Événement Réunion d'organe d'administration
First International Conference 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 Centre. This Conference marks a critical moment for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste since the adoption of the Framework at the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management ICCM5. The Conference will be preceded by briefings and regional meetings on 15 November 2026.
About the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC IC-1)
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.
Marking a critical moment for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste since the adoption of the Framework at the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management ICCM5, IC-1 brings together decision-makers and practitioners from across borders and sectors, the Conference will feature a high-level leadership dialogue alongside technical and multi-stakeholder dialogues. It will create space to engage directly on priorities, challenges, and solutions, from policy and regulation to innovation, finance, and implementation across value chains.
- Tracking progress | Advancing the adoption of indicators and approaches to track global progress, strengthen accountability, and inform future policy and investment decisions.
- Accelerating action | Identifying practical solutions and scalable approaches to implement the Global Framework on Chemicals across high-impact sectors and value chains, from production and use to waste management.
- Investing for impact | Unlocking finance, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration to drive impact at national, regional, and global levels.
The Global Framework on Chemicals provides the foundation for a future in which humanity benefits from chemicals in a safe and sustainable way. Its five strategic objectives and 28 targets guide countries and stakeholders to address the full lifecycle of chemicals, including products and waste, while preventing harmful impacts on human health and the environment.
Schedule
15 November 2026
- Bureau Meeting | 10:00 – 13:00 CET
- GFC Focal Point Spotlight | 13:00 – 14:30 CET
- Youth Forum | 13:00 – 18:00 CET
- Regional and Sectoral Meetings | 15:00 – 18:00 CET
16 November 2026
- Bureau Meeting | 08:00 – 09:00 CET
- Regional and Sectoral Meetings | 09:00 – 10:00 CET
- Opening Plenary | 10:00 – 13:00 CET | Room D
- Youth Forum | 13:00 – 18:00 CET | Room A
- Advancing Safer Chemical Management in the Electronics Sector | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room B
- Weaving GFC Action into the Textile Value Chain | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room C
- Plenary | 15:00 – 18:00 CET | Room D
- Fashion for the Future Showcase | 17:15 – 18:15 CET | Room B
- From Personal Care to Planetary Care: Building Safer and Sustainable Cosmetics Value Chain | 17:15 – 18:15 CET | Room C
- Possible Contact Groups | 19:00 – 23:00 CET
17 November 2026
- Bureau Meeting | 08:00 – 09:00 CET
- Regional and Sectoral Meetings | 09:00 – 10:00 CET
- Dialogue on the Implementation Programmes | 10:00 – 13:00 CET | Room A
- Plenary | 10:00 – 13:00 CET | Room D
- Labour Forum: Accelerating action in the World of Work | 13:00 – 15:00 CET | Room B
- Health and Chemicals Forum | 13:00 – 18:00 CET | Room A
- Possible Contact Group | 13:45 – 14:45 CET
- Building Momentum – Accelerating Chemicals and Waste Management in the Construction Sector | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room C
- Possible Contact Group | 15:00 – 18:00 CET
- Stronger Together: Operationalizing the Global Framework on Chemicals’ Multisectoral and Multistakeholder Approach | 18:00 – 19:00 CET | Room C
- Unlocking the Full Potential of Chemistry: the future of Green and Sustainable Chemistry | 18:00 – 19:00 CET | Room B
- Possible Contact Group | 19:00 – 23:00 CET
18 November 2026
- Bureau Meeting | 08:00 – 09:00 CET
- Regional and Sectoral Meetings | 09:00 – 10:00 CET
- Plenary | 10:00 – 10:30 CET | Room D
- Possible Contact Group | 10:30 – 13:00 CET
- Possible Contact Group | 13:15 – 14:45 CET
- Transforming Healthcare Value Chains: From Commitment to Impact | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room B
- Transparency and Footprinting | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room C
- High-Level Dialogue – Themed Conversations (open session) | 15:00 – 18:00 CET | Room A
- Capacity Building for legislative systems – focus on the GHS | 18:00 – 19:00 CET | Room C
- Science for Delivering the Global Framework on Chemicals: Priorities | 18:00 – 19:00 CET | Room B
- Possible Contact Group | 19:00 – 23:00 CET
19 November 2026
- Bureau Meeting | 08:00 – 09:00 CET
- Regional and Sectoral Meetings | 09:00 – 10:00 CET
- Plenary | 10:00 – 10:30 CET | Room D
- Possible Contact Group | 10:30 – 13:00 CET
- High-Level Dialogue – Roundtable discussions (closed session) | 10:00 – 13:00 CET | InterContinental
- Possible Contact Group | 13:15 – 14:45 CET
- Benefits of Action | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room C
- Financing GFC Implementation | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Room B
- Plenary | 15:00 – 18:00 CET | Room D
- « Investing for Impact » in Action | 18:00 – 19:00 CET | Room C
- Spotlight on the GEF | 18:00 – 19:00 CET | Room B
- Possible Contact Group | 19:00 – 23:00 CET
Friday, 20 November 2026
- Expert Dialogue on Chemicals Action for Children’s Health | 13:00 – 15:00 CET | Room A
- Possible Contact Group | 13:15 – 14:45 CET
- Closing Plenary | 15:00 – 18:00 CET | Room D
Provisional Agenda
- Opening of the session.
- Organizational matters:
(a) Adoption of the agenda;
(b) Organization of work;
(c) Election of officers. - Representation, credentials, and accreditation of representatives.
- Global Framework on Chemicals – tracking progress:
(a) Update on implementation of the resolutions adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management at its fifth session;
(b) Overview of progress towards the strategic objectives and targets and of gaps in progress;
(c) Measurability structure and indicators. - Global Framework on Chemicals – accelerating action:
(a) Issues of concern;
(b) Implementation arrangements, national focal points and capacity-building;
(c) Gender Action Plan. - Global Framework on Chemicals – investing for impact:
(a) Finance and investment:
(i) Opportunities for unlocking financing and shaping investment;
(ii) Harnessing the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund for further impact – review of the terms of reference of the Fund;
(iii) Leveraging the Global Environment Facility;
(b) Programme of work, budget and options for a sustainable secretariat. - Dates and venue of the second session of the International Conference.
- Other matters.
- Adoption of the report of the session.
- Closure of the session.
Documents
Working Documents
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/1 – Provisional agenda | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/1/Add.1 – Annotated provisional agenda | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/2 – Tracking progress: update on implementation of the resolutions adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management at its fifth session | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/3 – Tracking progress: indicative overview of progress under the Global Framework on Chemicals | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/4 – Tracking progress: measurability structure and indicators of the Global Framework on Chemicals | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/5 – Accelerating action: new and existing issues of concern | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/6 – Accelerating action: implementation arrangements, national focal points and capacity-building | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/7 – Accelerating action: mainstreaming a gender perspective and promoting gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls in chemicals and waste management | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/8 – Investing for impact: finance and investment | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/9 – Programme of work, staffing and budget | ربي | 中文版 | English | Français | Русский | Español
Information Documents
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF.1 – Scenario note for the first session of the International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/2 – Strengthening health surveillance systems for chemicals
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/3 – Tracking progress: indicative overview of progress under the Global Framework on Chemicals – supplementary information
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/4 – Tracking progress: measurability structure and indicators of the Global Framework on Chemicals – supplementary information
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/5 – Accelerating action: new nominations of issues of concern – supplementary information
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/6 – Accelerating Action: Implementation arrangements, national focal points and capacity-building – supplementary information
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/7 – Investing for impact: finance and investment – supplementary information
- UNEP/GFC/IC.1/INF/8 – Analysis of options to support the long-term financial sustainability of the Global Framework on Chemical
Road to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals Series
Member States have adopted agreements that set common goals and targets to tackle the triple planetary crisis, including the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (GFC), adopted in Bonn in September 2023 and supported by a Secretariat hosted in Geneva. This Framework provides the essential building blocks for a future in which humanity benefits from chemicals in a safe and sustainable manner, while avoiding their negative impacts.
In preparation to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals, to be held in Geneva from 16 to 20 November 2026, the Global Framework on Chemicals secretariat and the Geneva Environment Network are hosting a series of events providing an outlook on key aspects of the Conference, offering member states and stakeholders opportunities to share perspectives and expectations.
