers called for stronger national implementation plans that promote recycling, reduce pollution, and use resources more efficiently. They emphasized the importance of laws such as extended producer responsibility schemes that make producers responsible for the full life of their products—including collection and recycling. To drive change, they urged the use of tools like landfill taxes, green purchasing rules, and the creation of Circular Economy Councils, with business involvement in shaping practical, enforceable policies that align with national goals and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. Ministers further agreed on the need for more technical assistance, clean technology transfer, and the use of digital tools like permits and traceability platforms to improve waste tracking, ensure transparency, and advance global environmental goals.

“When waste or hazardous chemicals are not managed in an environmentally sound manner, people and planet pay the price. We need sustainable solutions that manage chemicals better, support greater circularity, reduce waste, and treat the waste that we do produce as a resource. These multilateral environmental agreements are committed to protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.”

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme

Means of Implementation: Leaders acknowledged the substantial resources required to meet Convention obligations, welcoming the USD 800 million allocated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Chemicals and Waste focal area, while recognizing that full implementation of the Stockholm Convention alone would require over USD 18 billion in the next five years.

Ministers called for innovative financing, stronger private sector involvement, and clear rules to support circular business models. They urged countries to combine international and domestic funding tools—like carbon taxes and extended producer responsibility—to drive change. Strong institutions, harmonized implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, regional cooperation, and cross-sector planning were seen as key, especially in low-capacity settings. Support from developed countries through fair trade, technology transfer, and waste solutions was encouraged, along with greater public awareness and digital tools to boost pollution control and environmental protection.

“We now have an opportunity, and an obligation, to demonstrate that environmental commitments – here to eliminate PCBs by 2028 – are meaningful and achievable, including in developing countries. We [World Bank] are therefore again partnering with the GEF, the BRS Secretariat and other GEF implementing agencies to develop a Global Elimination Program for PCBs, which we will launch here [Geneva] with a side event on Thursday 1 May. The first phase will be implemented by the African Development Bank, UNEP, UNDP and the World Bank in 6 African countries and aims to eliminate over 8000 tons of PCB oil supported by 44 million in GEF grant funding plus co-financing. The Program is designed to scale up, and more countries are waiting to join.”

Juergen Voegele, Vice President for Sustainable Development, The World Bank

Ministers also emphasized the need to strengthen the Basel and Stockholm convention regional centres for training and technology transfer to support local implementation, particularly in developing countries, LDCs, and SIDS.

“FAO as one of the hosting organizations of the Rotterdam convention works closely with all stakeholders through its country offices with global coverage. The conventions have come a long way, yet we know that challenges remain - especially in the agricultural sector. Agriculture both contributes to and is affected by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Therefore, we urgently need to find and scale up solutions that ensure food security and protect human health and the environment. All eyes are on us – some hopeful, some more critical - and expectations are high. We must live up to these expectations and not leave anyone behind.”

Beth Bechdol, Deputy-Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,

The segment concluded with strong consensus on the need to translate new COPs mandates into national action, ensure coherence across international agreements, and foster inclusive implementation at all levels of governance.

“In a nutshell, we cannot address biodiversity loss or climate change unless we tackle pollution by hazardous chemicals and wastes head-on. Protecting our planet requires urgent and coordinated action to reduce hazardous chemicals and promote sound waste management at every level.”

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992, is the most comprehensive international environment treaty on hazardous and other wastes and is almost universal, with 191 Parties. With an overarching objective of protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes, its scope covers a wide range of waste subject to transboundary movements defined as hazardous based on their origin and/or composition and characteristics, as well as four types of waste defined as “other wastes”, namely household waste, residues arising from the incineration of household wastes ash, certain plastic wastes and certain electronic and electrical wastes requiring special consideration.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2004, is jointly administered by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Environment (UNEP). The 167 Parties to this legally binding Convention share responsibility and cooperate to safely manage chemicals in international trade. The Convention does not introduce bans but facilitates the exchange of information among Parties on hazardous chemicals and pesticides, to inform and improve national decision making. In addition, through the PIC Procedure, it provides a legally binding mechanism to support national decision-making on the import and export of certain chemicals and pesticides and disseminates decisions to Parties.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its 186 Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, or BRS Secretariat, supports Parties implement these three leading multilateral environment agreements governing sound chemicals and waste management, according to the mandates in each Convention and as decided by the governing bodies.

For media enquiries, contact: 

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Head of Unit and Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor, Policy and Strategy Unit, Executive Office, BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org and mea-brs-communications@un.org.

Geneva, Switzerland, 30 April 2025 — Over 1,600 participants representing approximately 170 countries and regional economic integration organizations, and 260 observer organizations have already convened in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 2025 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs) taking place from 28 April to 9 May 2025. These legally binding environmental treaties play a pivotal role in protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.

Held under the unifying theme “Make Visible the Invisible,” the meetings taking place at the Geneva International Conference Centre, were preceded by preparatory meetings on 27 April 2025. The COPs will focus on efforts to address hazardous chemical and waste pollution that continues to pose significant threats to human health and the environment.

A High-Level Segment, taking place from 30 April - 1 May 2025, will bring together ministers and high-level dignitaries from across the globe. Through ministerial roundtables, interactive panels, and bilateral engagements, the segment aims to renew political commitment to the BRS conventions and foster global dialogue on three core sub-themes: Pollution, Circularity, and Means of Implementation. The High-Level Segment will conclude with a press conference on the afternoon of 1 May 2025 at 16:30 CET, at the Palais des Nations, to highlight key outcomes and renewed momentum for addressing the interconnected crises of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

The Seventeenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-17) will consider, among others, classification and hazard characterisation of wastes; technical guidelines on a range of wastes including but not limited to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) wastes, waste lead-acid batteries, pneumatic tyres, electronic and electrical waste (e-wastes), waste containing nanomaterials, mercury wastes, and plastic wastes. The meeting will also consider the Basel Convention Partnership Programme and activities related to partnerships on plastic, e-waste, and household waste. Under legal, governance and enforcement matters, there will be consideration of work on providing further legal clarity including amendment proposals on AnnexIV to the Basel Convention developed by an expert working group; and the work of the Convention’s Implementation and Compliance Committee on issues such as national reporting, illegal traffic, national legislation and Guidance on how Parties can integrate actions to address their needs under the Convention in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.

The Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-12) will consider the listing of 10 hazardous chemicals in Annex III, making them subject to the prior informed consent procedure under the Convention. This includes 4 new chemicals: chlorpyrifos and methyl bromide which are used to control various pests in agricultural crops; paraquat which is used in agriculture for weed control and mercury which is used in particular in small-scale artisanal gold mining, as well as products such as lamps, batteries, medical and measuring devices and dental amalgam. The 6 returning chemicals are: acetochlor and paraquat dichloride (pesticide), fenthion formulations, iprodione and carbosulfan (pesticide), and chrysotile asbestos (industrial) that has historically been used in building materials. In addition, Parties will also consider an item on enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention, including proposed amendments to Article 16 on technical assistance and a report compiling information received from Parties on this matter. The meeting will also discuss the report on the activities of the Compliance Committee on both specific submissions and reviews of systemic issues of general compliance.

The Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12) will consider the recommendations from the scientific body to include the following persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Annex A to the Convention for elimination: 1) Chlorinated paraffins that are used in in metalworking fluids as lubricants, and also used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, as well as in paints, sealants, and rubber; 2) Chlorpyrifos an insecticide widely used in agriculture. It is a highly toxic organophosphate insecticide known to have adverse effects on the nervous system, posing significant health risks, particularly to children and pregnant women.; and 3) Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC PFCAs) that are commonly used in industrial and consumer products such as in the manufacture of semiconductors, printing inks, paints and coatings, paper and food packaging, waterproof textiles, cleaning products, and firefighting foams. There will also be consideration of reports on progress towards the elimination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and DDT. With an upcoming expiry of specific exemptions that are available for certain chemicals, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention will for the first time consider requests for extension. Parties will further consider an updated guidance on the global monitoring plan, adoption of the workplan and review of the financial mechanism.

Cross-cutting issues: In addition to individual convention matters, all three meetings of the COPs will jointly consider cross-cutting issues like technical assistance, international cooperation and coordination, and the programme of work and budget for the coming two years.

For media enquiries, contact:

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Head of Unit and Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor, Policy and Strategy Unit, Executive Office, BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org and mea-brs-communications@un.org.

Geneva, 16 December 2024 – The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has approved a groundbreaking global programme dedicated to the elimination of a class of harmful chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) primarily found in electrical transformers around the world. This ambitious initiative combines USD 43.8 million in GEF grant funding with USD 163 million in partner co-financing and represents a major milestone towards meeting the Stockholm Convention’s 2025 and 2028 PCB elimination goals and facilitating the energy transition to reduce the effects of climate change.

The Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Mr. Rolph Payet, said that “the approval of the Global Elimination Programme for PCBs marks a critical step toward achieving the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention. This program exemplifies the transformative potential of innovative financing and collaborative efforts in achieving global environmental targets, bringing together the GEF and its agencies, the BRS Secretariat, and key donors to align resources and expertise. By tackling the challenges of PCB elimination through forward-thinking partnerships and sustainable practices, we are advancing environmental protection and laying the groundwork for a healthier future”.

The Global Elimination Programme for PCBs (GEP-PCB, GEF ID 11749), showcases the power of partnership and innovation in tackling complex environmental issues by bringing together a powerful coalition of partners that include the World Bank, the Secretariats of the GEF and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, and key GEF agencies, including the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This gigantic joint effort brings together expertise, resources, and innovative solutions, such as blended finance, to tackle PCB management and environmentally sound disposal, aimed at protecting global health.

"As a longstanding advocate for global environmental health, Norway applauds the approval of the GEF Global Programme on PCB elimination. This initiative is vital for achieving the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention. By tackling this legacy pollutant through a sectoral approach that integrates PCB elimination with renewable energy and electrification, the programme exemplifies innovative and sustainable solutions to global challenges. Norway is proud to support the GEF's catalytic role in addressing such urgent environmental issues in an integrated way."

Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway and GEF Donor.

“The GEF is pleased to support a new initiative focused on the elimination of PCBs, a persistent organic pollutant that poses significant risks to human health and the environment. This programme responds to the request from countries to the GEF, to accelerate action on PCBs ahead of the 2025 and 2028 phase out deadline for these dangerous chemicals and aligns with GEF-8 programming strategies and regional priorities, supporting country-driven strategies to achieve global environmental benefits. This new initiative is the result of a collaborative effort among the countries, BRS Secretariat, the GEF Secretariat and the GEF implementing agencies and demonstrates the strength of the GEF partnership in solving challenging environmental issues.”

Anil Bruce Sookdeo, Coordinator, Chemicals and Waste, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

This initiative will support developing countries in updating and verifying their PCB inventories, scale up safe disposal practices, and replace outdated transformers as they engage in the renewable energy transition. By incorporating PCB elimination into the broader energy projects led by the World Bank and other Multilateral Development Banks— the programme will not only address harmful contamination but also pave the way for reducing dangerous carbon emissions.

“The World Bank is committed to supporting global efforts to eliminate PCBs and transition to cleaner, sustainable energy systems. This programme is a game-changer in tackling hazardous chemicals while aligning with development priorities like electrification and renewable energy adoption. If we want to ensure a livable planet for all, no country should be left behind in meeting the 2025 and 2028 Stockholm Convention goals.”

Genevieve Connors, acting Global Director for Environment at the World Bank

“UNDP welcomes the approval of the GEF Global Elimination Programme for PCBs as a critical step towards addressing one of the world's most persistent pollutants. This programme leverages innovative sectoral approaches by linking PCB management with the transition to renewable energy, contributing to a sustainable and electrified future. With leadership of BRS and collaboration through GEF programs, we are confident that the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention will become a reality.”

Xiaofang Zhou, Director, UNDP Chemicals & Waste Hub

This international collaboration was made possible through crucial support from the European Union, France, and Germany during the programme’s development phase. Their contributions underscore the collective commitment of Parties to the Stockholm Convention to fulfill their obligations while leveraging the GEF’s position as a global financial leader in environmental protection.

The Global Programme is expected to deliver significant global environmental benefits, including the elimination of approximately 8,750 tons of PCBs in Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Uganda (participating countries in phase 1). It will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent through the replacement of old, inefficient transformers. Moreover, the programme will improve the operational and energy efficiency of electricity grids in the participating countries, thus contributing to broader climate change mitigation efforts.

“Gabon is happy to be part of the global efforts of PCB elimination and will work with UNEP to eliminate PCBs from the country and shifting towards a more energy efficient, pollution free planet."

Madame Arcadie Svetlana MINGUENGUI NDOMBA, épouse N’ZOMA, Minister of Environment, Climate, and Human-Wildlife Conflict

“I have the honor to inform you that the Republic of Cameroon is committed to eliminating PCBs in line with the Stockholm Convention deadlines and is thankful for the financial support from the GEF and technical assistance from UNEP and BRS Secretariat in moving forward towards this goal.”

Aoudou Joswa, Chief of Environmental Inspection Brigade, Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, Cameroon

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes. http://www.brsmeas.org/

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment. http://chm.pops.int/

The group of chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is one of the original twelve POPs covered by the Stockholm Convention. They possess properties including longevity, heat absorbance and form an oily liquid at room temperature that is useful for electrical utilities and in other industrial applications.

Due to their physico-chemical properties, PCBs were manufactured worldwide for use in a wide range of applications, most importantly as insulating fluids in transformers. PCBs were also used in other types of closed and semi-closed applications, such as capacitors, as well as in so-called ‘open applications, such as paints, sealants and carbon paper.

PCBs can cause serious health effects in humans and animals, including reproductive impairment and immune system dysfunctions. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PCBs as Group 1 “carcinogenic to humans”. PCBs have been detected in human milk, and in some cases, observed levels for indicator PCBs were several orders of magnitude higher than the WHO safety level. Once in the environment, PCBs enter the food chain.

https://www.pops.int/Implementation/IndustrialPOPs/PCB/Overview/tabid/273/Default.aspx

For media inquiries, contact: Maria Cristina Cardenas, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor of the BRS Secretariat. Email: maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3 October 2024 – G20 Environment and Climate Ministers, convened in Rio de Janeiro, adopted a landmark Declaration reaffirming their commitment to address some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

The Ministerial Declaration calls for urgent actions in four key areas: Adaptation to climate change, Oceans, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Waste and Circular Economy.

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, welcomes the commitments made by the G20 Ministers, as reflected in the Declaration, especially those focusing on reducing waste generation, increasing the environmentally sound waste management, and mobilizing new and additional resources to support developing countries to improve their waste management and combat illegal traffic of wastes.

“I express my sincere appreciation to the Brazilian G20 Presidency for prioritizing Waste Management and Circular Economy in this year’s G20 agenda. I commend the G20 nations for their strong commitment to accelerate actions to address the global waste and pollution crisis, which is essential in our fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Tackling the pollution crisis must continue under the Basel Convention and other key multilateral environmental agreements, like the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which are pivotal in driving global action forward in this area” said Payet.

At the request of the Brazilian G20 Presidency, the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions contributed to the G20’s Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group, providing key insights on the global waste crisis and highlighting the critical role of multilateral environmental agreements - such as the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions - in addressing these challenges, while contributing to climate action and biodiversity preservation.

View the entirety of the Rio de Janeiro G20 Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Sustainability here.

View the Statement by the Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions on the Rio de Janeiro G20 Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Sustainability here.

The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation. It plays an important role in defining and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues. For more information about Brazil’s G20 Presidency, please visit: https://www.g20.org/en

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.
 http://www.brsmeas.org/

For media inquiries, contact: Maria Cristina Cardenas, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor of the BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org

The Chemical Review Committee finalises draft decision guidance documents for chemicals recommended to be listed under Annex III to the Convention at the next Conference of the Parties.

The 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC-20) of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade convened in Rome, Italy, from 17 to 20 September 2024. Held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CRC-20 adopted draft decision guidance documents for chlorpyrifos and mercury, chemicals recommended to be listed in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention.

CRC-20 was chaired by Ms. Noluzuko Gwayi from South Africa, leading the intense deliberations among 28 government-designated experts. 65 observers representing 22 governments, and 11 non-governmental organisations also participated in the meeting. The Committee had a busy agenda with 39 notifications of final regulatory actions for its review, an unprecedented number of notifications, as well as four proposals for severely hazardous pesticide formulations.

The CRC experts finalised two draft decision guidance documents on chlorpyrifos and mercury, chemicals that were recommended for listing in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention at the Committee’s nineteenth meeting. These decision guidance documents, essentially “information packages”, set out the scope of the chemical controlled under the Convention and contain basic information on the chemical including hazard classification and information on possible alternatives. They are key tools designed to assist countries to decide if they want to import a chemical or not. If they choose to import, they have information to use the chemical safely.

The recommendations by the Committee on the listing of chlorpyrifos, mercury made at the current meeting, as well as the recommendations for methyl bromide and paraquat made at previous meetings, together with the related draft decision guidance documents, will be considered during the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (COP-12), which will be held from 28 April to 9 May 2025 in Geneva. Should COP-12, based on the recommendations of the Committee, decide to amend Annex III to the Convention to list these chemicals, they will become subject to the Prior Informed Consent procedure, which promotes among the 166 Parties to the Rotterdam Convention shared responsibility and cooperative efforts in international trade to protect human health and the environment.

Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide widely used in agriculture. It is a highly toxic organophosphate insecticide known to have adverse effects on the nervous system, posing significant health risks, particularly to children and pregnant women. 

Mercury is used in particular in small-scale artisanal gold mining, as well as products such as lamps, batteries, medical and measuring devices and dental amalgam. It is a toxic heavy metal that, when absorbed into the human body, can cause severe neurological and developmental issues, as well as harm to the kidneys, lungs, and other vital organs. Mercury is already subject to global regulation through the Rotterdam Convention as a pesticide, as well as through the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which aims to mitigate and reduce its environmental and human health impacts.

Methyl bromide, historically used as a soil fumigant and pest control agent in agriculture, is known for its high toxicity to humans and the environment. Due to its adverse environmental impacts and ozone-depleting properties, methyl bromide has been listed as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, leading to efforts to phase out its production and use worldwide.

Paraquat is widely used as a herbicide to control weeds in agriculture. Paraquat is highly toxic, primarily affecting the lungs, skin, and other internal organs, with ingestion or inhalation leading to severe health risks, including pulmonary fibrosis and organ failure.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Rotterdam Convention promotes shared responsibility and facilitates cooperative efforts among its Parties to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes. http://www.brsmeas.org/

For information on the Rotterdam Convention, contact: Christine Fuell, Executive Secretary a.i. of the Rotterdam Convention, christine.fuell@fao.org

For media inquiries, contact: Maria Cristina Cardenas, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor of the BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org

The Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee convened its sixteenth meeting in Geneva on 23 and 24 June and from 29 June to 2 July 2024. Among 13 countries receiving one-on-one support from the Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee to comply with their reporting obligations under the Convention, Cook Islands and Nauru have successfully overcome their challenges. The Committee also held landmark dialogues with the fourteen regional centres under the Convention and a range of entities from the UN system and beyond to identify the range of resources available to Parties to implement the Convention.

Over a six-day marathon meeting, the Committee engaged with 13 Parties facing implementation and compliance difficulties with key obligations under the Convention to develop adequate legislation and to transmit national reports. In depth discussions took place with representatives of Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Cook Islands, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritania, Nauru, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Togo, which concluded in the resolution of long-lasting compliance difficulties to transmit national reports faced by two Pacific Small Islands Developing States, Cook Islands and Nauru.

Expressing his satisfaction with the progress achieved, the Chair of the Committee, Mr. Jason Dunn (Australia), said that “The Committee is providing support to Parties that are amongst the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of hazardous wastes. I am delighted to see the leadership shown by Cook Islands and Nauru to improve the protection of human health and the environment in their countries".

Over two days, the Committee also held landmark dialogues with the fourteen regional centres under the Basel Convention and a range of entities from the UN system and beyond to explore ways to harness the full potential of support available to Parties to implement the Convention. Representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Executive Board of the Special Programme on Institutional Strengthening, UN-Habitat, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Grid-Arendal as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica exchanged information on their activities and on the options available to embed the development of legislation and of national reports in broader efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“The scope of the wastes covered by the Basel Convention is large, and the implementation of the Convention contributes to achieving a wide range of sustainable development goals. I am grateful to the Committee for having established these linkages and for reminding us that the environmentally sound management of waste is central to the social and economic development of all countries” said Mr Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. He went on to underscore the importance of the work carried out and congratulated the Committee in progressing its work on the development of guidance to help Parties embed the implementation of the Convention in the broader sustainable development agenda.

The Committee also tackled compliance challenges with a series of core obligations under the Convention which legally bounds its 191 Parties. It continued its meticulous work of classifying Parties’ compliance performance with their national reporting obligations, and concluded that, for the first time ever, Parties have reached one of the targets set by the Basel Convention Conference of the Parties. The Committee also considered the outcome of the self-review of their legislation undertaken by 64 Parties, thereby identifying areas of improvement to ensure that national legislation fully reflects the provisions of the Convention. Preventing and combating illegal traffic was also high on the agenda the Committee, with the review of a report scoping the extent of illegal traffic which identifies that three main waste streams are currently of concern, namely, waste electrical and electronic equipment and their parts, end-of-life vehicles and their parts and plastic waste.

The Committee will resume its sixteenth meeting in October 2024. The outcomes of the Committee will be considered by the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 April to 5 May 2025.

The work of the Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee benefits from generous financial support provided by Belgium, the European Union, Japan, Norway and Switzerland.

NOTES for EDITORS:

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive international environment treaty on hazardous and other wastes and is almost universal, with 191 Parties. With an overarching objective of protecting human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes, its scope covers a wide range of waste subject to transboundary movements defined as hazardous based on their origin and/or composition and characteristics, as well as three types of waste defined as “other wastes”, namely household waste, residues arising from the incineration of household wastes ash and certain plastic wastes requiring special consideration.

The Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee is mandated to assist Parties to comply with their obligations under the Convention and to facilitate, promote, monitor and aim to secure the implementation of and compliance with the obligations under the Convention.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, or BRS Secretariat, supports Parties implement the three leading multilateral environment agreements governing chemicals and waste management, in order to protect human health and the environment.

For questions on the Implementation and Compliance Committee, contact:

Juliette Voinov Kohler, Senior Legal Officer and Chief (Officer in Charge) of the Governance Branch, BRS Secretariat, juliette.kohler@un.org

For media enquiries, contact: 

Maria Cristina Cardenas-Fischer, Head of Unit and Senior Policy Advisor, Policy and Strategy Unit, Executive Office, BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org

Scientists at the 19th Persistent Organic Pollutant Review Committee (POPRC-19) meeting agreed that two chemicals should be considered hazardous and controlled under the Stockholm Convention of the United Nations.

In a crucial step in protecting human health and the environment, a Committee of expert scientists gathered at the POPRC-19 meeting in Rome, Italy, to review hazardous chemicals and to decide whether to recommend that they be included in the Stockholm Convention, so countries take measures to eliminate or restrict production and use and manage their wastes.

The family of chemicals known as medium-chain chlorinated paraffins has been recommended to be listed for elimination under the convention. These chemicals are often used in metalworking fluids as lubricants and coolants and can also be used as an additive to make plastic softer. They are also used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, as well as in paints, sealants, and rubber. However, scientists have concluded they pose a significant risk to human health, due to their ability to last over time in the human body without breaking down, leading to severe health conditions including cancer.

Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids have been recommended to be listed for elimination under the convention. These chemicals belong to the family of PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals’. Owing to their water, stain, and grease-resistant properties, they are commonly used in industrial and consumer products such as in the manufacture of semiconductors, printing inks, paints and coatings, paper and food packaging, waterproof textiles, cleaning products, and firefighting foams.

Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Rolph Payet, said:

“The outcome of this meeting continues the dynamic science of the Stockholm Convention in identifying and eliminating persistent organic pollutants.

This week builds on the world-leading scientific research that has been carried out under the Stockholm Convention, to protect the environment, biodiversity, and human health.”

The Committee agreed that these chemicals may still be used in specific circumstances. The recommendations for listing including specific exemptions will be considered at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, which will take place in 2025.

In addition to these decisions, POPRC-19 adopted the risk profile for the highly toxic pesticide ‘chlorpyrifos’, meaning that the chemical will now be considered for recommendation at the next POPRC meeting. Chlorpyrifos is a highly toxic insecticide widely used in agriculture. It poses significant health risks, is particularly dangerous to children and pregnant women, and has adverse effects on the nervous system.

Over the next year, the Committee will assess information on socio-economic considerations and possible control measures for chlorpyrifos as part of its risk management evaluation and will consider a recommendation for listing.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.
http://www.brsmeas.org/

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.
http://chm.pops.int/

The 19th meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-19) was chaired by Dr Peter Dawson from New Zealand, and was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 9 - 13 October 2023.

During this meeting, POPRC-19 recommended the inclusion of two groups of chemicals in Annex A for elimination: chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14–17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 per cent chlorine by weight, commonly referred to as ‘medium-chain chlorinated paraffins’ or MCCPs, and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds.

For information on the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention, contact: Kei Ohno Woodall, BRS Secretariat Senior Coordination Officer, kei.ohno@un.org

For media inquiries, contact: Asana Greenstreet, BRS Secretariat Public Information Officer, asana.greenstreet@un.org

The 19th Chemical Review Committee meeting recommended that chlorpyrifos and mercury be listed in Annex III to the Convention.

The 19th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC-19) of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade convened in Rome, Italy, from 3 to 6 October 2023. Held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CRC-19 recommended that chlorpyrifos and mercury be listed in Annex III and thus become subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure of the Rotterdam Convention. The CRC experts will now start developing draft decision guidance documents to accompany the recommendations on those chemicals to be considered by the Convention’s governing body, the Conference of the Parties.

CRC-19 was chaired by Ms. Noluzuko Gwayi from South Africa, leading the intense deliberations among twenty-eight government-designated experts in chemicals management present and elected by the Conference of the Parties. Seventy-one observers representing twenty-four governments and twenty-six non-governmental organisations also participated in the meeting.

The CRC experts also finalized two draft decision guidance documents on paraquat and methyl bromide, previously recommended for listing in Annex III at the Committee’s eighteenth meeting.

The recommendations on the listing of chemicals, together with their draft decision guidance documents, will be considered during the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (COP-12), which will be held in 2025 in Geneva. Should COP-12, based on the recommendations of the Committee, decide to amend Annex III to the Convention to list these chemicals, they will become subject to the PIC procedure. This enables the currently 165 Parties to the Rotterdam Convention to take informed decisions on potential future imports of these chemicals.

Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide widely used in agriculture. It is a highly toxic organophosphate insecticide known to have adverse effects on the nervous system, particularly to children and pregnant women, and genotoxic potential, hence posing significant health risks.

Mercury is used in particular in small-scale artisanal gold mining, as well as products such as lamps, batteries, medical and measuring devices and dental amalgam. It is a toxic heavy metal that, when absorbed into the human body, can cause severe neurological and developmental issues, as well as harm to the kidneys, lungs, and other vital organs. Mercury is subject to global regulation through the Minamata Convention, which aims to mitigate and reduce its environmental and human health impacts.

Methyl bromide, historically used as a soil fumigant and pest control agent in agriculture, is known for its high toxicity to humans and the environment. Due to its adverse environmental impacts and ozone-depleting properties, methyl bromide has been listed as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol, leading to efforts to phase out its production and use worldwide.

Paraquat is widely used as a herbicide to control weeds in agriculture. Paraquat is highly toxic, primarily affecting the lungs, skin, and other internal organs, with ingestion or inhalation leading to severe health risks, including pulmonary fibrosis and organ failure.

The Rotterdam Convention promotes shared responsibility and facilitates cooperative efforts among its Parties to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes. 

http://www.brsmeas.org/

For information on pesticides under the Rotterdam Convention, contact: Christine Fuell, Executive Secretary a.i. of the Rotterdam Convention, christine.fuell@fao.org

For information on industrial chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention, contact: Abiola Olanipekun, Chief, Science and Technical Assistance Branch, abiola.olanipekun@un.org

For media inquiries, contact: Asana Greenstreet, BRS Secretariat Public Information Officer, asana.greenstreet@un.org