Highlights and images for 29 August 2022

The opening day of the fourth session of the Intersessional Process for Considering the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste Beyond 2020 (IP4) conducted an initial airing of views on elements of the compilation of draft recommendations for the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) and established three thematic groups to discuss each issue in greater detail.

In opening statements, Barna Tánczos, Minister of Environment, Water and Forests, Romania, welcomed delegates. He said a major goal of IP4 should be to establish targets through in an iterative process, together with a comprehensive framework of indicators. He also stressed the importance of agreeing on recommendations to forward to ICCM5 on: national implementation; international, regional and sectoral cooperation and coordination; and enhanced sectoral and stakeholder engagement.

ICCM5 President Anita Breyer (Germany) said the “beyond 2020” agreement can be a powerful international framework that engages, and further generates, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder commitment to deliver ambitious and concrete action that is integrated across sectors and value chains. Noting that the chemicals sector is projected to double sales by 2030, she said the post-2020 platform for chemicals and waste thus needs to be durable yet have a structure that is flexible, adaptable, and able to respond to new developments and priorities over the long term.

Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, UNEP, said the novel instrument being crafted at IP4 should enlist all stakeholders to facilitate transformation to a chemicals and waste management system in which economies and industry flourish while health and the environment are protected.

IP Co-Chair Judith Torres (Uruguay) said the goal for IP4 is to build upon IP3 results, while taking into account the outcomes of virtual working groups (VWGs) conducted during the pandemic, technical groups, briefings, and regional consultations, the table comparing the compilation of recommendations with the SAICM Overarching Policy Strategy and the outcome of the VWGs, and the views expressed during the week, to produce a single set of recommendations for ICCM5 consideration.

Participants reflected on the various components of the compilation of draft recommendations to ICCM5, including vision, scope, principles and approaches, strategic objectives, targets, indicators, institutional arrangements, mechanisms to support implementation, financial considerations, and issues of concern. Three thematic groups were then created to continue deliberations in greater detail:

• Thematic Group 1 on Vision, Strategic Objectives and Targets, co-facilitated by Angela Rivera (Colombia) and Mari-Liis Ummik (Estonia);
• Thematic Group 2 on Institutional Arrangements, Mechanisms to Support Implementation, Issues of Concern, and Linkages with the Future Science Policy Panel, co-facilitated by Karissa Kovner (US) and Teeraporn Wiriwutikorn (Thailand); and
• Thematic Group 3 on Mechanisms to Support Capacity Building and Financial Considerations, co-facilitated by Jonah Ormond (Antigua and Barbuda) and Reggie Hernaus (The Netherlands).

The Co-Chairs instructed the three groups to begin their deliberations on Monday evening, with plans to continue work in these thematic groups throughout the days and evening until plenary is reconvened on Wednesday afternoon to take stock of progress.

Delegates also held an initial discussion of the Secretariat’s proposals on the name of the post-2020 instrument. Co-Chair Kay Williams (UK) invited delegates to submit any further views to the Secretariat.