Event Conference
Health and Chemicals Forum | GFC IC1
17 Nov 2026
13:15 – 18:00
Venue: CICG | Room A & Online | Zoom
Organization: Food Packaging Forum, NYU Langone Health Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards, Health Care Without Harm, Geneva Environment Network
The Health and Chemicals Forum takes place as part of the First International Conference (IC1) of the Global Framework on Chemicals and will convene diverse stakeholders to strengthen the integration of health into chemicals management. It will focus on tracking health-related progress, accelerating practical action to prevent harmful chemical exposures, and mobilizing investment in safer and more sustainable solutions. Short expert inputs and facilitated panel discussions will support the identification of shared priorities, partnerships, and next steps for achieving the targets set out within the Global Framework on Chemicals.
About this Event
The Health and Chemicals Forum will convene diverse stakeholders to strengthen the integration of health into chemicals management. It will focus on tracking health-related progress, accelerating practical action to prevent harmful chemical exposures, and mobilizing investment in safer and more sustainable solutions. Short expert inputs and facilitated panel discussions will support the identification of shared priorities, partnerships, and next steps for achieving the targets set out within the Global Framework on Chemicals.
The Forum is being co-convened by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation and the NYU Langone Health Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards with support from Health Care Without Harm and Geneva Environment Network.
About the First International Conference (IC1) of the Global Framework on Chemicals
The First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals will take place from 16 to 20 November 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Center.
The international conference will feature a high-level segment, bringing together governments, industry, companies, and non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste.
Part 1 | 13:15–15:00 CET
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Jane MUNCKE
Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Leonardo TRASANDE
Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Andrea ROTHER
University of Cape Town, World Federation of Public, Health Associations (WFPHA), and GFC Bureau
Miriam G. MEDEL GARCIA
Head, Environment Team, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Maria NEIRA
Former Vice Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs, Spain
Camille ETIENNE
Projet NK
Jacqueline ALVAREZ
Chief, Chemicals and Health Branch, UNEP
Chemical Simplification
Martin SCHERINGER
Board Member, International Panel on Chemical Pollution
Biomonitoring, Epidemiology, and Monitoring
Roel VERMEULEN
Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Science, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University
Science for Policy – Challenges and Needs
Laura VANDENBERG
Associate Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost for Research & Engagement | Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Panel
Jane MUNCKE
Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Laura VANDENBERG
Associate Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost for Research & Engagement | Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Leonardo TRASANDE
Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Martin SCHERINGER
Board Member, International Panel on Chemical Pollution
Part 2 | 15:00–18:00 CET
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Jane MUNCKE
Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Leonardo TRASANDE
Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Chemicals and Health in the GFC
Björn BEELER
Executive Director and International Coordinator, IPEN
Rico EURIPIDOU
groundWork SA and Health Care Without Harm
Monitoring Infectious Disease Risks
Joacim ROCKLÖV
Alexander von Humboldt Professor, University of Heidelberg
Better Chemical Testing Using New Approach Methodologies
Beate ESCHER
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Panel Discussion | Awareness for Chemicals in the Health Care Sector
Leonardo TRASANDE
Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Ludwig L. ALBORNOZ
Hospital Mayor Méderi and Universidad del Rosario
Michelle REYES
Sustainability Officer, Health Care Without Harm
Tobias KISS
Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich/Deutsches Museum
Tomáš HRAŠKO
Affiliated Physicians, Physicians for the Environment Switzerland (AefU)
Virunya BHAT
Technical Officer, Chemicals, Radiation and Health Unit, Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration, World Health Organization
Panel Discussion | Innovation, Implementation and Communication
Jane MUNCKE
Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Bethanie CARNEY ALMROTH
UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights
Hans-Dietrich RECKHAUS
Founder & CEO, Insect Respect
John PETERSON MYERS
Founder, SUDOC
Susanne BRANDER
Project Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Safer Chemicals Project
Synthesis and Closing
Andrea ROTHER
University of Cape Town, World Federation of Public, Health Associations (WFPHA), and GFC Bureau
Jane MUNCKE
Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Leonardo TRASANDE
Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Participation
The meeting is open to all participants registered for the GFC IC1. To attend online, kindly register on Zoom.
Video
GEN @ GFC IC1
The Geneva Environment Network Secretariat is co-organizing and supporting various sessions.
Opening Ceremony of the Action and Partnership Hub
16 November 2026 | 13:30 – 14:00 CET
Action and Partnership Hub Stage
Science for Delivering the Global Framework on Chemicals: Priorities for Action and the Role of the ISP-CWP | GFC-IC1 Spotlight Event
18 November 2026 | 18:00 – 18:50 CET
CICG, Room B
How the Right to a Healthy Environment Can Inform Decision-Making on Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste | GFC IC1 Interactive Dialogue
19 November 2026 | 14:30 – 15:30 CET
CICG | Club l’Esprit de Genève
Geneva Environment Network Booth @ First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals (IC1)
The Multilateral Geneva Advancing Action for a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste Booth will showcase the work conducted by actors and organizations in Geneva to raise awareness and foster action in the chemicals cluster.