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Currently, there is no global science-policy panel that broadly addresses chemicals, wastes, and pollution. Policymakers need strong science to help inform sound policy. Such an interface between science and policy can help link these two communities and help them communicate: the scientists can speak to policymakers in a way relevant to policy, and policymakers can query scientists to learn more about possible options.
In March 2022 the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) agreed in resolution 5/8 to establish a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. Substantive discussions will begin at the resumed first Open-ended Working Group meeting (OEWG 1-2). The first session featured operational decisions and opening statements.
There are many science-policy bodies in the field of chemicals and wastes, as outlined in the scope and function documents for the meeting. Several science-policy bodies are linked to existing chemicals and waste treaties, and, as a result, tend to have narrower mandates, such as screening chemicals to determine if are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and should be listed in the Stockholm Convention on POPs. These bodies have provided valuable advice and helped advance knowledge and bring together scientists worldwide, often to work on discrete questions. The new science-policy panel is to complement, but not duplicate, the work of these many bodies while providing a broader overview of scientific knowledge.
OEWG 1-2 will focus on the new panel’s scope and functions, which both raise challenging questions. The scope could be enormous: there are hundreds of thousands of chemicals in products on the market, hundreds of waste streams, and even more pollutants. Participants will discuss how to define the panel’s scope in a way that complements existing bodies and responds to global and national scientific and policy concerns. They will also have to contend with uncertainty, as there are many chemicals for which public data is lacking.
Science-policy bodies can serve many functions, from awareness raising and capacity building to providing policy-relevant advice and identifying emerging issues. Awareness raising is a crucial function many hope the new panel can take on, to help bring pollution-related issues on par with climate change and biodiversity.
The UNEA mandate also calls for a “horizon scanning” function, unique among global science-policy bodies, including those for climate change and biodiversity. The new panel could be tasked with identifying future chemicals, wastes, and pollution challenges where preventative action can help avoid the worst health and environmental impacts.
OEWG 1-2 will be held 30 January – 3 February in Bangkok, Thailand, and will be streamed online.
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1st Meeting of the UNEP Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-1)
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UNEA-2
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UNEA-3
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1st Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics
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Negotiation of the Summary for Policy Makers of the 6th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6)
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4th Meeting of the OECPR and 4th Session of UNEA
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2nd Global Session UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
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4th Meeting of the Ad-hoc Open-ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics (AHEG-4)
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Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF)
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Youth Environment Assembly (YEA)
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5th Meeting of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP (Online Session)
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UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment (2021)
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UNEA-5 (Online Session)
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Inaugural Regional Session of the UNEP Science-Policy-Business Forum for Asia and the Pacific (AP-SPBF 2021)
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Online Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF)
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Youth Environment Assembly 2022
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UNEA-5.2, OECPR-5.2 and [email protected]
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2nd UNEA Cities and Regions Summit
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UNEA Flagship Side Events
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Big Data for the Planet Breakfast and Ministerial Dialogue: The Next 50 Years
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OEWG1: Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollution
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