All activities

To help rid the world of Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs, Pakistan updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Addressing amendments made at COPs 4, 5, and 6, Pakistan has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan.

To help rid the world of Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs, Pakistan updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

To help rid the world of Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs, Pakistan updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
First meeting of the new UN Plastic Waste Partnership takes place in the Seychelles

Less than a year after its establishment, the new Plastic Waste Partnership of the Basel Convention meets for the first time at Beau Vallon, the Seychelles, from 2 to 5 March 2020.

First meeting of the new UN Plastic Waste Partnership takes place in the Seychelles

First meeting of the new UN Plastic Waste Partnership takes place in the Seychelles
 
Outcomes online of the Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee, 15th meeting

The final version of the POPRC-15 meeting report and decisions taken is now available in all 6 United Nations languages.

Outcomes online of the Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee, 15th meeting

Outcomes online of the Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee, 15th meeting
 
Accession of Equatorial Guinea takes the number of Parties to the Stockholm Convention to 184

The Convention will enter into force for Equatorial Guinea on 23 March 2020.

Accession of Equatorial Guinea takes the number of Parties to the Stockholm Convention to 184

Accession of Equatorial Guinea takes the number of Parties to the Stockholm Convention to 184
 
Final Report of the Stockholm Convention’s COP-9 is now online

The report of the ninth meeting of the Conference of Parties is now available online in all six official UN languages.

Final Report of the Stockholm Convention’s COP-9 is now online

Final Report of the Stockholm Convention’s COP-9 is now online
 
Panama updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

To help rid the world of persistent organic pollutants or POPs, Panama has transmitted an updated implementation plan covering amendments made at COPs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9.

Panama updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Panama updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
Cyprus updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Reflecting amendments made at COPs 6, 7, 8 & 9, Cyprus has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan.

Cyprus updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Cyprus updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
New BRS project launched on plastic waste in mountainous and remote areas

International Mountains Day 2019 marked by a special event in Geneva on 11 December, coinciding with the launch of a new project to help tackle plastic pollution, funded by Norway. Read the BRS Press Release.

New BRS project launched on plastic waste in mountainous and remote areas

New BRS project launched on plastic waste in mountainous and remote areas
 
Guatemala updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Reflecting amendments made at COPs 4, 5, and 6, Guatemala has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan.

Guatemala updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Guatemala updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
Malawi updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Reflecting amendments made at COPs 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, Malawi has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan.

Malawi updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Malawi updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
Spain updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Reflecting amendments made at COPs 6, 7, & 8, Spain has transmitted an updated National.

Spain updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Spain updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
First online consultation for working group of the new Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership

Hot on the heels of the PWP launch in Geneva on 12 November, the first online consultation takes place on 13 November, chaired by the Co-Chairs, Mr. Ole Thomas Thommesen (Norway) and Mr. Ross Bartley (BIC).

First online consultation for working group of the new Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership

First online consultation for working group of the new Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership
 
New BRS Press Release: Stockholm Convention POPRC experts recommend elimination of PFHxS

Perfluorohehexane sulfonic acid, its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds, were recommended for listing without exceptions as the POPRC-15 meeting in Rome concluded successfully on 4 October 2019.

New BRS Press Release: Stockholm Convention POPRC experts recommend elimination of PFHxS

New BRS Press Release: Stockholm Convention POPRC experts recommend elimination of PFHxS

Rome & Geneva, 4th October - This week more than 100 scientific experts, from all over the world, attended the 15th meeting of the Stockholm Convention’s Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-15), in Rome under the auspices of the United Nations, and recommended that a group of hazardous chemicals be eliminated in order to better protect human health and the environment from its harmful impacts.

Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds are a group of industrial chemicals used widely in a number of consumer goods as a surfactant and sealant including in carpets, leather, clothing, textiles, fire-fighting foams, papermaking, printing inks and non-stick cookware. They are known to be harmful to human health including the nervous system, brain development, endocrine system and thyroid hormone.

The experts also found that two more hazardous chemicals satisfy the criteria set out in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), namely that they are toxic to both humans and wildlife, that they persist over long periods in the environment, that they accumulate in organisms, and that when released they can be transported over long distances by air or water. Dechlorane Plus and Methoxychlor will therefore go forward to the next POPRC meeting in 2020 for further review and, taking into account any recommendation from the POPRC, a future meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention may decide to list these chemicals, which would lead to action towards their elimination or reduction from production and use as well as the destruction of existing stocks and management of POPs wastes.

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm Convention, said that “This recommendation is based on robust scientific review from experts all over the world who have concluded that listing of PFHxS in the Stockholm Convention would lead to a safer environment, with fewer harmful impacts on the health of humans and wildlife alike.”

Quick on the heels of the recent meeting of the Stockholm Convention COP in May 2019, which - based on recommendations from the POPRC - decided to eliminate production and use of two important toxic POPs, PFOA and Dicofol, this further recommendation to eliminate PFHxS would bring to 31 the total number of POPs listed under the legally-binding Stockholm Convention, which includes thousands of related chemicals. The Convention, which entered into force in 2004 and has 183 Parties, benefits from almost universal coverage across the globe.

Notes for Editors:

PFHxS

PFHxS, its salts and related compounds have unique properties with a high resistance to friction, heat, chemical agents, low surface energy and are used as a water, grease, oil and soil repellent. It is widely utilized in a variety of consumer goods such as carpets, leather, apparel, textiles, firefighting foam, papermaking, printing inks, sealants, and non-stick cookware. PFHxS concentrations are found in biota and humans alike and its elimination takes approximately 8 years. Effects of PFHxS in humans are found to influence the nervous system, brain development, endocrine system and thyroid hormone. For more on PFHxS see: https://chm.pops.int/?tabid=243

POPs and the Stockholm Convention

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) can lead to serious health effects including certain cancers, birth defects, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease and damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. Given that these chemicals can be transported over long distances, no one government acting alone can protect its citizens or its environment from POPs. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, is a global treaty requiring its Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.

For more information on the Stockholm Convention, POPs, and POPRC: www.chm.pops.int

For more info:

Technical contact:
Kei Woodall Ohno,
BRS Secretariat;
email: kei.woodall@brsmeas.org
tel: +41-22-9178201

Press contact:
Charlie Avis,
BRS Secretariat
email: Charles.avis@brsmeas.org
tel: +41-79-7304495

Trinidad & Tobago updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Reflecting amendments made at COP-6, COP-7 and COP-8, Trinidad & Tobago has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan or NIP.

Trinidad & Tobago updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Trinidad & Tobago updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
To rid the world of POPs, Suriname updates its plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

The new National Implementation Plan addresses amendments made at COP-4, COP-5, COP-6 and COP-7 and is available online.

To rid the world of POPs, Suriname updates its plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

To rid the world of POPs, Suriname updates its plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
The Basel Convention’s new Plastic Waste Partnership seeks members

The BRS Secretariat is now seeking partners to mobilise business, government, international organisation, academic and civil society interests and expertise on the environmentally sound management – including prevention and minimisation – of plastic waste. The deadline for expressing interest is 31 August 2019.

The Basel Convention’s new Plastic Waste Partnership seeks members

The Basel Convention’s new Plastic Waste Partnership seeks members
 
Meeting report from the recent Stockholm Convention COP now available

The advance English version of the meeting report of the recent COP-9 meeting is now accessible.

Meeting report from the recent Stockholm Convention COP now available

Meeting report from the recent Stockholm Convention COP now available
 
To rid the world of POPs and beat pollution, Sierra Leone has updated its plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Sierra Leone has transmitted its updated National Implementation Plan, or NIP, addressing amendments made at COPs 4, 5, and 6.

To rid the world of POPs and beat pollution, Sierra Leone has updated its plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

To rid the world of POPs and beat pollution, Sierra Leone has updated its plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
Follow-up to recent Stockholm Convention COP decisions on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including on actions related to PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds

Parties and observers are kindly invited to respond to requests from the recent COP-19, for follow-up to the decisions taken by Parties in Geneva, in May.

Follow-up to recent Stockholm Convention COP decisions on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including on actions related to PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds

Follow-up to recent Stockholm Convention COP decisions on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including on actions related to PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds
 
Funding support available for sound management of chemicals and waste

The French government’s new fund supports activities in support of the global chemicals conventions in developing countries, and has a deadline for project proposals of 4 October 2019.

Funding support available for sound management of chemicals and waste

Funding support available for sound management of chemicals and waste
 
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