Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conferences of the Parties (COPs) met on Friday, 8 May 2015. In the morning, plenary heard reports on progress in the contact groups on: technical matters; technical assistance and financial resources; cooperation and coordination; listing of chemicals under the Stockholm Convention (SC); budget; and non-compliance under the Rotterdam Convention (RC). The Basel Convention (BC) COP reconvened to discuss issues related to implementation of the convention, including technical guidelines for electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste).

In the afternoon, SC COP8 reconvened to discuss draft decisions including on listing: polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in Annexes A and C; hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) in Annex A, with a decision for further work on listing HCBD in Annex C; and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in Annex A with a specific exemption for use in utility poles and crossarms.

A joint session of the three conventions met to discuss the draft report.

Throughout the day, the participants worked in several contact groups on: technical matters under the BC; technical assistance and financial resources; cooperation and coordination; budget; strategic matters under the BC; and non-compliance under the SC.

Several side events were held during the lunch break and in the evening, including on China’s actions toward a POPs-free future, implementation of the Bamako Convention and efforts to address e-waste management in developing and transition countries.

The Science Fair entered its second day and included a panel discussion on science for sustainable chemicals and waste management in the 21st Century.