Swiss initiative successful: Global waste and chemicals policy boosted
Bern, 25.02.2010 - The three global conventions on chemicals and wastes held their first joint meeting in Bali from 22 to 24 February 2010. Taking Switzerland’s lead, the parties to the conventions decided to appoint a joint head of the three convention secretariats in Geneva.
International environmental conventions normally hold separate meetings. Now, with the goal - prompted by Switzerland - of cooperating more closely on wastes and chemicals, the parties to the Rotterdam, Stockholm and Basel Conventions (see Box) have convened jointly for the first time.
Switzerland had launched the process of intensified cooperation in 2006 when it suggested that the secretariats of the three conventions, all of which are seated in Geneva, should have a joint head. This makes it easier to harness synergies and streamline the conventions' work.
The parties to the three conventions, meeting in Bali, followed the Swiss proposal on 24 February 2010. They have resolved to centralise management of the secretariats and appoint a person to the position of joint head.
BOX:
Three global conventions on chemicals and wastes
Several international regimes and instruments designed to ensure the responsible management of hazardous chemicals and wastes have been established in recent decades. Their ultimate objective is to safeguard human health and environmental quality. In particular, three global conventions have been negotiated and have entered into force, all with secretariats in Geneva:
- the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal;
- the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (also known as the PIC Convention);
- the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (also known as the POPs Convention).
Address for enquiries
Franz Perrez, Deputy Head of the International Affairs Division, FOEN, tel. +41 79 251 90 15 (please note time difference of +7 hours)
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
