BRS NEWSLETTER

Assisting parties to protect human health and the environment

December 2018 / January 2019 - No. 23

Welcome

Dear Readers,

This bumper double edition of the BRS Newsletter features news of a new Party to both the Basel and Rotterdam conventions, marine litter progress in Geneva, important waste management and illegal waste meetings in Beijing, mountains, a new interview with BRS Executive Secretary Rolph Payet in “UN Special”, and much, much more. Seasons’ greetings and best wishes for 2019: #Detox for a clean planet and healthy people!

News
	Progress to beat pollution as yet another country accedes to the Basel Convention Vanuatu has become the 187th Party to the Basel Convention, with entry into force on 14 January 2019. Share:
	Improved governance called for to prevent 12,000 million tonnes of plastic waste by 2050 Read the BRS Press Release on marine litter, as BRS and Barcelona conventions join forces to help beat plastic pollution. Share:
	Side event in Geneva marks conventions joining forces to beat plastic pollution The Barcelona and BRS conventions strengthen their cooperation to support the Mediterranean Action Plan and tackle marine plastic litter, at a signing event on 7 December 2018. Share:
	PIC Circular XLVIII now available The latest version of the Rotterdam Convention PIC Circular is now available online. Share:
	Regional workshop in Kyrgyzstan builds government capacities for implementing Rotterdam Convention Officials from 10 countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus were trained during an FAO workshop in Bishkek, 19 to 23 November. Share:
	Vanuatu the latest country to accede to the Rotterdam Convention, to protect human health and the environment Vanuatu has become the 161st Party to the Rotterdam Convention, with entry into force on 14 January 2019. Share:
	Life-Cycle Approach to chemicals and waste in the spotlight in Beijing, China Basel and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre’s roundtable meeting brings together participants from 7 Asian countries to discuss better approaches to chemicals and waste management. Share:
	Stockholm Convention implementing agencies meet informally to boost implementation The BRS Secretariat organised an informal brainstorming session of partners in Geneva, 17 November 2019, to identify cooperative strategies for maximising impact. Share:
	To help beat pollution, Uruguay transmits updated plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention Uruguay has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan, in both English & Spanish, addressing amendments made at COP4, 5, 6 & 7. Share:
	BRS Secretariat is carbon-neutral for fifth year in a row As part of the UN’s Greening the Blue initiative, the BRS Secretariat is actively reducing its environmental footprint for all operations, including meetings such as the Triple COPs. Share:
	Read the BRS Press Release on Plastics in the Mountains In Geneva on International Mountains Day, experts urge greater efforts to beat plastic pollution upstream, since Mountains Matter. Share:

Technical Assistance

Upcoming webinars

Upcoming workshops

Forthcoming meeting

For a Clean Planet and Healthy People: Triple COPs coming up

The meetings of the conferences of Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 29 April to 10 May 2019.

Emerging issues

Beat Marine Plastic Pollution: UN experts meet in Geneva to examine options

Important meeting assesses how to improve governance for tackling marine plastic pollution.

Synergies in the spotlight

Making the Invisible, Visible: Interview with BRS Executive Secretary published in UN Special

UN Special magazine interview with Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions.