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Celebrating 35 years of compliance mechanisms under the UNEP-administered MEAs

Held on the margins of the United Nations Environment Programme’s 50th anniversary, the event explored ways of keeping environmental governance effective under the Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

Celebrating 35 years of compliance mechanisms under the UNEP-administered MEAs

Celebrating 35 years of compliance mechanisms under the UNEP-administered MEAs
 
BRS Secretariat Chief speaks at the UNEA-5 Leadership Dialogue with MEAs

Rolph Payet discussed how strengthening action by multilateral environmental agreements can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

BRS Secretariat Chief speaks at the UNEA-5 Leadership Dialogue with MEAs

BRS Secretariat Chief speaks at the UNEA-5 Leadership Dialogue with MEAs
 
UNEP@50: MEAs celebrate 35 years of compliance mechanisms

Join the side event during the special session of the UNEA, co-organized by the eight UNEP-administered Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

UNEP@50: MEAs celebrate 35 years of compliance mechanisms

UNEP@50: MEAs celebrate 35 years of compliance mechanisms
 
All for one and one for all!

Celebrating ten years of collaboration in the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

All for one and one for all!

All for one and one for all!

Celebrating ten years of collaboration in the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

The BRS Secretariat is ten years young today, yet it’s difficult to imagine a time when the missions of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions were not intertwined. From the Basel Convention’s broad mandate to minimize the generation of hazardous and other wastes, ensure their environmentally sound management and control their transboundary movements, to the Rotterdam Convention providing countries with a first line of defence against unwanted imports of hazardous chemicals, and the Stockholm Convention’s work on prohibiting or restricting the production, use, international trade, release and storage of persistent organic pollutants, all three agreements share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment.

The BRS Secretariat is essentially a functional representation of the synergistic relationship that exists between the three Conventions. As Executive Secretary Rolph Payet puts it, “In more ways than one, we serve as the hazardous chemicals and wastes nexus, always working to further enhance international environmental governance and cooperation. I am proud to serve an entity that continues to be the flagship of efforts to improve international environmental governance.

One of the principal functions of the BRS Secretariat is the preparation and management of the BRS Conference of the Parties (BRS COPs), the highest decision-making body under each Convention. Drawing on guidance provided by the Bureaux of the Conferences of the Parties, the Secretariat organises the BRS COPs on a biannual basis. This year will signal the first time that all Parties will have the opportunity to meet again in Geneva since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking what is described by Deputy Executive Secretary Carlos Martin-Novella as an auspicious occasion: “2022 is a milestone year for multilateral cooperation with respect to the environment. The United Nations Environment Programme is turning 50 years old, the international community is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, and the BRS Secretariat is completing a decade of successful work.” The 2022 BRS COPs, which will be held from 7 to 16 June is Geneva, are a great opportunity for world leaders, experts and decisionmakers to meet face-to-face for the first time in the post-pandemic era and agree on new solutions to bring forward positive change in the environmental world.

Having been with the BRS Secretariat since day one, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor Maria Cristina Cardenas has a well-rounded perspective about the ways the Secretariat’s work has been advancing cooperation on global environmental issues over the years. “Considering that the BRS Conventions are not only legally binding but also enjoy nearly universal coverage, decisions taken over these past ten years to address major issues like plastic waste management, toxic chemicals and biopesticides, all have a lasting and substantial effect on all of our lives and the planet”, she remarks.

Such environmental issues certainly don’t exist in a vacuum. The Secretariat provides a platform for their assessment, taking into account scientific as well as socioeconomic considerations, and thereby feeding into the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030. With ten years down and hopefully many more to come, there’s definitely room for more ambition and further progress to be made ahead.

 

Disclaimer: The BRS 10th anniversary refers to the day when all the BRS Secretariats administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (the Basel Convention Secretariat, the Stockholm Convention Secretariat, and half of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat) came under joint management on 18 February 2011.

 

Experts recommend eliminating toxic pesticide methoxychlor, a DDT substitute, as Stockholm Convention POPRC17 meeting concludes in Geneva and online

The 17th meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee also took steps towards the elimination of the plastic additive UV-328 and 4 other toxic chemicals.

Experts recommend eliminating toxic pesticide methoxychlor, a DDT substitute, as Stockholm Convention POPRC17 meeting concludes in Geneva and online

Experts recommend eliminating toxic pesticide methoxychlor, a DDT substitute, as Stockholm Convention POPRC17 meeting concludes in Geneva and online
 
Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee meets for the 17th time, face-to-face in Geneva, 24 to 28 January 2022

At POPRC-17, the Committee considers, inter alia, a draft risk management evaluation on methoxychlor, and draft risk profiles on Dechlorane Plus and on the plastic additive UV-328.

Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee meets for the 17th time, face-to-face in Geneva, 24 to 28 January 2022

Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee meets for the 17th time, face-to-face in Geneva, 24 to 28 January 2022
 
Report of the Stockholm Convention COP-10 (online segment) now available in all UN languages

The report of the 10th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (online segment) is available to view or download in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian.

Report of the Stockholm Convention COP-10 (online segment) now available in all UN languages

Report of the Stockholm Convention COP-10 (online segment) now available in all UN languages
 
Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022

The Executive Secretary and team whish you Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022.

Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022

Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022

The Executive Secretary and team whish you Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2022.

Launch of the Stockholm Convention Electronic Reporting System for 5th reporting cycle

The questionnaire, which has been revised to include reporting on additional chemicals, is now available to Parties through in all six UN official languages. Join one of our webinars on 6 or 8 December to learn more about it!

Launch of the Stockholm Convention Electronic Reporting System for 5th reporting cycle

Launch of the Stockholm Convention Electronic Reporting System for 5th reporting cycle
 
Indonesia updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

To help rid the world of Persistent Organic Pollutants – or POPs – Indoensia has transmitted its updated NIP, addressing amendments made at COP-5, COP-6, COP-7, COP-8 and COP-9.

Indonesia updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

Indonesia updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
To help rid the world of POPs, the European Union has updated its implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention

The new plan incorporates amendments made at the Stockholm Convention’s COP-8 and COP-9, including the listing in Annex A of perfluorooctanoic acis or PFOA.

To help rid the world of POPs, the European Union has updated its implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention

To help rid the world of POPs, the European Union has updated its implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention
 
To help rid the world of POPs, Belize updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

The updated National Implementation Plan or NIP addresses amendments to the Convention made by COPs 4, 5, 6 & 7.

To help rid the world of POPs, Belize updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention

To help rid the world of POPs, Belize updates its national plan for implementing the Stockholm Convention
 
Press Release: Unsound management of chemicals and wastes underpins runaway climate change

As the climate change COP-26 opens in Glasgow, the new BRS Press Release highlights the linkages between chemicals, waste, and climate change.

Press Release: Unsound management of chemicals and wastes underpins runaway climate change

Press Release: Unsound management of chemicals and wastes underpins runaway climate change
 
UN Palais des Nations in Geneva turns green as key climate change talks begin at COP-26, 1 November 2021

Landmark building illuminated by Basel Convention green to highlight links between climate change and chemicals and waste, including plastic waste.

UN Palais des Nations in Geneva turns green as key climate change talks begin at COP-26, 1 November 2021

UN Palais des Nations in Geneva turns green as key climate change talks begin at COP-26, 1 November 2021
 
Grenada becomes the 185th Party to the Stockholm Convention

Stockholm Convention continues to move towards universal coverage as Grenada deposits its instrument of accession, with entry into force on 13 January, 2022.

Grenada becomes the 185th Party to the Stockholm Convention

Grenada becomes the 185th Party to the Stockholm Convention
 
Debate on plastic waste and launch of new BRS Vital Plastic Waste Graphics publication, 21 October 2021

Join online the discussions seeking to move “From Pollution to Solution” and see the new infographics series jointly published by BRS, GRID-Arendal and UNEP.

Debate on plastic waste and launch of new BRS Vital Plastic Waste Graphics publication, 21 October 2021

Debate on plastic waste and launch of new BRS Vital Plastic Waste Graphics publication, 21 October 2021
 
BRS Press Release: The end of DDT?

Historic WHO announcement on a malaria vaccine, and recent recommendations of the Stockholm Convention’s Expert Group, give grounds for optimism that DDT could soon be phased out forever.

BRS Press Release: The end of DDT?

BRS Press Release: The end of DDT?
 
E-waste in the context of a sustainable digital transformation in Africa and in Latin America: webinars 28-30 September 2021

Join these webinars, organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNECE, BRS and other partners, discuss challenges and opportunities offered by a digital transformation.

E-waste in the context of a sustainable digital transformation in Africa and in Latin America: webinars 28-30 September 2021

E-waste in the context of a sustainable digital transformation in Africa and in Latin America: webinars 28-30 September 2021
 
BRS highlights interactions between plastic waste and food through social media campaign

Click to view the new social media cards, produced as a contribution to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, 23 to 24 September, in New York and online.

BRS highlights interactions between plastic waste and food through social media campaign

BRS highlights interactions between plastic waste and food through social media campaign
 
Online Segment of 2021 Triple COPs successfully concludes with key decisions adopted

More than 1,300 representatives from more than 160 countries agree key decisions to keep work towards sound management of chemicals and waste on track.

Online Segment of 2021 Triple COPs successfully concludes with key decisions adopted

Online Segment of 2021 Triple COPs successfully concludes with key decisions adopted
 
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