Marine Plastic litter, and moreā€¦

06/05/2017

#chemicals & waste #POPs #plastic #microplastic #Stockholm Convention #Basel Convention #Rotterdam Convention #SDGs #sustainable development

Meetings of the COPs to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions 2017

The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-13), the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-8) and the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-8) were held back to back from 24 April to 5 May 2017 in Geneva. Under the theme "A future detoxified: sound management of chemicals and waste", the meetings also featured a high-level segment.

The meetings, attended by about 1,400 participants, as well as 80 Ministers, from 170 countries, adopted more than 60 separate decisions, including six identical ones for the three meetings on: International cooperation and coordination, enhancing cooperation and coordination among the three conventions, clearing-house mechanism for information exchange, mainstreaming gender, synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes, and "from science to action".

Led by Norway, triple COPs adopted its first ever resolution on marine plastic litter and microplastics, encouraging "interested regional and subregional centres to work, under the Convention, on the impact of plastic waste, marine plastic litter, microplastic, and measures for prevention and ESM". This is echoing the calling from the corresponding UNEA2 resolution. It is also demonstrating parties' determination to tackle this urgent global issue of concern and to fulfil their commitment to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Association 3 Herissons will pay special attention towards the development of this specific agenda item among other issues.

Please refer to the convention official website and ENB report webpage for more details.

One last word, for readers have a special interest on Stockholm Convention, the secretariat prepared a very easy-understanding guide document to the Stockholm Convention on POPs.