Overview
The PCB Elimination Network (PEN) was established by the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention at its fourth meeting in 2009 through decision SC-4/9. Following decision SC-5/7 of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2011, the leadership and implementation of the PEN was transferred to the Chemicals and Health Branch of the UN Environment Programme.
Efforts to manage PCB in an environmentally sound manner are already under way. Donor countries and financial institutions, holders of PCB, non-governmental organizations, and Intergovernmental Organisations all provide support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to manage PCB oils and contaminated equipment. However, there is a lack of global coordination and even linkages at the regional level. The PEN seeks to close this gap by facilitating information exchange, providing targeted assistance, and developing guidance materials.
For more information, please visit the website of the UN Environment on PCB and on PCB Elimination Network.
Terms of reference of the PEN
The PCB Elimination Network (PEN) is established to promote and encourage the environmentally sound management of PCB with a view to attaining the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention with respect to PCB. The PEN operates according to the following principles:
- The PEN members support the environmentally sound management of PCB as prescribed by the Basel Convention “Technical Guidelines on the Environmentally Sound Management of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Persistent Organic Pollutant Wastes” while striving to achieve the phase out goals of the Stockholm Convention;
- The PEN is a multi-stakeholder mechanism for the exchange of information and the implementation of coordinated activities targeted to the elimination of the use of PCB, and is intended to foster transparency and openness between all sectors;
- The PEN is intended to catalyze new initiatives and provide support for ongoing activities to achieve the environmentally sound management of PCB and their phase out, while avoiding duplication of effort.
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| Terms of Reference of the PEN |
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| Brochure “PCB: Forgotten Legacy?” |
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Brief history of the PEN
- At COP-4 in 2009, by decision SC-4/5, the COP endorsed the proposal by the Secretariat for the establishment of a PCB Elimination Network (PEN), as described in UNEP/POPS/COP.4/9/Rev.1, and urged Parties to become members of the PEN.
- At COP-5 in 2011, by decision SC-5/7, the COP took note of the Secretariat’s report on progress in establishing the PEN (UNEP/POPS/COP.5/9) and requested the Secretariat to facilitate a transition of the leadership of the PEN from the Secretariat to one or more UN agencies whose mandate is better suited to the implementation of the PEN.
- At COP-6 in 2013, by decision SC-6/6, the COP welcomed the decision by the UNEP to accept the leadership of the PEN and took note of the report by the UNEP on the progress in the implementation of the PEN (UNEP/POPS/COP.6/INF/5).
- At COP-7 in 2015, by decision SC-7/5, the COP took note of the report by the UNEP on progress in the implementation of the PEN (UNEP/POPS/COP.7/INF/10) as well as the preliminary assessment of efforts made towards the elimination of PCB developed by the UNEP in cooperation with the Secretariat and in consultation with the advisory committee of the PEN (UNEP/POPS/COP.7/INF/9).
- At COP-8 in 2017, by decision SC-8/3, the COP took note of the report by the UNEP on progress in the implementation of the PEN (UNEP/POPS/COP.8/INF/11) as well as the consolidated assessment of efforts made towards the elimination of PCB (UNEP/POPS/COP.8/INF/10.
- At COP-9 in 2019, by decision SC-9/3, the COP took note of the report by the UNEP on progress in the implementation of the PEN (UNEP/POPS/COP.9/INF/11) as well as the report on progress towards the elimination of PCB (UNEP/POPS/COP.9/INF/10).