26 Jan 2016
10:00–12:15

Lieu: NULL

Organisation: Geneva Environment Network

Senior representatives from UNEP and from the various chemical and waste-related Conventions administrated by UNEP, took place in a briefing focusing on preparations of major upcoming negotiations related to chemicals and waste organized by the Geneva Environment Network Secretariat on Tuesday 26 January 2016, at the Internaitonal Environment House.

The event addressed the preparation of the seventh session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee on mercury (INC7), to be held from 10 to 15 March 2016 in Jordan, with regional consultations on 9 March 2016, The head of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Jacob Duer, thanked INC7 donor countries (USA, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Japan, Norway, Belgium, Canada, EU) and the host: Jordan for their support in the preparation of this major upcoming negotiation.

Achim Halpaap, heading the UNEP Chemicals and Waste Branch mentioned that the Minamata Convention on Mercury Secretariat was collaborating closely with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat and building on their learned lessons.

Upcoming activities and challenges faced by the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions were also presented by the Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Conventions, and David Ogden, chief of the conventions operation branch . These will include the tenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention, to be held in Nairobi from 30 May to 2 June 2016, and the twelfth meeting of the Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee, to be also held in Nairobi, from 4 June to 6 June 2016.

An update was also provided on the preparation of chemicals and waste-related inputs to the Second Meeting of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2), the sound management of chemicals and waste in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) context and the planning of the second edition of the Global Chemicals Outlook.

The UNEP Chemicals and Waste Branch will host a meeting to discuss sound management of chemicals and waste in the SDGs context in Geneva, from 11 to 13 April 2016 and a back to back meeting to review the preparation of the second edition of the Global Chemicals Outlook, from 13-14 April 2016. UNEP is collaborating closely with various other organizations for the preparation of these two meetings and their outcomes.

The adoption of the SDGs and its recognition of sound management of chemicals for sustainable development, as well as the outcome of ICCM4 and its decision to advance a post 2020 SAICM agenda, have created a window of opportunity to shape the future of global chemicals management within the context of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. With the goal to be forward looking and policy relevant, the Global Chemicals Outlook is expected to capture the state of scientific, management and policy knowledge relevant for an effective chemicals management and to support policy makers and key stakeholders in their search to shape a post 2020 global approach to chemicals management.

Agenda

Welcome and Introduction
Achim HALPAAP, Head, Chemicals and Waste Branch, UNEP

Preparations for INC7
Jacob DUER, Principal Coordinator, Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and SAICM Secretariat
Sheila LOGAN, Programme Officer, Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention

Update on Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions upcoming meetings
Rolph PAYET, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat
David OGDEN, Chief, Conventions Operations Branch, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat 

Sound management of chemicals and waste in the SDGs context
Kaj MADSEN, Senior Programme Officer, Chemicals and Waste Branch, UNEP

Preparation of the second edition of the Global Chemicals Outlook
Pierre QUIBLIER, Programme Officer, Chemicals and Waste Branch, UNEP

Discussion

Following questions and remarks by Jordan, Romania, Switerland, Uruguay, CIEL, the speakers provided additional information on various topics.

More information and documents

Links:

UNEP Chemicals and Waste Branch

Minamata Convention

Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/einvitation_26_january_2016.pdf

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/gen_briefing_to_pm_26_01_16_inc7_final.pdf

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/brs_mtgs_for_pm_briefing_26_january_2016.pdf

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/unep_brief_on_regional_strengthening-brs_secretariat.pdf

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/pierre_quiblier_.pdf