Highlights and images for 24 April 2017

Switzerland

Summary

The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention (BC COP13), eighth meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP8), and eighth meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP8) began in Geneva, Switzerland.

Meeting jointly in plenary throughout the day, the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) COPs first heard opening statements. Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment noted that the BRS Conventions cover the “worst chemicals,” and drew linkages between the work of these COPs and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Minamata Convention. Delegates then adopted the agendas and organization of work for each of the COPs, and discussed coordination and cooperation among the BRS Conventions. The COPs established a joint contact group on the review of synergies arrangements.

During lunch, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) hosted a side event discussing past and future programming for impact. The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) held an event titled: “Toxic toy or toxic waste? Recycling POPs into new products.”
In the afternoon, the COPs discussed matters related to the implementation of the Conventions, including international cooperation and coordination, technical assistance and financial resources. The COPs then established a joint contact group on technical assistance and financial resources.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided digital coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 2017 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Opening Ceremony

A yodelling performance opens the meeting

Opening Plenary

View of the dais during the opening plenary

Mohammed Khashashneh, Basel Convention COP 13 President

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions

Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland

Bill Murray, Executive Secretary, Rotterdam Convention - Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO)

Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment

Ana Berejiani, Georgia, speaking on behalf of Central and Eastern Europe

Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Gilani, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group

Francis Kihumba, Kenya, speaking on behalf of the African Group

Francisco Fabian Saez, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC)

Reginald Hernaus, EU

Matt Cahill, Australia

Felix Wertli, Switzerland

Side Events Throughout the Day

Side event titled 'Looking Back, Looking Forward - Programming for Impact' hosted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Side event titled 'Toxic toy or toxic waste? Recycling POPs into new products' hosted by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)

Afternoon Plenary

View of the dais during the afternoon plenary

Sam Adu-Kumi, Stockholm Convention COP8 President

Chizuru Aoki, GEF

Haendel Sebastián Rodríguez, Colombia

Manoj Kumar Gangeya, India

Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention

Jiří Hlaváček, UN Environment

Alfredo José Perez Gonzalez, Venezuela

Maryna Belavus, Belarus

Fagamou Sy Diop, Senegal

Obed Baloyi, South Africa, speaking on behalf of the African Group

Evening Reception hosted by the Government of Switzerland

Delegates attend the evening reception hosted by the Government of Switzerland

Felix Wertli, Switzerland

Bill Murray, Executive Secretary,  Rotterdam Convention - FAO

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions

Around the Venue

Delegates gather for the start of plenary

Delegates meet informally

Delegates from Libya

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions, and Mohammed Khashashneh, Basel Convention COP 13 President

Delegates speak between sessions

A 'Toxic Toy Store' highlighting the range of childrens' toys that contain toxic substances

Participants