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Chemical and waste pollution is a global threat and requires global action. The size of the global chemical industry exceeded $5 trillion in 2017 and is expected to double by 2030, as shown in the 2019 World Chemicals Outlook II published by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). It has been. Consumption and production are increasing rapidly. In emerging countries. Global supply chains and trade in chemicals and products are becoming increasingly complex. A similar trend applies to waste generation.
Scientific research has been and is being conducted to understand the impact of increased production, diversification, and management of chemicals and waste. However, international policymakers do not yet have a global mechanism to keep them informed about the latest scientific evidence, limiting their ability to identify and respond to these threats in a timely manner.
Minimizing the negative impacts of chemicals and waste requires urgent and ambitious efforts and requires action at all levels. This includes strengthening the science-policy interface through increased collaboration between scientists and decision-makers.
Effectively addressing the triple planetary crisis involving climate, biodiversity, chemicals and pollution requires international science-based assessments to address such threats. Two of these are institutions that already have a scientific basis and are fully committed to developing the science needed to address them: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Biodiversity Council. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Gender and Ecosystem Services.
Therefore, in March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly, at its resumed fifth session (UNEA-5.2), should establish a Science and Policy Committee to further contribute to the sound management and pollution prevention of chemicals and waste. It was decided that
The establishment of a Science Policy Panel will help strengthen the scientific basis for policies related to chemical and waste management, making them more effective and sustainable to prevent pollution and protect human health and the environment. You can contribute to the approach.
The committee can provide scientific expertise and guidance to policymakers on identifying, assessing, and managing hazardous chemicals and wastes, as well as developing strategies to prevent pollution. It also helps policy makers identify and prioritize areas for research and development, making it easier to translate scientific knowledge into policy recommendations. This helps ensure that policies related to chemicals and waste management are based on sound science and take into account the diverse perspectives and interests of stakeholders.
Such committees will also be responsible for implementing multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant international instruments, promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste, and addressing pollution by providing policy-relevant scientific advice on issues. We can also support efforts by countries to take action, such as addressing the It can also further support the activities of relevant multilateral agreements, other international instruments and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
UNEA, through resolution 5/8, convened an ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) to prepare a proposal to the Science Policy Committee, subject to the availability of resources, with the following goals in 2022: It was further decided to start work. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
UNEA resolution 5/8 decided to convene an ad hoc liberal working group to prepare a proposal to the Science Policy Committee. His first two sessions of OEWG were held in Bangkok and Nairobi in 2023. The third session will be held in June 2024 in Geneva.
OEWG 3
The third session of the Extraordinary Open Working Group (OEWG 3) to prepare proposals to the Science and Policy Committee to further contribute to the sound management and pollution prevention of chemicals and waste was held at the International Conference Center in London. It will be held atFrom Geneva (CICG) From June 17th to 21st, 2024. This meeting will be preceded by an informal, regional and stakeholder consultation on 16 June 2024.
At its third meeting, the Working Group will conclude a substantive discussion on the proposed establishment of a Science Policy Committee, including the issues outlined in paragraphs 5 and 6 of UNEA resolution 5/8.
OEWG 2
of 2nd meeting of OEWG was held in person at the United Nations Environment Program Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11 to 15 December 2023.
- Member States have made significant progress. Following extensive discussions on institutional arrangements, operating principles, conflicts of interest, and other work-related processes and procedures, Member States now have a better idea of the structure of the future document and are looking forward to the scheduled final meeting. We agreed on a clear roadmap for intersessional work towards this goal. It is scheduled to be held in Geneva in June 2024.
- In his closing statement, President Gudi Alkemade said that the meeting laid the foundations for fulfilling this establishment commitment through the adoption of resolution UNEA resolution 5/8 at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). He emphasized that. Science Policy Panel.
OEWG 1
The first OEWG session was held in two parts. The first part of the session (OEWG 1.1) will be held in Nairobi on October 6, 2022 in a hybrid format with online participation, and the resumed first session (OEWG 1.2) will be held from January 30 to February 3, 2023. It was held in Bangkok until today.
- The Extraordinary Freedom Working Group agreed to establish a contact group on the organization of the OEWG’s work.Contact groups were required to:
- Agree on the possible dates, format and location of the working group’s second and third sessions. He identifies important issues to consider in the second, and if necessary, third session.
- Provide clear guidance to the Secretariat on intersessional work to be carried out prior to the second session.
- It aims to take into account the results of the contact group on the scope and main functions of the Science Policy Panel and to prepare a draft decision to guide the Secretariat in the organization of the work of special independent research. group.
- The guidance should be on the preparation of a document for the second session, taking into account deliberations within the contact group on the scope and main functions of the panel. Organization of intersessional consultations, including the main topics to be addressed. Organization of webinars and events with the main topics to be covered. and other main activities to be carried out, such as research and other activities proposed in document UNEP/SPP-CWP/OEWG.1/6. The contact group will be co-chaired by Jinhui Li (China) and Ana Berejiani (Georgia).
The webinar and hybrid event, co-organized by the OEWG Secretariat and the Geneva Environmental Network, will build bridges between stakeholders, foster cooperation and knowledge sharing, and discuss OEWG’s preparation of a proposal for the establishment of an Environmental Network. The aim is to increase public awareness of. panel.
event


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