Highlights and images for 2 May 2019

Switzerland

  1. Negotiations
  2. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
  3. 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Summary

Highlights for Thursday, 2 May 2019

Carlos Martin-Novella, Deputy Executive Secretary, BRS Secretariat; Osvaldo Álvarez-Pérez, Rotterdam Convention COP9 President; Abraham Zivayi Matiza, Basel Convention COP14 President; Kei Ohno Woodall, BRS Secretariat; and Mohammed Khashashneh, Stockholm Convention COP9 President, consult on the dais

BRS COPs On Thursday, delegates worked on a range of issues related to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), including releases of POPs from unintentional production, implementation plans, and a proposal by the Russian Federation to amend the Convention. During discussion of the proposed amendment, many delegates underscored the thoroughness of the POPs Review Committee’s (POPRC) evaluation process, and others highlighted the importance of the precautionary principle in achieving the Convention’s objective to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects caused by exposure to POPs.In the afternoon, delegates adopted three decisions. One, on measures to reduce or eliminate releases of POPs from wastes, encourages parties to the Stockholm Convention to accelerate their efforts to ensure the sound management of POP stockpiles and wastes.Another, on specific exemptions, acceptable purposes and other exemptions for continued production and use of listed POPs, confirms that no new registrations may be made for:

  • lindane for use as a human-health pharmaceutical in the control of head lice and scabies; and
  • perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) for: photo masks, metal plating, electric and electronic parts for some color printers and photocopiers, insecticides for control of red imported fire ants and termites, and chemically-driven oil production.

    • Delegates also adopted a decision which specifies continuation of work to implement the global monitoring plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention. In related discussions, delegates drew connections between POPs and marine plastics, adding the Convention’s voice to several others calling for urgent action on plastic pollution in the marine environment.Contact groups met throughout the day to work on issues including listing of chemicals under the Stockholm Convention, technical assistance and financial resources, issues of joint concern to at least two of the three Conventions, and programme of work and budget.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

    IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF.

    Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth

    For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.

    Plenary Sessions
    View of plenary during the day
    Rochelle Newbold, the Bahamas
    Linroy Christian, Co-Chair, Contact Group on Programme of Work and Budget
    Sam Adu-Kumi, Ghana
    Fouad Zyadi, Morocco
    Reginald Hernaus, Co-Chair, Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources
    Abderaman Mahamat Abderaman, Chad
    Carmen Van Dijk, Suriname
    Karim Baba, Algeria
    Delegates from Serbia speak informally
    Karissa Kovner, US
    Kay Williams, Co-Chair, Contact Group on Joint Issues
    Rima Mustafa, Jordan
    Ram Charitra Sah, Center for Public Health and Environmental Development, Nepal
    Serge Molly Allo'o Allo'o, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group
    Vi Waghiyi, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT)
    Contact Groups
    Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources
    Noluzuko 'Zukie' Gwayi, South Africa, speaks with Jozef Buys, Belgium, during a contact group
    Opening of the Information Fair
    Maria Cristina Cárdenas-Fischer, BRS Secretariat, Elizabeth Mrema, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and Carlos Martin-Novella, Deputy Executive Secretary, BRS Secretariat, launch the opening of the Information Fair
    Displays at the Information Fair
    Around the Venue
    In an initiative to make 'the invisible visible,' the BRS Secretariat highlights what toxic chemicals may be present in an average home, and what alternatives exist to protect human health and the environment

    Participants

    Negotiating blocs
    African Group