Highlights and images for 7 February 2017

Summary

The First Meeting of the Intersessional Process for Considering SAICM and the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste Beyond 2020 opened on Tuesday, 7 February 2017, in Brasilia, Brazil. Opening remarks were provided by Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, SAICM Secretariat, Naoko Ishii (by video), CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Amb. José Antônio Marcondes de Carvalho, Under Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, and Gertrud Sahler (Germany), President, Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5).

The meeting then elected Leticia Reis Carvalho, Environment Ministry, Brazil, and David Morin, Health Canada, as co-chairs of the intersessional process. It also approved the provisional agenda after agreeing to amend it to provide for a separate discussion on means of implementation (MOI).

Felix Dodds, Tellus Institute, provided a keynote speech on “Setting the Scene for Beyond 2020” discussing the 2030 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the opportunities for linkages with the post-2020 process for chemicals and waste.

Robert Nurick, consultant, discussed the interim independent evaluation report of the Strategic Approach for 2006-2015 and the process for producing the final report to be presented in 2018. The Secretariat also presented its update on SAICM progress for 2014-2016.

During lunch, parallel informal dialogues were held on “Looking ahead – SAICM and sound management of chemicals and waste in the light of future developments” and “Challenges and opportunities for sustainable chemistry to contribute to sustainable development.”

After lunch a high level segment was held, with keynotes provided by: Sarney Filho, Environment Minister, Brazil; Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment; Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for the Environment; and Amb. Carvalho. This was followed by a panel discussion including these speakers as well as Fernando Musa, CEO, Braskem, Marco Mensink, Director General, CEFIC, Jeffer Castelo Branco, Coordinator, Association for Combatting Persistent Organic Pollutants, and Erika Yamada, Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In the late afternoon plenary reconvened to begin discussion on “Beyond 2020,” focusing initially on reactions to the scope and vision outlined in the “Thought starter” prepared by the Bureau of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM).

In the evening, delegates attended a reception hosted by the Government of Brazil.

IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Intersessional Process for Considering SAICM and the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste Beyond 2020. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has produced a summary and analysis report of the meeting, which is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera
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Opening Session

(L-R): Amb. José Antônio Marcondes de Carvalho, Under Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil; Gertrud Sahler, Director General, German Federal Ministry of Environment, and President, Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5); Marcelo Cruz, Executive Secretary, Environment Ministry, Brazil; and Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, SAICM Secretariat

Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, SAICM Secretariat

Amb. José Antônio Marcondes de Carvalho, Under Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil

Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, GEF, addressed delegates via a video message

Gertrud Sahler, Director General, German Federal Ministry of Environment, and ICCM5 President

Marcelo Cruz, Executive Secretary, Environment Ministry, Brazil

Brenda Koekkoek, SAICM Secretariat, shakes hands with Amb. José Antônio Marcondes de Carvalho, Under Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil

(L-R): Gertrud Sahler, Director General, German Federal Ministry of Environment, and ICCM5 President; Amb. José Antônio Marcondes de Carvalho, Under Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil; Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, SAICM Secretariat; and Marcelo Cruz, Executive Secretary, Environment Ministry, Brazil, at the end of the opening session

(L-R): Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, SAICM Secretariat; Co-Chair Leticia Reis Carvalho, Environment Ministry, Brazil; Co-Chair David Morin, Health Canada; and Brenda Koekkoek, SAICM Secretariat

Co-Chair Leticia Reis Carvalho, Environment Ministry, Brazil

Co-Chair David Morin, Health Canada

Felix Dodds, Tellus Institute

Robert Nurick, consultant

Brenda Koekkoek, SAICM Secretariat

Jorge Ocaña, UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

Reginald Hernaus, EU

Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Shah Gilani, Pakistan

Noluzuko (Zukie) Gwayi, South Africa

Mohammad Hematyar, Iran

David Azoulay, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Oluday O. Dada, Expert for Africa Region

Francis Kihumba, Kenya

Felix Wertli, Switzerland

Karissa Taylor Kovner, US

María Florencia Grimalt, Argentina

Achim Halpaap, UN Environment

Jorge Peydro Aznar, EU

Informal Dialogue 1: Looking Ahead – SAICM and Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in the Light of Future Developments

Panel speakers of the informal dialogue during Marco Mensink’s address

Christabel Mibenge, Ministry of Health, Health Promotion, Environment and Social Determinants, Zambia

Marco Mensink, Director General, European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), and Bob Diederich, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)