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Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP11), Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP6), Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP6) and Second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the three Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2)

28 April - 10 May 2013 | Geneva, Switzerland

Summary Highlights of the Meeting
2013 COPs Sustainable Synergies
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BC COP11 President Franz Perrez (Switzerland), RC COP6 President Magdalena Balicka (Poland) and SC COP6 President Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile).
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View of plenary from above.
Highlights for Sunday, 28 April 2013

Basel Convention COP11, Rotterdam Convention COP6, Stockholm Convention COP6, and the second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2) convened for its first day on Sunday, 28 April 2013.

In the morning delegates participated in the opening ceremony of the three ordinary and extraordinary COPs, adopted the ExCOPs agenda, addressed organizational matters, and initiated discussion on enhancing cooperation and collaboration among the conventions.

During the afternoon, delegates initiated consideration of technical assistance and financial resources in Simultaneous Sessions of the Ordinary COPs, and forwarded further discussions to a contact group.

* Visit the web coverage for Sunday, 28 April 2013.
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Download the IISD RS daily report for Sunday, 28 April in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Singers serenaded delegates before the opening plenary.
Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile), Stockholm Convention COP6 President
Magdalena Balicka (Poland), Rotterdam Convention COP6 President
Franz Perrez (Switzerland), Basel Convention COP11 President
Bakary Kante, UNEP Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC)
Clayton Campanhola, Executive Secretary, Rotterdam Convention
Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions
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Panel (L-R): Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Franz Perrez (Switzerland), Basel Convention COP11 President; Magdalena Balicka (Poland), Rotterdam Convention COP6 President; Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile), Stockholm Convention COP6 President; and David Ogden, Joint Secretariat.

Highlights for Monday, 29 April 2013

Basel Convention COP11, Rotterdam Convention COP6, Stockholm Convention COP6, and the simultaneous ordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions convened for its second day on Monday, 29 April 2013.

In the morning, delegates completed their discussion on financial resources, and established a Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources. They also discussed waste issues related to POPs.

During the afternoon, delegates discussed legal and compliance issues related to the three conventions.

The Contact Group on Budget and Synergies convened throughout the day. The Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources met in the afternoon.

* Visit the web coverage for Monday, 29 April 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Monday, 29 April in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Panel (L-R): Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile), Stockholm Convention COP6 President; David Ogden, Joint Secretariat; Juliette Voinov Kohler, Basel Convention Policy and Legal Advisor.
Anne Daniel, Canada
Gladys Maina, Kenya
Sara Broomhall, Australia
Dioumessy Bangaly, Guinea

Highlights for Tuesday, 30 April 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions convened for a third day on Tuesday, 30 April 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary to consider issues under SC COP5.

During the morning, SC COP5 addressed organizational matters and rules of procedure, and initiated discussions on listing hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention.

During the afternoon plenary session, participants discussed POPRC developments, National Implementation Plans (NIPs), and exemptions.

In the morning, contact groups met on Compliance and Other Legal Matters as well as Budget and Synergies. These two groups also convened in the afternoon, along with a contact group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources. A fourth contact group, on HBCD, met in the evening.

* Visit the web coverage for Tuesday, 30 April 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Tuesday, 30 April in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Panel (L-R): Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions, and Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile), Stockholm Convention COP6 President.
Bjorn Hansen, EU
Victoria Romero, Mexico
Christine Kasedde, Uganda
(L-R): Anne Daniel (Canada) and Jimena Nieto (Colombia) co-chaired the Compliance Contact Group.
The group discussing the draft decision on BC compliance.
Technical Assistance and Financial Resources Co-Chairs Reginald Hernaus (the Netherlands) and Mohammed Khashashneh (Jordan).
Budget and Synergies Co-Chair Gregor Filyk (Canada).

Highlights for Wednesday, 1 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions convened for a fourth day on Wednesday, 1 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary to consider issues under SC COP6.

During the morning, SC COP6 addressed effectiveness evaluation and initiated discussions on DDT. They also discussed issues related to unintentionally produced Persistent Organic Pollutants (uPOPs), including the updating of the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases, and guidelines on Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP).

During the afternoon plenary session, participants discussed issues related to PCBs and other matters.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, and Listing of Chemicals, and on New POPs met throughout the day.

* Visit the web coverage for Wednesday, 1 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Wednesday, 1 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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BC COP11 President Franz Perrez (Switzerland), RC COP6 President Magdalena Balicka (Poland), SC COP6 President Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile) and Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions Jim Willis cut the ribbon for the inauguration of the Regional Fair with the theme "Synergies through regional delivery." The fair aims, among other things, to enhance the relationship between the regional centres, donors and countries served by the centres.
President Álvarez confers before plenary.
Austrian delegates share a lighter moment.
Vi Waghiyi, Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Imogen Ingram, Island Sustainability Alliance CIS Inc.
Participant in the Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources
Jill Hanna (European Commission) in the Contact Group on Budget and Synergies.
L-R: Contact Group on Listing of Chemicals, and on New POPs Co-Chairs Azhari Abdelbagi (Sudan) and Bjorn Hansen (EU).

Highlights for Thursday, 2 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention and Stockholm Convention convened for a fifth day on Thursday, 2 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary to consider issues under Stockholm Convention COP6.

During the morning Stockholm Convention COP6 “virtually” adopted decisions on: effectiveness evaluation; technical assistance; exemptions; endosulfan; and BDEs, PFOS its salts, and PFOSF.

During the afternoon plenary session, participants "virtually" adopted the draft decision listing HBCD and the report of the meeting.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies and Technical Assistance and Financial Resources met throughout the day.

* Visit the web coverage for Thursday, 2 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Thursday, 2 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions Jim Willis being serenaded with "Happy Birthday" in plenary.
David Ogden, Joint Secretariat, confers with Yvonne Ewang-Sanvincenti, Joint Secretariat.
The EU consults with Noluzuko Gwayi, South Africa, during the Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources.
Alf Wills, South Africa, intervenes in the Contact Group on Budget and Synergies.
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Delegates huddle late in the evening to discuss listing hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD).

Highlights for Friday, 3 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a sixth day on Friday, 3 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary, considering issues remaining under SC COP6 and then moving onto issues under BC COP11.  

During the morning, SC COP6 adopted decisions on reporting, exemptions, effectiveness evaluation, implementation plans, and measures to reduce or eliminate releases from unintentional production.

Delegates then turned their attention to the BC COP11 agenda, focusing on technical guidelines and the Indonesian-Swiss Country-led Initiative to improve the effectiveness of the BC.

During the afternoon plenary session, participants discussed environmentally-sound dismantling of ships, and the operations and work programme of the BC Open-Ended Working Group.

Contact groups continued on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, and Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, and new contact groups were convened on Strategic Matters and Technical Matters.

* Visit the web coverage for Friday, 3 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Friday, 3 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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David Ogden, Joint Secretariat, confers with Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions.
Delegates from Guinea in discussion.
EU delegates confer discreetly with each other.
Fredrick Sikabongo, Namibia, in the Contact Group on Compliance and Other Legal Matters.
Gillian Guthrie, Jamaica, intervenes in the Contact Group on Budget and Synergies.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX) and CETESB. From L-R: Ivan Holoubek, Director, RECETOX; Katerina Sebkova, Director of the Regional Center within RECETOX; and Nelson Roberto Bulgaho, Vice-President, CETESB.
Observers from the US and the State of Palestine.

Highlights for Saturday, 4 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a seventh day on Saturday, 4 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary, considering issues under BC COP11.  

During the morning, BC COP11 addressed issues related to international cooperation, coordination and partnerships, including the BC Partnership Programme and cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

During the afternoon plenary, delegates discussed capacity-building, follow-up to the Indonesian-Swiss Country-Led Initiative and BC Regional and Coordinating Centres, and agreed to a framework for the environmentally-sound management of hazardous wastes.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, Strategic Matters and Technical Matters met throughout the day.

* Visit the web coverage for Saturday, 4 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Saturday, 4 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Franz Perrez (Switzerland), Basel Convention COP11 President; David Ogden, Joint Secretariat; and Kei Ohno Woodall, Joint Secretariat.
Discussions in the Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources.
The Contact Group on Strategic Matters.
Contact Group on Technical Matters co-chaired by Michael Ernst (Germany) and Che Asmah Ibrahim (Malaysia).
A delegate from Mexico considers information on the budget in the Contact Group on Budget and Synergies.
BC COP President Perrez congratulates Mohammed Khashashneh (Jordan), Co-Chair of the Technical Expert Group for ESM, for his efforts facilitating the finalization of the Environmentally-Sound Management Framework.
Tsutomu Mizutani, on behalf of Kazuhiko Takemoto (Japan), Co-Chair of the Technical Expert Group for ESM, receives hearty congratulations of BC COP President Perrez for his hard work finalizing the Environmentally-Sound Management Framework.

Highlights for Monday, 6 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for an eighth day on Monday, 6 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary, considering issues under BC COP11.

During the morning, BC COP11 “virtually” adopted decisions on:
Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE); technical guidelines for environmentally-sound management of mercury wastes; resource mobilization and sustainable financing; and the process for evaluating the performance and sustainability of BC regional and coordinating centres.

During the afternoon, plenary reconvened briefly, "virtually" adopting a decision on cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and adopting the report of the meeting. Participants agreed to reconvene BC COP11 on Tuesday, 7 May, to consider outstanding matters.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, Strategic Matters, and Technical Matters, met throughout the day.

* Visit the web coverage for Monday, 6 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Monday, 6 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Matthias Kern, Joint Secretariat, and Contact Group on Technical Matters Co-Chair Michael Ernst (Germany)
Franz Perrez (Switzerland), Basel Convention COP11 President, and David Ogden, Joint Secretariat
SC COP6 President Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez (Chile) and Anne Daniel, Canada
Shunichi Honda, Japan
Mafile'o Masi, Tonga and Fuatino Leota, Samoa
Alabo Wokama, Nigeria
Victoria Romero, Mexico
Franz Perrez (Switzerland), Basel Convention COP11 President

Highlights for Tuesday, 7 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a ninth day on Tuesday, 7 May 2013. Delegates convened in the morning and afternoon in plenary to consider issues under Rotterdam Convention COP6, and reconvened in the late afternoon to address outstanding issues under Basel Convention COP11.

In the morning, RC COP6 considered: organizational matters, including organization of work and credentials; Rules of Procedure; and the programme of work and budget. Delegates also began consideration of chemicals for inclusion in Annex III to the Convention. The COP postponed the election of officers.

In the afternoon, RC COP6 resumed discussion on consideration of chemicals for inclusion in Annex III, and BC COP11 convened for a brief plenary session to “virtually” adopt decisions on: follow-up to the CLI; technical guidelines for ESM of POPs wastes; continuing work on technical guidelines for e-waste; amendments to the Annexes of the BC; the OEWG; and admission of observers.

Contact groups also met throughout the day, on Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources and Listing of Chemicals. An informal group on the draft Ministerial Declaration also met.

* Visit the web coverage for Tuesday, 7 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Tuesday, 7 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Bird's eye view of plenary.
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Panel (L-R): Christine Fuell, RC Secretariat; Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Magdalena Balicka (Poland), Rotterdam Convention COP6 President; and Kei Ohno Woodall, Joint Secretariat.
Christine Fuell, RC Secretariat, and Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions
David Ogden, Joint Secretariat; Franz Perrez (Switzerland), Basel Convention COP11 President; and Magdalena Balicka (Poland), Rotterdam Convention COP6 President
Peter Dawson, New Zealand
Paul-Babidou Zarabingui, Central African Republic
Delegates from Canada receive a round of applause after announcing that Canada would not block a consensus on listing chrysotile asbestos.
Marina Shevyreva, Russian Federation
A demonstration in front of the UN by groups representing asbestos victims.
A demonstrator urges for the listing of chrystostile asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention.

Highlights for Wednesday, 8 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a tenth day on Wednesday, 8 May 2013. Delegates convened in the morning and afternoon in plenary to consider issues under Rotterdam Convention COP6.

In the morning, RC COP6 considered: the Chemical Review Committee; status of implementation; trade; and official communications.

During the afternoon, RC COP6 agreed to list octaBDE commercial mixtures and pentaBDE commercial mixtures in Annex III of the Convention. RC COP6 also took decisions on financial resources and technical assistance.

Contact groups also met throughout the day, on Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources and Listing of Chemicals. An informal group on the draft Ministerial Declaration also met.

* Visit the web coverage for Wednesday, 8 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Wednesday, 8 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Rotterdam Convention COP6 President Magdalena Balicka (Poland) chats with Alexandre Zenie, EU.
Heng Nareth and Phet Pichhara, Cambodia
Yvonne Ewang-Sanvincenti and M. Amélie Taoufiq-Cailliau, Joint Secretariat
Emily Marquez, Pesticide Action Network, and Obed Baloyi, South Africa
Elizabet Paunovic, World Health Organization

Highlights for Thursday, 9 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for an eleventh day on Thursday, 9 May 2013.

Delegates convened in the morning to consider issues under Rotterdam Convention COP6, “virtually” adopting a decision to list PFOS and its related chemicals in Annex III of the Convention.

During the afternoon, participants attended the opening of the high-level segment. The second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2) then resumed, and after lengthy discussions agreed, to adopt the Bureau's compromise proposal on credentials.

During the evening, delegates reconvened in plenary to formally adopt decisions "virtually" adopted under Stockholm Convention COP6 and Basel Convention COP11.

Contact groups also met throughout the day on Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources and Listing of Chemicals.

* Visit the web coverage for Thursday, 9 May 2013.
* Download the IISD RS daily report for Thursday, 9 May in English (in HTML or PDF format) or French (in HTML or PDF format).

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Panel (L-R): Bakary Kante, UNEP Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC); Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Achim Steiner, Executive Secretary, UNEP; Doris Leuthard, Government of Switzerland; José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO; Clayton Campanhola, Co-Executive Secretary, Rotterdam Convention; and Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson.
Achim Steiner, Executive Secretary, UNEP
Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson
José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO
Parties raise placards to be associated with Australia's statement supporting the listing of chrysotile asbestos.
Marina Shevyreva, Russian Federation
Delegates from the EU confer on credentials.
Presidents of the COPs and members of the Joint Secretariat debate how to proceed.

Highlights for Friday, 10 May 2013

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a twelfth and final day on Friday, 10 May 2013.

During the morning, delegates convened in plenary to hear reports from the ministers on the outcomes of Thursday’s ministerial roundtables.  

During the afternoon, participants convened in plenary to formally adopt outstanding decisions. Plenary was suspended at 7:00 pm to allow delegates to continue last minute negotiations on the preamble of the omnibus decision on synergies.

Contact groups also met throughout the day on Budget and Synergies and Technical Assistance and Financial Resources in an effort to complete their work.

7:10 pm - delegates will return to plenary at 8:30 pm to discuss outstanding matters: budget; compliance; the omnibus decision on synergies; and the date and venue of the next COPs.

9:37 pm - plenary reconvenes focusing on date and venue of next meeting.

10:57 pm - SC COP6 President Alvarez proposes a take-it-or-leave-it compromise package to establish compliance mechanisms for the Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions, and delegates take a 30-minute break to read the text and consult.

11:34 pm - compliance "take-it-or-leave-it" text rejected.

11:50pm - SC COP6 closed.

11:51pm - RC COP6 closed.

11:58pm - BC COP11 and ExCOPs closed.

* Visit the web coverage for Friday, 10 May 2013.

* The IISD RS summary and analysis of the meeting will be available on Monday, 13 May 2013.

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Panel (L-R): Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions; Achim Steiner, Executive Secretary, UNEP; and Clayton Campanhola, Co-Executive Secretary, Rotterdam Convention.
Andrzej Jagusiewicz, Poland, was elected President of BC COP12.
Mohammed Khashashneh, Jordan, was elected President of RC COP7.
Johanna Lissinger Peitz, Sweden, was elected President of SC COP7.
David Ogden, Joint Secretariat, finds a quiet moment.
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Delegates debate the future of simultaneous SC, BC and RC COPs.
The presidents of the COPs applaud the closing of the meeting.
Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions, receives a giant Swiss cowbell as a gift.
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The ENB team.

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