Highlights and images for 18 June 2025

There are many risks for human health and the environment occurring from chemicals, waste and pollution. Current structures for governing these risks at the international level are fragmented and reveal a significant gap, namely the lack of an independent body to provide credible and relevant scientific assessments for the sound management of chemicals and waste and pollution prevention. Based on a resolution adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022, Member States have been fleshing out the skeleton for such a science-policy panel, that is expected to build visibility, foster international cooperation, and inform national action around relevant topics of chemicals, waste and pollution governance.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

On this last scheduled day for Member States to finalize proposals for the establishment of the new science-policy panel, the tension was palpable. Discussions on the most contentious parts of the foundational document, including those related to decision-making, membership of the panel, and hosting of the secretariat, needed to achieve consensus.

A sensitive topic for multilateral cooperation dominated discussions on how decisions will be taken in the future panel: will it be always by consensus or potentially also through voting? Another question is how lines will be drawn and bridges built between those representing science and those speaking on behalf of their governments. The panel will have a bureau, in which selected government representatives oversee the implementation of the panel’s work, as well as an Interdisciplinary Expert Commitee, where experts from each of the five UN regional groups will guide the scientific work of the panel. There are different perspectives on how to avoid politicization at this scientific centerpiece of the panel. These different views surfaced in protracted discussions about governmental and non-governmental observers in meetings of the Interdisciplinary Expert Committee.

What started to transpire during the day was clear going into the evening plenary: more time is needed to finalize the work on the foundational document. Delegates were asked to roll up their sleeves and “get the job done” by 9:00 am Thursday morning.