Highlights and images for 3 February 2023

Delegates left Bangkok with a clear path of how they will meet their ambitious timeline to establish a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution in 2024. The timeline sets out the considerable work ahead, with only two more meetings left.

OEWG 1.2 adopted an outline of a zero draft, which lists all of the documents necessary to establish the panel. These documents will set out the procedures and processes that the panel will follow, everything from budget to how to approve assessment reports. The outline sets out when each item will be taken up, either at OEWG 2 or 3. For OEWG 2, some of the items to be addressed will include:

• functions, particularly capacity building;
• operating principles; and
• institutional design

There was some disagreement on how to advance intersessional work on the various documents. Some member states wanted a round of written inputs, others suggested webinars or requested the Secretariat to draft working documents. The “how” is important, because it builds ownership and buy-in for the working documents before delegates next meet.

The OEWG also endorsed the provisional agenda for its next meeting and the outcome of the scope and functions contact group. This group concluded with emerging agreement on capacity-building as a function of the panel, although there is still a way to go to decide how the panel will fulfill this function.

In their concluding remarks, regional and major stakeholder groups highlighted that the meeting set the foundations for a successful round of negotiations on the envisaged science-policy panel, underscoring the importance of intersessional work for timely completion of the task at hand. Chair Alkemade thanked all participants for their hard work and commitment, and gaveled the meeting to a close at 18.32.

The summary and analysis of OEWG 1.2 will be available on Monday, 6 February.