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A Toxics-Free Future

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Conferences

5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5)

IPEN at UNEA 5.2

Please direct media inquiries to media@ipen.org

Press conference

The hybrid meeting of the fifth United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-5), entitled “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, and its preparatory (the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives – OECPR), will focus on five thematic areas: plastics, nature-based solutions and biodiversity, chemicals, green recovery and circular economy, and organizational and administrative matters. IPEN has sent an international delegation to contribute to the in-person negotiations.

UPDATE: UNEA Outcomes

Under the plastic pollution thematic area, the main focus will be on discussing a mandate to start negotiation of a treaty on plastic. If agreed, the mandate would convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to negotiate a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. Under consideration are three draft resolutions: one proposed by Rwanda and Peru and supported by over 50 countries; another by Japan; and the last one  proposed by India. Details about these proposals and IPEN’s positions can be found in IPEN’s Quick Views on UNEA 5.2.

Under the chemicals thematic area there are 3 resolutions that will be discussed. In our quick views we focus on two resolutions: one on the Science-Policy Panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution and the resolution on Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste. In our quick views and global science policy documents, we outline many specific issues and recommendations, highlighting the need for precautionary action and as well as adequate funding for the sound management of chemicals and waste.

Undoubtedly there is a lot of energy behind a new, ambitious instrument. However, there is still much work to be done on other issues, and increased efforts must be made to urgently address the Emerging Policy Issues and Issues of Concern such as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Highly Hazardous Pesticides and Chemicals in Products.  A coordinated international response to prevent all sources of lead, cadmium, and arsenic exposure before they are allowed to impact human health and pollute the environment would be welcome. A special effort should be on accelerating actions to eliminate lead paint, noting that this goal for 2020 has not yet been met. 

Information about UNEA 5.2

Mercury Treaty COP4

IPENers at Mercury Treaty COP4.2: Shariar Hossain, Yuyun Ismawait, Ziyad Alawneh, Maria Isabel Carcamo, Siddika Sultana, Gilbert Kuepouo

Global mercury pollution has been recognised as a major problem that can only be tackled effectively by international regulation and government cooperation. Mercury is a hazardous neurotoxin that can cause many health problems in humans, and most exposure is caused by dietary impacts such as eating contaminated fish where mercury bioaccumulates. The Minamata Convention on Mercury has been developed as the main international legal instrument to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution with range of controls on trade, emissions, and use of mercury.

The second segment of COP 4 will be held as a face to face meeting from March 21-25 in Bali, Indonesia. Ahead of that meeting, further IPEN policy positions to address agenda items will be posted here. The Bali meeting will see several controversial issues negotiated including determination of waste thresholds to define mercury waste, proposed amendments for rapid phase out of dental amalgam, additions to product annexes and outcomes of the long reports from parties (due for submission December 2021). Reporting is a key issue as it should make transparent which parties are mining, trading, stockpiling, and using mercury, including how they use mercury and manage mercury waste. The first reports had high rates of submission, but the data quality was so poor that the secretariat could not inform the COP of key issues (see IPEN intervention on ‘reporting’). It is hoped that the quality of information provision will improve in the long format reporting due by the end of 2021.

Click here for IPEN's Quick view of this meeting - click here for What Happened at Mercury Treaty COP 4.2

What happened at the Mercury Treaty COP 4.1?

The online meeting for COP 4.1 of the Mercury Treaty was held on the 1st -5th November 2021. The meeting was largely administrative in the sense that only the ‘essential’ agenda items were considered although the full agenda was adopted. The items were considered necessary to allow the Convention to continue functioning or had time-sensitive elements that required attention.

COP 4.1 online prioritised the issues of Budget and Programme of work. Most of the week was dedicated to the contact group on Budget and Programme of work with observers excluded from both the contact group and regional meetings.

The plenary sessions held on the Monday and Wednesday was our only real opportunity to engage with the meeting and interventions were highly limited due to time constraints and technical difficulties. However, we were able to deliver an intervention on reporting (Article 21) on Wednesday. The final plenary session of Friday the 5th November was held mainly in decision making mode again making it virtually impossible to intervene.

Click here for IPEN's Quick view of this meeting

The outcome of the meeting was that the budget was passed, priorities for action on mercury were recommended to the Global Environment Facility (financial mechanism), guidance on reporting was presented, and a proposal for moving forward on effectiveness evaluation of the convention was considered.

The four main topics for the meeting were:

Effectiveness Evaluation

Ongoing debates around several administrative and substantive issues have bogged down progress on effectiveness evaluation since COP 3. The type of indicators required and the structure of the Effectiveness Evaluation (EE) committee and analysis team among them. Norway and Canada have proposed a roadmap forward in Conference Room Paper 1 (CRP1) which was presented early at COP 4.1. Intersessional work on this issue through a party led initiative had assisted to reduce the areas of contention but it is hoped that CRP1 will provide the basis to resolve all remaining issues at COP 4.2. This item has an element of time sensitivity as the COP requires and effectiveness evaluation to be underway by 2023 and if a resolution is not found by the end of the COP 4.2 meeting in Bali in March 2022, then that time frame may be at risk. Norway requested that the secretariat invite written comments and to arrange an online session for parties to exchange views on the framework in CRP1 ahead of COP 4.2.

Programme of work and budget

This was one of the time sensitive agenda items as the budget adopted by COP-3 will expire at the end of 2021 and to ensure continuous funding of the convention the COP 4.1 meeting needed to approve a budget to allow work to continue at COP 4.2 where the 2022 -2023 can be reconsidered in full. The secretariat presented a case that costs had risen for administration of the convention with rising secretariat staffing costs, scientific work to support the convention and funding necessary to support the initiation of the effectiveness evaluation process. A zero-growth budget scenario and an optional 5% nominal increase budget scenario were included in the budget meeting documents with the secretariat indicating that a 5% increase best met the needs of the convention. Sam Adu-Kumi (Ghana) and Reginald Hernaus (Netherlands) co-chaired the contact group on this item which had 200 delegates attend (observers were excluded) and an area of significant debate was the costs around effectiveness evaluation. A decision was taken to approve the budget for the general trust fund for 2022 of USD 3,397,684 million as part of the budget for the biennium 2022−2023. The budget discussions will recommence at COP 4.2. The Executive Secretary was also permitted to draw down on the surplus from the general trust fund the amount of up to USD 500,962 to cover some costs of COP 4.

National reporting

Parties were required to submit short format reports by December 31, 2019 and long format reports by December 31, 2021. While reporting rates for the short format reports were high (89%) the data content of the reports was relatively poor. So much so that the secretariat has not been able to use the information to reliably inform the COP of key issues such as how much mercury has been mined, by whom, where it was traded and for what use. There was also concern that the information did not allow the secretariat to determine which parties had ESM or dedicated treatment facilities for mercury waste. This is critical data that the COP must be informed of to accurately assess the effectiveness of the convention and where to direct resources.

In recognition of the need to improve reporting the secretariat issued further guidance on how to report accurately on the matters required under Article 21 and other matters further determined by the COP. The guidance will not be formally adopted until COP 4.2 but parties were encouraged to trial it to improve reporting quality.

Dates of the Resumed Fourth Meeting of the COP

There were several comments by parties in plenary, when discussing the next segment of COP 4, that the emergency online meeting measures employed during the pandemic should not establish any form of precedent (in operational terms) when face to face meetings resumed. Several parties and regions were concerned that the online format did not allow for full deliberation of issues and was not a suitable format for negotiations on keys decisions.

In particular, countries from the south have been disadvantaged by poor connectivity to online meetings, challenging working hours due to time zone differences and other barriers to participation. IPEN agrees that online engagement has been very problematic for many parties and observers alike and that the face to face meetings should not continue with the restrictions imposed by online meetings.

This will have ongoing significance for COP 4.2 as the host country Indonesia has proposed to have much smaller delegations (for social distancing) limited to 4 delegates per party and an unspecified but limited number of observers. Observers have endured increasingly restricted opportunities to engage with delegates with both regional meetings and contact groups on budget excluding observers at this COP and the previous BRS COP online. This practice should not be permitted to continue once face to face meetings resume. A decision was taken in plenary to proceed with the face to face second segment of the COP 4 in Bali Indonesia, March 21-25, 2022.

Financial mechanism

The financial mechanism of the convention was raised as an agenda item specifically so that there was an ability by parties to give targeted interventions in plenary. These may be forwarded to the meetings considering the GEF 8th replenishment to assist with determining mercury funding priorities. The financial mechanism is much broader than this item and includes issues such as the Specific International Programme for funding capacity building and technology transfer projects. However, given the time constraints of the online meeting the discussion was limited to interventions in plenary by parties seeking to suggest priorities to be considered within the planning stage of the GEF 8th replenishment. No decisions were made on this item.

The Bali Declaration on Combatting Global Illegal Trade of Mercury

There was also a presentation of what Indonesia called a 'political document' which is a draft declaration seeking party cooperation to crack down on illegal mercury trade which is a major problem for parties with ASGM. While the Bali declaration is largely symbolic it does draw attention to the need to act on the illegal mercury trade and it grows and continues to feed the ASGM trade. There will be several consultation sessions on the declaration before COP 4.2. The next consultation round will be 6 November 2021 – 31 January 2022 followed by text consolidation and a further round of consultation on 16 February – 16 March 2022. Final consolidated text will be distributed on 21 March 2022 followed by a Special Brief Session of the Final Consolidated Text: 25 March 2022.

Basel Convention OEWG12

The twelfth meeting of the Basel Convention Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG12) is taking place in a planned two-session approach due to the Covid-19 crisis: an online segment on September 1st - 3d and if possible, a face-to-face meeting in March. Recorded briefings on the set-up from UNEP are available in the UN languages here.

The online session will not take any decisions or negotiate any text but instead will focus on presentations of progress of the intersessional process, such as the various technical guidelines followed by interventions. More information about the online segment and meeting documents is available here and here.

Read IPEN's Interventions

View online side events

IPEN was well represented at the first segment of the 12th Open Ended Working Group of the Basel Convention along with delegates from scores of countries across the globe. The meeting sought to confirm schedules for advancing reviews of key technical guidelines for addressing some of the most critical global pollution issues in the world today including the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes such as plastic, mercury, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The advancement of the technical guidance is to allow their presentation for adoption at COP 15 of the Basel Convention in July 2021.

 IPEN submitted a range of interventions calling for:

  • Lowering of the Low POPs content Levels in the General Guidelines on POPs waste management as levels are currently too high and are allowing the most toxic chemicals on the planet to be recycled into children's toys and to pollute the food chain in low income countries. 
  • Promotion of non-combustion technology for POPs destruction in the same guidelines instead of incineration. Burning POPs waste generates additional forms of POPs such as dioxins and maintains the toxic cycle. Non-combustion technology does not produce these byproducts and is the cleanest technology for POPs waste destruction.
  • Revising the D10 guidance on incineration to make transparent the vast CO2 emissions and dioxin contaminated ash problems with incineration which are contaminating global food chains instead of describing how to build and run a modern incinerator. 
  • Revising the D10  guidance on incineration to include pyrolysis and gasification which are widely known to be incineration technology promoted by the petrochemical industry as a solution to plastic waste pollution, but are completely absent from the guidance leaving parties in the dark about the impacts of these technologies.
  • Aligning the mercury waste guidance of the Basel Convention with the mercury waste guidance of the Minamata Convention to ensure consistency and reduce the ability of mercury waste to escape environmentally sound management.

In the second segment of the online meeting scheduled for the 3rd of September, IPEN will present further interventions on plastic waste which will be uploaded to this site and the Basel Convention website.

IPEN is engaged in the intersessional work for most of the technical working groups and will therefore have a special focus on the agenda items relating to the technical guidelines on:

  • POPs waste guidelines, including determining low POPs content limits
  • Incineration
  • Plastic waste
  • E-waste and the distinction between waste and non-waste
  • Mercury waste

Two other items that IPENers will keep an eye on are

  • Whether the technical guidelines for waste lead-acid batteries should be updated
  • Illegal traffic of waste

IPEN is also engaged in two side-events scheduled for Wednesday, September 2nd

  • E-wastes: Closing the Remaining Loopholes, hosted by the Basel Action Network (BAN)
  • Hidden Dangers in Plastic Waste: The Next Basel Challenge, hosted by a group of NGOs including BAN, GAIA and IPEN

See full side-event schedule and registration here.

 

 

Basel Ban Amendment Guide

Basel Ban Amendment Guide

The Basel Ban Amendment entered into force in December 2019. This guide discusses the implications and next steps related to its implementation.

Weak Controls on European E-waste

Weak Controls: European E-waste Poisons Africa’s Food Chain

Research from IPEN and BAN reveals dire human exposure and food chain contamination from highly toxic plastics in waste in Ghana, including toxic recycled e-waste shipped from Europe.

Mercury Treaty COP3

26 November, 2019

After the day's plenary sessions, IPEN held a well-attended side event on "Mercury Contaminated Sites: guidance, finance and the challenges of ASGM sites." Panelists (IPEN Mercury Policy Advisor Lee Bell; Yuyun Ismawati (Nexus3, Indonesia, and IPEN Lead on ASGM); and Griffins Ochieng (CEJAD, Kenya)) shared information about the reasons that urgent action on contaminated sites is required, the global scale of the problem, sources of contaminated sites, cases of ASGM hotspots in Kenya, economic losses due to mercury, and more. IPEN Heavy Metals Working Group Co-Chair and Director of CREPD (Cameroon), Dr. Gilbert Kuepouo, facilitated the event. Additionally, Arturo Gavilan (Director ofResearch On Contaminants, Wastes And Biosafety, National Institute Of Ecology, Mexican Ministry Of Environment And Natural Resources of Mexico) and Dr. Rocío Millán Gómez from the Environment Department of the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades' Soil Conservation and Recuperation Research Unit (SDr. Rocío Millán Gómez pain), spoke from the floor about their personal experiences related to remediation of mercury contaminated sites.

See the presentations here

IPEN side event panel Hg COP3

Arturo Gavilan

25 November, 2019

IPEN will be delivering interventions on various subjects throughout the COP3 meeting- you can find them on this page. Early IPEN interventions focused on effectiveness evaluation, the amalgam amendment to Annex A, and mercury waste definitions.

Semia Gharbi (AEEFG, Tunisia) giving an intervention about effectiveness evaluation in plenary

25 November, 2019

Today the Mercury Treaty COP3 began. Mr. Koichiro Matsunaga, Minamata Disease Patient, addressed the delegates in plenary during the opening session. In a moving statement, Mr. Matsunaga, who was exposed to mercury in the womb, reminded delegates of the real-life implications of mercury poisoning. Born in 1963, Mr. Matsunaga could not walk until 7 years old due to Minamata Disease. Despite his disabilities, he enjoyed riding bicycles, but in 2010, it became difficult for him to walk because of increasing pain, which forced him to live in a wheelchair. He stated, "Minamata disease is not over yet. Problems have not been solved yet. I do not want to see any more children suffer like us." He implored delegates: "Please take appropriate control of mercury for future children. I need the whole world to avoid causing any more tragedy by mercury."

Read Mr. Matsunaga's statement in this document

See him addressing plenary in this video

Koichiro Matsunaga at HgCOP3 

23 November, 2019

Today IPEN held a preparatory meeting in Geneva to prepare for the week ahead. IPEN Heavy Metals Working Group Co-Chair Gilbert Kuepouo (CREPD, Cameroon) and IPEN Mercury Policy Advisor Lee Bell chaired the meeting, which addressed updates since the COP2 meeting last year, as well as the schedule for the COP3. The COP3 begins on 25 November, after technical briefings on 24 November. 

IPEN group at Hg COP3

Lee Bell giving presentation at Hg COP3

20 November, 2019

IPEN will host a side event on 26 November in Geneva entitled: "Mercury Contaminated Sites: guidance, finance and the challenges of ASGM sites." IPEN Mercury Policy Advisor Lee Bell will be joined by Yuyun Ismawati (Nexus3, Indonesia, and IPEN Lead on ASGM) and Griffins Ochieng (CEJAD, Kenya) to talk about the opportunities and challenges presented by mercury-contaminated sites and the importance of addressing them to address global mercury pollution. See the flyer here.

IPEN Side Event HgCOP3

19 November, 2019

IPEN Brief on Mercury Waste Thresholds and Definitions (русский, English, 中文, español, français, العربية)

Mercury waste thresholds and definitions will be key issues for COP3 as they will define what ‘mercury waste’ is under the treaty and what waste will therefore be subject to Convention requirements. If threshold concentrations are set high, large quantities of mercury waste will escape sound management.

IPEN believes that concentrations should be set at a maximum of 1 mg/kg in order to be health and environment protective.

Learn why, as well as what types of mercury waste should be subject to threshold concentrations, in IPEN’s brief here.

17 November, 2019

IPEN Brief on Dental Amalgam and Gold Plating (Review of Annex A (mercury-added products) and Annex B (processes using mercury) (русский, English, 中文, español, français, العربية)

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is required to review annexes A and B no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention. A draft decision at COP3 will propose to establish an ad hoc group of experts made up of 20 party representatives and 10 observers nominated from NGO and other organizations. This group will review Annex A and B and consider any submissions from parties to change the annexes. IPEN supports the establishment of the expert committee and the review process.

Amendment to Annex A: The African Region is proposing to move dental amalgam from Part II to Part I of Annex A, which would effectively move dental amalgam from a long term ‘phase-down’ to a short term ‘phase-out’ by 2021. IPEN supports the adoption of the African regional proposal at COP 3.

Amendment to Annex B: The ancient process of “fire gilding” was used to impart a thin gold plating to lower-value metals by mixing a blend of gold powder with elemental mercury and applying the paste to the object. The object would then be “fired” by placing it in a fire or extremely hot oven or kiln where the mercury vaporized, leaving a bright gold plating on the object, but also potentially a significant exposure issue for workers and the public near plating facilities. IPEN supports the addition of fire gilding/mercury gold plating to Annex B of the mercury treaty as soon as possible to reduce the massive emissions and releases caused by this process.

For more details about these points, read the entire brief here.

16 November, 2019

IPEN Brief on Contaminated Sites (русский, English, 中文, español, français, العربية)

Decision MC-2/8 on Contaminated Sites invites parties to continue to comment on the guidance being developed for adoption at COP3 during the intersessional period. There has been extensive comment and revision of the guidance from the expert group, parties, and more. There is an urgency to adopt the guidance in order to allow many developing countries, especially those with ASGM activity, to take action to address contaminated sites to prevent exposure of populations and ecosystems to this toxic metal.

Parties should adopt the guidance at COP3!

Read the entire brief here.

15 November, 2019

Guidance on the Identification, Management and Remediation of Mercury-Contaminated Sites (русский, English, español, français, العربية)

Accompanying IPEN document: Frequently Asked Questions about Mercury Contaminated Sites

8 November, 2019

IPEN'S "QUICK VIEWS" ON THE MERCURY TREATY COP3 (русский, English, español, français, العربية)

This document presents IPEN's views about some issues that will be addressed at the 3rd Conference of the Parties, including open burning, effectiveness evaluation, review of Annexes A & B, waste thresholds, contaminated sites, and more.

7 November, 2019

The Mercury Treaty's 3rd Conference of the Parties will be taking place 25 - 29 November, 2019 in Geneva, Swtizerland. Please check back soon for information about IPEN's participation in the conference.

Third meeting of the intersessional process for SAICM beyond 2020

1 October

IPEN Opening Statement in Plenary

"We were here in the same building in November 2003 as part of SAICM negotiations and we have been engaged in grassroots implementation since the very beginning and have as a network adopted “Toxics-free Future” as our vision for accomplishing SAICM’s goals. In adopting SAICM, governments agreed that advancing chemical safety should be viewed as a necessary component of the sustainable development agenda. Actions related to chemical safety and toxic chemicals are either referenced or implied in many, if not all, of the SDGs.

The global chemical production is projected to double by 2030, with rapid growth in emerging economies. In our view, a new global agreement on chemical safety should therefore include both an upgrade to SAICM, SAICM 2.0, and an enabling framework to match the growing challenge of health, environmental, and economic injuries associated with the production, use, and disposal of toxic chemicals and wastes."

Read the whole statement, given in plenary by IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Tadesse Amera, here.

Dr. Tadesse Amera, IPEN Co-Chair, giving the opening statement

 

28 September

Today IPEN held the first of its 2-day preparatory meeting for the SAICM IP3. Discussion during the meeting centered around the meeting flow, objectives, targets, indicators, milestones, and institutional arrangements, amongst other items. 

Akarapon Teebthaisong

 

23 September

Views of the SAICM 3rd Intersessional Meeting (IP3) (中文, English, русский, español, français, العربية)

IPEN's "Views of the SAICM 3rd Intersessional Meeting (IP3)” document addresses issues that will be taken up at the IP3, including process considerations; an enabling framework; targets, indicators and milestones; governance; and more. 

22 September

Update on the use of highly hazardous pesticides in six African countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia

Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are a threat to human health and the environment, with significant impacts on developing and transition countries. In 2015, more than 100 governments at the 4th International Conference on Chemicals Management agreed that HHPs were an issue of global concern and reached a consensus resolution to give priority to the promotion of agroecological alternatives in the process of implementing the strategy on HHPs developed by FAO-UNEP-WHO.

The phase-out of HHPs and the promotion of agroecological alternatives contribute to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that call for, inter alia, efforts to promote sustainable agriculture (SDG2), healthy lives and well-being (SDG3), sustainable management of water (SDG6), decent work (SDG8), and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt of biodiversity loss (SDG15). Reduction and elimination of HHPs would make a significant contribution to each of these goals by reducing exposure and adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

IPEN Participating Organizations in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia conducted surveys of pesticide registration laws and examined the country situation on HHPs and possible alternatives. This document summarizes some of the main findings from those surveys.

20 September

Thought Starter on Beyond 2020 Indicators and Milestones: Chemical Safety Contributions to the SDGs

Targets, indicators and milestones are a key component of the new Beyond 2020 chemical safety agreement because they provide an important measure of what the new agreement will accomplish. IPEN has prepared a thought starter that proposes targets, indicators and milestones that reflect tangible outcomes to reduce harms in the real world and links these results to the achievement of defined Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

18 September

IPEN and colleagues will be attending the upcoming Third meeting of the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 from 1 - 4 October, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. Please check back here soon for more information about IPEN's meeting-related publications and activities!


COP9

10 May

IPEN Press release: UN meeting gives countries the right to refuse unrecyclable, polluting plastics

Governments at the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) of the Basel Convention acted to restrict rampant plastic waste exports by requiring countries to obtain prior informed consent before exporting contaminated or mixed plastic waste. A deluge of plastic waste exports from developed countries has polluted developing countries in Southeast Asia after China closed the door to waste imports in 2018. IPEN, the global network of environmental health, science and public interest organizations that has exposed environmental impcts of plastic waste exports to developing countries, applauded the move as a critical step to stem the toxic tide of plastic waste.

"This historic decision stops plastic trash dumping at the borders of exporting countries," said Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN Senior Advisor.

Read the entire press release here

7 May

Justice for Asbestos Victims

On the opening day of the Rotterdam Convention COP, Indonesian and other Ban Asbestos campaigners, Rotterdam Convention Alliance representatives, and supporters held a vigil and media conference at the entrance to the meeting venue in order to remind delegates about their responsibility to include chrysotile asbestos in the Convention. Subono, a victim of asbestos, later gave the following intervention in the plenary:

"My name is Subono. I worked for 14 years at SICP, a manufacturer of chrysotile raw materials imported from Russia, Brazil and Kazakhstan. I am suffering from asbestos related disease from exposure to chrysotile asbestos. I am here representing other friends who are victims of asbestos in Indonesia and in the world.

We are angry with the countries blocking the listing at this Convention. There are over 200,000 deaths from chrysotile exposure every year.  Millions dead over the last 20 years. Almost half of all global occupational diseases are caused by chrysotile asbestos but still no action here on this substance. COP9 marks the 7th COP over 12 years that chrysotile asbestos has been recommended but blocked.

We condemn this veto.

We know the lie of safe use. I worked in inhuman, dusty working conditions without real Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This made me and my friends often experience pain, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue. Examinations that companies did were company secrets and not accessible

We demand, at this meeting, chrysotile can be included in the list of Appendix III or that the Convention is reformed to ensure this. Our hope is that all delegates here support it.

How can the financial interests of just a few Parties block the desires of the many to protect workers like me, from toxic exposures?"

Subono speaking at the media conference

Break Free from Plastic

Basel Action Network, Break Free from Plastic, GAIA, IPEN and other partners greeted delegates as they arrived at the conference center with signs encouraging them to "Support the Norwegian Amendment" and "Break Free From Plastic."

Norway proposed amendments to the annexes to the Basel Convention to bring problematic plastic waste streams within the scope and control of the Convention. EIA, CIEL, IPEN and BAN prepared a short legal explanation of what the proposal would entail. Find the explanation here.

BFFP Support Norwegian Amendment

2 May

Indigenous representatives Vi Waghiyi and Siqiniq Maupin talk about POPs in this video

Indigenous representatives Vi Waghiyi (right) and Siqiniq Maupin (left) being interviewd by Paul Rose

Information Fair Opens

The Information Fair opened, with the aim to "promote and facilitate the exchange of information for the implementation of the Conventions by providing an opportunity for partner institutions, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and private companies to exhibit their information products, projects and technologies that are available to support the implementation of the Conventions, and to showcase and debate about the crucial role that information plays in achieving the objectives of the three Conventions."

IPEN brought an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) machine to Geneva to showcase how it can be used to determine the elemental composition of materials. Specifically, IPEN wanted to show visitors to the booth that some children's toys and other consumer products made of black plastic contain brominated flame retardants. With the use of the XRF device, we could demonstrate a fast technique for total bromine detection that indicates BFR/PBDE content in the recycled children's products. This simple technique may be used by the recycling industry and during state boundary controls on imported waste to find out about potential chemical hazards.

At the booth we also explained more about IPEN studies related to Toxics in Recycled Plastics.

Jitka Strakova (Arnika, Czechia) explaining how the XRF works to a Convention delegate.

Jitka Strakova (Arnika, Czechia) and delegates.

1 May

IPEN Side Event: The Global PFAS Problem: Fluorine-Free Alternatives as a Solution

IPEN convened an international panel of independent experts from the fields of fire safety, chemistry, health, product formulation, remediation, and policy to present information about problems with PFAS in firefighting foam and fluorine-free alternatives. The experts came from the oil and gas and aviation sectors to share their knowledge and expertise with BRS COP Delegates.

For more details about the agenda, please see the flyer here

Nigel Holmes, Queensland Department of Environment and Science (Australia)

 

Lars Ystanes (Equinor environmental advisor) speaking at the standing-room-only side event, with an IPEN supporter in the foreground

 

IPEN Press Conference

IPEN held a press conference in Geneva to promote a new press release: "Firefighters, oil and aviation industry representatives, and Indigenous Peoples call for a global ban on PFAS chemicals with no loopholes for toxic firefighting foams at UN meeting."

Industry fire-safety experts assert - and IPEN agrees - that no exemption is needed because cost-effective, fluorine-free alternatives work as well or better than PFOA- and other PFAS-containing foams. Unlike PFAS-containing foams, fluorine-free alternatives do not cause long-term harm to human health and the environment or incur the extremely high cleanup costs of PFAS-containing foams. PFOA never breaks down, it can cause cancer and it is found in the blood of Arctic Indigenous Peoples and wildlife.

Featured speakers at the press release were:
• Mr. Kim Olsen, Head, Copenhagen Airport Rescue and Firefighting Academy, Copenhagen Airport, Denmark
• Commander Michael Tisbury, Vice President of the United Firefighters Union, Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Melbourne, Australia
• Ms. Vi Waghiyi, Arctic Indigenous Expert (Yupik), St. Lawrence Island, Alaska USA
• Mr. Lars Ystanes, Environmental Specialist, Equinor, Bergen, Norway

Following the press conference, Reuters international news association printed the article, "China seeks loophole as UN nears pact banning toxic chemical- activists."

See a video of the press conference here.

Joe DiGangi, Pamela Miller, Lars Ystanes, Vi Waghiyi, Mick Tisbury and Kim T. Olsen

 

Press conference speakers, IPEN supporters and allies

Press Release: High Levels of Dioxins Found in Children’s Toys and Other Products Made of Recycled Plastics Found in Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, the EU, India, Japan and Nigeria

(Göteborg, Sweden) Alarming levels of some of the most toxic chemicals, including brominated dioxins and brominated flame retardants, were found in consumer products made of recycled plastics sold in Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, the EU, India, Japan and Nigeria. Dioxins were measured in children’s toys and hair accessories at levels comparable to those found in hazardous wastes, including the ash from waste incinerators. The results are being released as global decision makers meet this week at the joint Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Convention to consider proposals to strengthen global policies for POPs and waste. 

Brominated dioxins are highly hazardous chemicals that are known to affect brain development, damage the immune system and unborn children, increase the risk of cancer and risk disruption of thyroid function. They are formed unintentionally during production of brominated flame retardants. In addition, when plastics with brominated flame retardants are recycled and heated to re-form new plastic products, additional brominated and chlorinated dioxins are formed.  

Dioxin and PBDE levels were found in all of the items sampled, and half of the products exceeded the proposed chlorinated dioxin hazardous waste limit. More than half of the analyzed products made of recycled plastic measured levels of PBDEs that meet current regulatory proposals of 1,000 ppm PBDEs, and these products that are within the weak regulation for PBDE contained 730 - 3,800 pg WHO-TEQ/gof brominated dioxins. Dioxins are extremely toxic in very small amounts. Levels of concern for dioxin substances are identified in the tenths of pictograms. The very high levels of dioxins measures signals that weak regulation of PBDEs can pose potential harms, not only from PBDEs, but also from PBDD/Fs. 

Read the entire press release here

Read the report, Poisoning Our Goods: Toxics in Recycled Products, here

Toxic Flood cover

30 April

IPEN "Egg Action"

IPENers distributed crackers with eggs to delegates to highlight the extreme food chain contamination from highly toxic plastics in waste in Ghana that includes toxic e-waste shipped from Europe. IPEN and BAN researchers found the highest levels of brominated and chlorinated dioxins— some of the most hazardous chemicals on Earth— ever measured­­­­ in free-range chicken eggs in Agbogbloshie, Ghana. The contamination results primarily from the breaking apart of discarded electronics (e-waste) and burning plastics to recover metals. Plastics from vehicle upholstery are also burned on the site and contribute to the contamination.

Eating just 2.5g of egg from a hen foraging in Agbogbloshie contains the equivalent of the daily intake of dioxins for 15 people.

Read the report here

See the flyer that was handed to delegates here

Jindrich Petrlik handing out egg snacks to delelegates  Yuyun Ismawati (BaliFokus / Nexus3) handing out eggs

Siqiniq Maupin (Native Movement) serving eggs to delegates

IPEN Views of Rotterdam COP9

In the run-up to the Rotterdam Convention's 9th Conference of the Parties (COP9), IPEN completed a "Views" document that addresses some issues that will be discussed at the COP9. These include enhancing effectiveness; compliance; amendments to Articles 16 & 22; listing HBCD, carbosulfan and chrysotile asbestos; and more.

The Views document can be read here.

More information about IPEN activities during the Rotterdam Convention can be found by clicking on the "Rotterdam COP9" tab at the top of this page.

29 April

Opening of the BRS COPs

IPENers greeted delegates on the first day of the the Basel-Rotterdam-Stockholm Conventions Conferences of the Parties (BRS COP) by wearing shirts that state, "IPEN Loves Firefighters / Fluorine-Free Firefighting Foam- Global Ban on PFOA" to show that we stand with firefighters (who suffer extraordinarily high rates of cancer) and everyone fighting for fluorine-free fIrefighting foam. IPEN aimed to remind the delegates that they are here to work towards stronger protection for firefighters, children, communities and the environment- and that the production and use of PFOA, PFOS and PFAS needs to stop.

More on the dangers of PFOA and sensible alternatives can be found in The Global PFAS Problem: Fluorine-Free Alternatives as Solutions.

 

 

28 April

PFAS Pollution across the Middle East and Asia

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have received significant public and media attention in the US, EU, and Australia, in part due to their toxicity, extreme persistence, and documented water pollution. However, information about PFAS in other parts of the world is largely lacking and the information which is available is difficult to access.

Over the past few months, IPEN Participating Organizations in twelve Middle Eastern and Asian countries conducted surveys to explore possible PFAS uses and pollution sources, scientific studies and government actions, including under the Stockholm Convention. Countries covered include: Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The results of the surveys indicate the following:

  • PFAS are poorly regulated in all countries examined
  • PFAS contaminates adults and infants
  • Water pollution with PFAS substances is widespread
  • Marine and terrestrial organisms are contaminated with PFAS
  • Firefighting foams and extinguishers containing PFAS are in use
  • Consumer products are contaminated with PFAS
  • PFAS substances contaminate dust and particulate air pollution
  • US military bases in Japan cause PFAS pollution
  • Japan is an important PFAS producer
Please read the summary report here
Please see the individual country reports here
 
At the Stockholm Convention COP9, PFOA, which is part of the class of PFAS chemicals, will be considered for addition to the Treaty. IPEN believes it should be added to Annex A with no exemptions. For more information about PFOA, see IPEN's Guide to New POPs and the PFOS Evaluation.

 

27 April

IPEN Prep Meeting

IPEN Participating Organizations and partners met together in Geneva for a preparatory meeting about the Basel-Rotterdam-Stockholm Convention Conference of the Parties. Approximately 46 people from 24 countries attended the meeting, which addressed various subjects that will come up during the COPs such as PFOA, dicofol, marine litter, low POPs content, exemptions and more.

Group photo Geneva 2019

IPEN Co-Chairs Pamela Miller and Dr. Tadesse Amera at the IPEN prep meeting

26 April

Make Low POPs Content Level Low Enough for Health and Environment Protection (English / 中文 / español / русский)

In this update about Low POPs Content Level written for the Stockholm Convention, information about the limits that IPEN supports for dioxins and furans, brominated POPs, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins is provided. Learn more in the brief found here.

LPCL brief cover

24 April

Press release: Fire-Safety Regulators, Scientists, & Industry Representatives Call for a Global Ban on PFAS Chemicals with No Loopholes for Toxic Fire Fighting Foams

New report includes new data on PFAS exposures to Australian Firefighters

(Göteborg, Sweden): Industry fire-safety experts from the oil and gas and aviation sectors are joining with firefighter trade unions to urge governments to protect human health and the environment with a global ban on the toxic chemical, PFOA, and to reject loopholes for its use in firefighting foams. The use of PFOA and other fluorinated organic compounds (PFAS) is widespread across many industrial and domestic applications including textiles, food packaging, stain and oil resistant treatments, and industrial processes. Fluorinated firefighting foam is a leading cause of water contamination with toxic chemicals that are associated with cancer, endocrine disruption, and harm to fetal development.

The upcoming 9th Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is scheduled to address a global ban on PFOA as the UN meeting commences next week (April 29-May 10). A key issue will be whether an exemption should be granted for continued PFOA use in firefighting foams. Industry fire-safety experts assert that no exemption is needed because cost-effective fluorine-free alternatives work as well or better than PFOA- and other PFAS-containing foams. Unlike PFAS-containing foams, fluorine-free alternatives do not cause long-term harm to human health and the environment or incur the extremely high cleanup costs of PFAS-containing foams.

The Stockholm Convention's scientific expert body recommended global elimination of PFOA due to its toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation in the food chain, and ability to travel long distances. They also recommended strengthening the listing of PFOS in the treaty by closing a large number of loopholes. Since PFOA and PFOS have been used in firefighting foams, the expert body addressed alternatives to them, warning  against using the entire class of PFAS substances in firefighting foams, "due to their persistence and mobility, as well as their potential negative environmental, human health and socioeconomic impacts." (POPRC-14/2)

In their new report, the fire safety experts demonstrate that PFAS alternatives to PFOA and PFOS are similarly toxic and even harder to control, leading to increased pollution, exposure, and presence in the food chain. In contrast, world-class airports and major companies have thrown their weight behind fluorine-free firefighting foams.

Read the entire press release here

Read Executive Summaries (عربى/ English / français / 中文 / español / русский) and the full report, The Global PFAS Problem: Fluorine-Free Alternatives as Solutions, here

Global PFAS Problem cover

23 April

Press Release: Highest Level of World’s Most Toxic Chemicals Found in African Free-Range Eggs: European E-Waste Dumping a Contributor

(Göteborg, Sweden): New research from IPEN and Basel Action Network (BAN) reveals dire human exposures and food chain contamination from highly toxic plastics in waste in Ghana that includes toxic e-waste shipped from Europe. Researchers have found the highest levels of brominated and chlorinated dioxins— some of the most hazardous chemicals on Earth— ever measured­­­­ in free-range chicken eggs in Agbogbloshie, Ghana. The contamination results primarily from the breaking apart of discarded electronics (e-waste) and burning plastics to recover metals. Plastics from vehicle upholstery are also burned on the site and contribute to the contamination.

Researchers analyzed the eggs of free-range chickens that forage in the Agbogbloshie slum, home to an estimated 80,000 people who subsist primarily by retrieving and selling copper cable and other metals from e-waste. The process of smashing and burning the plastic casing and cables, to extract the metals, releases dangerous chemicals found within the plastics, such as brominated flame retardants, and creates highly toxic by-product chemicals like brominated and chlorinated dioxins and furans. The sampling of eggs revealed alarmingly high levels of some of the most hazardous and banned chemicals in the world, including dioxins, brominated dioxins, PCBs, PBDE and SCCPs.

Read the entire press release here

POPs in Eggs Report for Africa coverWeak Controls cover

BAN and IPEN Quick Views of Basel Convention COP14 (中文 / English / русский / لعربية)

In the run-up to the Basel Convention's 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14), IPEN worked with Basel Action Network (BAN) to complete a "Quick Views" document that addresses some issues that will be discussed at tthe COP14. These include marine litter and microplastics; financial resources; compliance; e-waste guidelines; POPs waste; technical guidelines on incineration, engineered landfill, hazardous waste physico-chemical treatment and biological treatment; and more.

22 April

IPEN Working to Eliminate POPs on the Ground (عربى/ English / français / 中文 / español / русский)

As the 2019 Basel-Rotterdam-Stockholm Conventions Conferences of the Parties (BRS COPs) approaches, IPEN has dedicated the first of its 2019 bi-annual global newsletters to cover persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

In the newsletter, entitled "IPEN Working To Eliminate POPs On The Ground," IPEN Science Advisor Dr. Sara Brosché states, "Strong measures under the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions are crucial to stop the production and release of POPs and should be effectively implemented nationally. Hazardous waste limits should be protective and regrettable substitutions with related toxic chemicals prohibited.However, this is far from enough. Only 28 out of thousands of potential POPs are listed under the Stockholm Convention today and efforts need to be scaled up dramatically.”

This newsletter covers some work of IPEN Participating Organizations around the globe who have researched and/or monitored POPs in their countries. Topics include POPs Country Situation Reports, POPs in Community Food Chains, Toxic Recycling, Non-combustion Technologies for POPs Waste Destruction, Dicofol and PFOA, Sulfluramid, and POPs in Our Oceans.

The newsletter is available online in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish here.

POPs 2019 newsletter cover

 

18 April

IPEN's Views of Stockholm Convention COP9 (English / 中文 / español / لعربي / русский / français)

IPEN has released its "Views of Stockholm Convention COP9." This document is a summary statement of IPEN views on issues that COP9 will be called upon to address, including POPs wastes, tecnical assistance and regional centres, rules of procedure, compliance, listing of dicofol and PFOA, illegal traffic, rules of procedure, evaluation of PFOS, and more.

The Views document can be read here.

17 April

Legal Opinion Finds Canada In Violation of Basel Convention

A recent legal opinion from the Pacific Centre for Environmental Law and Litigation Law Corporation has determined Canada’s refusal to repatriate 103 shipping containers of garbage illegally dumped in the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 to be in violation of the Basel Convention.

Read the letter and legal opinion that has been sent by IPEN and partner NGOs Right On Canada, Canadian Environmental Law Association, EcoWaste Coalition, and Basel Action Network to Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau about this issue, which is not just a legal matter, but also a moral issue that demonstrates Canada’s level of respect for the citizens of developing countries and how the nation demonstrates proper conduct. Leaving Canada’s garbage in another country for five years reveals values that clash with moral responsibility.

16 April

NGOs Urge Immediate Action to Stop Toxic Recycling

A recent analysis (by IPEN, Arnika and other NGOs) of consumer products sold in Brazil, Canada, Cambodia, EU and Japan made from recycled plastics has revealed toxic flame-retardant contamination in some children's toys, hair accessories, office supplies, kitchen utensils and other plastic products. Brazil, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Turkey are 7 out of 182 Parties to the Stockholm Convention that registered a recycling exemption for toxic polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), after they were banned under the Stockholm Convention in 2004. The exemption has permitted recycling of materials such as plastics from discarded computers and other products containing PBDEs in the recycling stream for the past ten years, and will allow it to continue until 2030. Via letters, environmental health organizations are urging the seven governments to end the practice and withdraw the recycloing exemptions because the resulting contamination of the recycling stream allows banned chemicals in products and poses a threat to public health, particularly children's health.

See the letters here to Brazil, Canada and the Republic of Korea here. 

15 April

IPEN Guide to New POPs and the PFOS Evaluation (عربى/ English / français / 中文 / español / русский)

For consideration at the Stockholm Convention's COP9, the Treaty’s expert committee, the POPs Review Committee (POPRC), has recommended two substances for listing: dicofol and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and PFOA-related compounds. The POPRC has also recommended strengthening the listing of PFOS in the treaty. Finally, one Party has proposed changing the process for evaluating candidate substances.

In this new Guide, IPEN provides recommendations about listing dicofol and PFOA, and perspectives on the suggestion for amending the evaluation process and the PFOS evaluation. The Guide also provides information about the serious hazards related to the use of dicofol, PFOA and related substances, and PFOS. Read the Guide here

Please go here for more information about the proposal to amend the Stockholm Convention evaluation process for candidate substances.

IPEN Guide to New POPs and the PFOS Evaluation

12 April

Say No to Sulfluramid: Reasons for a Worldwide Ban on this Toxic Agrochemical (español, English, português)

Sulfluramid is a chemically-synthesized pesticide used as a formicide, which, as it breaks down, turns into perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFOS is a toxic, extremely persistent and bioaccumulative pollutant, subject to worldwide restrictions pursuant to the Stockholm Convention on POPs. This Convention, intended to protect human health and the environment, took effect in 2004, and has been signed by most governments, includiing in Latin America and the Caribbean, where sulfluramid is widely used. At the upcoming Stockholm Convention COP9, IPEN believes that sulfluramid needs to be explicitly mentioned in Annex B on PFOS, and "acceptable uses" needs to be changed to "specific exemptions" for controlling leaf-cutting ants of the Attaand Acromyrmex genera. Learn more in this factsheet about sulfluramid.

Say no to sulfluramid

11 April

Briefing Paper on Non-combustion Techniques for POPs Waste Destruction (中文 / English / عربى )

Non-combustion techniques for the destruction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) waste such as PCBs, dioxins and brominated flame retardants are urgently needed to destroy the world's growing stockpile of materials contaminated with the most dangerous contaminants on earth. Using incineration and cement kilns to attempt to destroy POPs only leads to the generation of more unintentionally produced POPs (UPOPs) in their emissions and solid waste. This new technical briefing paper from IPEN describes non-combustion techniques that have been commercialised and proven for the destruction of POPs. They are also considered to be more readily applicable to developing countries due to their less intensive capital and infrastructure requirements.

Non-combustion techniques for POPs destruction have never been more relevant as new POPs are added to the Stockholm Convention and new stockpiles of waste must be addressed.

View the new paper here

10 April

IPENers will be participating in the Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions taking place from 29 April - 10 May, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. Although the Stockholm Convention COP is IPEN’s main focus, IPEN will also participate in the Basel and Rotterdam Convention meetings. Please check back shortly for more information about IPEN's publications and actvities related to the meetings. 

SAICM 3rd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) held its 3rd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG-3) from 2- 4 April, 2019 in Montevideo, Uruguay and IPEN participated.

4 April

IPEN Closing Statement delivered by Dr. Tadesse Amera, IPEN Co-Chair:

During this meeting, we have heard many ideas and interventions that would move us along this ambitious path, such as:

- Implementing the polluter pays principle through internalization of costs by the industry;

- Strong measures that include the full life-cylcle of chemicals and all waste, including an enabling framework whose elements are endorsed by a ministerial declaration at ICCM5 and subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly; and

- Time bound goals and measurable targets for issues of concern, together with clear criteria defined for how to move the issues ahead if they have not progressed as expected.

Read the entire Closing Statement here.

Dr. Tadesse Amera, IPEN Co-Chair

3 April

IPEN Intervention on Lead in Paint delivered by Dr. Sara Brosché, IPEN Science Advisor and Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaign Manager

"There is still time to make significant additional progress towards eliminating led paint until ICCM5 with the right commitment from governments, industry and civil society. We know from our work that this commitment from all stakeholders is in place. We would therefore like to encourage government representatives participating in this meeting to state their intention to accelerate the establishment and enforcement of legally binding controls on lead in paint in all countries."

Read the entire Intervention, as well as Interventions on other issues being discussed at the OEWG-3, here.  

2 April

IPEN Opening Statement delivered by Dr. Tadesse Amera, IPEN Co-Chair:

"We hope to see ambitious recommendations that include:

  • An enabling framework that acts as an umbrella for all chemicals-related agreements whose elements are endorsed by a ministerial declaration in 2020 that is subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly to ensure high -level political ownership.
  • National implementation plans with agreed-upon measurable actions that contribute to implementation of Agenda 2030.
  • Open, inclusive and transparent participation by all stakeholders with a multi-sectoral approach."

Read the entire Opening Statement here.

1 April

IPEN side event:

Chemical Safety Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals: The SAICM Experience and Perspectives for Beyond 2020

This side event will both reflect on the SAICM experience since 2006 and illustrate important actions needed at SAICM OEWG3 to advance the adoption of a Beyond 2020 framework. This side event will include a brief overview of SAICM implementation experience at the global and local levels, and lead into a panel discussion with NGO and government representatives sharing their perspectives for Beyond 2020 and SAICM OEWG3 outcome goals.

Panel discussion facilitated by Ms. Sofia Chavez, CasaCem, Mexico

Panel Speakers include:

The High Ambition Alliance; Ms. Eneida de León, Minister of Housing, Land Planning and Environment, Uruguay

IPEN’s Perspectives for Beyond 2020; Mr. Tadesse Amera, IPEN Co-Chair, Ethiopia

Zambia Perspective; Mr. David Kapindula, Zambia Environmental Management Agency, Zambia

South Africa Perspective; Ms. Noluzuko Gwayi, Advisor: International Chemicals & Waste Cooperation at Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa

See the flyer for the side event here

31 March, 2019

IPEN Participating Organization representatives and partners met with David Morin, Canadian Co-Chair of the SAICM intersessional process, to pose questions and hear his views on topics relevant to the OEWG-3 meeting.

30 March, 2019

IPENers and IPEN partners from 21 countries gathered in Montevideo for a capacity-building & strategizing workshop in preparation for the 3rd Open-Ended Working Group meeting, which will begin officially on 2 April.

Group photo Montevideo 2019

22 March, 2019: IPEN Views of SAICM OEWG-3

(العربية , English, 中文, русский, français)

IPEN's "Views of SAICM OEWG-3” document replicates the points on the enabling framework that appear in IPEN's Perspectives document below, and includes specific text on the proposed language for objectives and targets, which was based on comments received and work done in collaboration with the trade union representative to the SAICM Bureau and with Pesticide Action Network.

21 March, 2019: IPEN's "Enabling Framework" and Other Posters

Find new IPEN posters and postcards created for the OEWG-3 here

20 March, 2019: IPEN Beyond 2020 Perspectives for OEWG-3

(العربية , English, 中文, español, русский, français)

SAICM is the only international agreement that addresses the full range of known and newly discovered health and environmental concerns associated with the production and use of chemicals. The 2006 decision that established SAICM expires in 2020 and now there is a global process (the "Beyond 2020" process) to determine what comes next.

The Beyond 2020 process has one required result: It must, “develop recommendations regarding measurable objectives in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” In response, the IPEN Steering Committee adopted a one-page Toxics-Free Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Pledge in October 2018 that explains actions for a toxics-free future that are essential for sustainable development. This reflects a series of papers on relevant Beyond 2020 topics developed by IPEN and the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) in 2017, including measurable objectives in support of Agenda 2030.

In our view, a new global agreement on chemical safety should include both an upgrade to SAICM (SAICM2.0) and an enabling framework, and include the following features:

  • A timeless vision and broad scope that encompasses the entire lifecycle including wastes;
  • An enabling framework that acts as an umbrella for all chemicals-related agreements whose elements are endorsed by a ministerial declaration in 2020 that is subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly;
  • New and additional, adequate, sustainable and predictable finance mechanism accessible to all relevant stakeholders to address chemicals and waste issues;
  • Measurable contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals; and
  • Open, inclusive and transparent participation by all stakeholders with a multi-sectoral approach.

Read more about IPEN's vision for the future of chemical safety in our Perspectives for OEWG-3 here.

Mercury Treaty COP2

IPEN participated in the Mercury Treaty's 2nd Conference of the Parties (COP2), which took place from 19 to 23 November, 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. Technical briefings on Effectiveness Evaluation and the Specific International Programme kicked off the week on 18 November.

23 November, 2018

IPEN press release

Mercury Treaty COP2 inches forward on non-binding guidance, while global mercury emissions surge 20% in 5 years. The solution? Shutting down coal-fired energy and banning the mercury trade.

Read the press release here.

IPEN's closing statement

Delivered by IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Tadesse Amera.

"We should take advantage of the synergies available between the Minamata Convention and the Paris Agreement and seize the opportunity to make large scale global reductions in mercury and carbon pollution. Parties should be bold and go beyond compliance with the Minamata Convention, rapidly replacing coal-powered energy with renewables instead of waiting for marginal pollution reductions under future BAT-BEP implementation for coal burning." 

"IPEN issues a challenge to all Parties who have not done so, to show further commitment to end the mercury trade and announce that their country has banned mercury exports at COP3."

Read the entire statement here.

Dr. Tadesse Amera waiting to make IPEN's closing statement (Photo by Yuyun Ismawati)

 

19 November, 2018

IPEN set up its booth at the conference venue today, with the theme of "Protecting Paradise." Based on the alarming results from the new study Mercury Threat to Women & Children Across 3 Oceans, and what it means for the communities living in the (mostly) Small Island Developing States where sampling was carried out, IPEN decided to highlight the beautiful, "paradise-like" environments of the islands and underscore the importance of ending mercury exports and stopping the use of coal in order to support island nations and "Protect Paradise." 

In addition, IPEN developed a "Travel Brochure" and "Tour Packages" in keeping with the theme.

Fuatino Matatumua-Leota, Delegate from Samoa, at the IPEN booth

19 November, 2018

IPEN / BRI press release: (Göteborg, Sweden) A new study has found elevated levels of toxic mercury in women of child-bearing age in countries across the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean. More than half of all women who were sampled measured above the US EPA level of concern, and three out of four women measured had mercury levels that have been associated with the onset of mercury-related impacts to fetal development. The study establishes that mercury pollution has accumulated across the worlds’ major oceans, contaminating the marine food chain and posing a threat to a sizable portion of the world’s island populations.

Read the full press release here.

18 November, 2018

In light of today's technical briefing on Effectiveness Evaluation for the Treaty, IPEN prepared a one-page document outlining its views that new, science-based biomonitoring data is needed for the process. Read it here.

17 November, 2018

IPEN held its preparatory meeting for the 2nd Conference of the Parties at the meeting venue in Geneva. 23 IPENers from 20 countries attended the meeting, which focused on IPEN's priorities for the week ahead.

15 November, 2018

Mercury Trade and Supply in ASGM Hotspots: Kenya Country Situation Report

Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) conducted a study to establish mercury use, trade and supply within the ASGM subsector in Kenya. The study methodology entailed literature reviews; key informant interviews; as well as survey of some of the miners in select mines in Siaya and Migori Counties. The main objective of the study was to asses mercury trade and supply chains in the target ASGM hotspots in Kenya. Read the study here.

9 November, 2018

IPEN's "Quick Views" on the Mercury Treaty COP2 (español / 中文 / English / русский / français / عربى)

This document presents IPEN's views about some issues that will be addressed at the 2nd Conference of the Parties, including mercury supply sources & trade, effetiveness evaluation, waste thresholds, contaminated sites, and more.

8 October, 2018

IPEN COP2 Briefs on:

2nd Meeting of the Intersessional Process for SAICM beyond 2020

14 March 2018

IPEN and PAN met with Gertrude Sahler, President of SAICM, to share information about priorities for and questions about SAICM's Beyond 2020 process. IPEN Steering Committee Member Alexandra Caterbow (HejSupport) facilitated the discussion, which focused on highly hazardous pesticides, financing, and women and chemicals. Dr. Meriel Watts (PAN Asia Pacific) and Yuyun Ismawati (BaliFokus) also shared specific information about the loss of life and damage to health caused by the toxic impacts of pesticides and mercury use. 

Yuyun Ismawati (BaliFokus), Alex Caterbow (HejSupport), Gertude Sahler (SAICM President) and Joe DiGangi (IPENGertrude Sahler (SAICM President), Joe DiGangi (IPEN), Semia Gharbi (AEEFG), Jasminka Randelovic (ALHem), Gilbert Kuepouo (CREPD) and Silvani Mng'anya (AGENDA)  

 

Today was a day for discussion in group sessions. Each group discussed the following five themes: Vision, Policy Principles, Objectives and Milestones, Implementation (Including finance) and Governance. The purpose of the discussion day was to “exchange views and foster an inclusive dialogue among all SAICM stakeholders.”

Each theme had two pre-assigned Co-Hosts. IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Olga Speranskaya and Mr. Rico Euripidou, from IPEN Participating Organization groundWork, were designated Co-Hosts. The Co-Hosts, which represented the five
United Nations regions as well as the five sectors represented in the Bureau (public interest organizations, health sector NGOs, labour sector NGOs, industry and IOMC), participated in each of the discussion groups to facilitate the dialogue and build on the discussions of each of the groups.

Following the conclusion of all the discussion groups, the Co-Hosts shared the findings from the groups in plenary. The findings (as presented by the Co-Hosts) will be consolidated into one paper and it will be presented to and shared with all the meeting participants on 15 March. The SAICM Secretariat notes, “Based on possible further input and comments in plenary, including inclusion of the plenary discussions on high-level political commitment and
visibility under agenda item 5(f), this paper may constitute the outcome of the second intersessional meeting and will be annexed to the report of the meeting, serving as input to the third meeting of the Open-ended Working Group.”

Griffins Ochieng (CEJAD), Johanna Hausmann (WECF) and Lia Esquillo (IPEN / EcoWaste Coalition) looking at questions for the group discussion

 

13 March 2018

IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Olga Speranskaya made an Opening Statement in plenary today, stating: "We hope that during these three days we will have time to discuss financial mechanisms that guarantee a sufficient and sustainable funding for the implementation of SAICM emerging policy issues and other issues of concern, and national implementation plans with agreed-upon measurable actions that contribute to implementation of Agenda 2030. We strongly believe that the key to securing sustainable funding for chemical safety is the internalization of costs within relevant producer industries."

Please click here to read the entire statment, as well as to see other interventions given in plenary.

Click here to view some of IPEN's participation in SAICM reported by International Institute for Sustainable Development/ Earth Negotiations Bulletin (IISD/ENB).

12 March, 2018

After attending an "Exchange of Views among SAICM Stakeholders" at the meeting venue today, IPEN set-up a display of information resources, which included IPEN's Beyond 2020 Perspectives as well as the recent report Stories of Women Workers in Vietnam's Electronics Industry, which IPEN published along with partner CGFED in Vietnam.

Hang Pham, Vice Director of CGFED, at the IPEN exhibit holding the "Stories of Women Workers in Vietnam's Electronics Industry" report

12 March, 2018

IPENers from around the world gathered in Solna, Sweden for a two-day preparatory meeting in advance of the 2nd Meeting of the Intersessional Process for SAICM beyond 2020, which begins on 13 March.

IPEN Group SAICM 2nd intersessional

5 March, 2018

IPEN Quick Views of 2nd Beyond 2020 Intersessional Process Meeting (اللغة العربية, English, español, русский, français)

This "Quick Views" document highlights IPEN views on SAICM Beyond 2020 issues such as vision, policy principles, objectives and milestones, governance, high-level political commitment and financing. The document also follows IPEN comments that were provided to Brazil and Canada, the Co-Chairs of SAICM's "Beyond 2020" intersessional process.

4 March, 2018

IPEN Beyond 2020 Perspectives (français / русский / español / اللغة العربية)

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is the only international agreement that addresses the full range of known and newly discovered health and environmental concerns associated with the production and use of chemicals. The 2006 decision that established SAICM expires in 2020 and now there is a global process to determine what comes next. In 2017, in advance of the 1st Meeting of the Intersessional for Process for SAICM beyond 2020, IPEN and Pesticide Action Network collaborated to produce a series of documents that highlight civil society views on key topics for the Beyond 2020 process. The papers describe SAICM’s importance, how chemical safety can contribute to sustainable development, and how actions should be financed. In addition, the papers deal with the relationship between women and chemical safety, how the industry should reduce and eliminate hazard through design, and the connection between human rights and chemical safety. These papers continue to be relevant for the 2nd Meeting of the Intersessional Process, and you can read all the papers here.



3rd United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA3)

6 December, 2017

On 6 December in Nairobi, IPEN released a new report showing high mercury levels among Minamata COP1 delegates. Researchers from IPEN (a global public health and environment network) and BRI (the Biodiversity Research Institute) analyzed mercury levels in hair samples from 180 delegates (104 women and 76 men) from 75 countries who participated the COP1 of the Minamata Convention in Geneva from September 24-29th, 2017. The findings revealed mercury in all participants and elevated mercury levels exceeding the US EPA health advisory level of 1 ppm, above which brain damage, IQ loss, kidney and cardiovascular damage may occur, in over half of the study participants. Levels many times higher were identified in delegates from a number of regions. Read information about the release here .

5 December, 2017

On 5 December, IPEN Co-Chair Olga Speranskaya gave a presentation at the Multistakeholder dialogue at UNEA3 during a segment titled, "How Does Pollution Affect Us?" Olga's presentation covered the impact of pollution, specifically as it affects women, a population that has become particularly vulnerable to toxic chemical exposure.

"Throughout their lives, men and women are exposed to numerous harmful chemicals. But chemicals in women’s body can be transferred across the placenta during fetal development and through breast milk to the nursing baby. Exposures during fetal development can cause lifelong diseases and disabilities and increase the risks of irreversible harm. Adverse effects can also be carried across multiple generations."

Read Olga's full presentation here .

4 December, 2017

During a side event about the rising environmental pollution and human rights violations from the energy and extractive industry, IPEN partner, Peninah Atwine from EMLI-Uganda shared her experience with gold mining and mercury use in mining sites in the Buhweju District Mining sites in Uganda. Peninah noted that mining activities are intensifying under working conditions that are not environmentally sound.

The following are some highlights from Peninah's presentation:

  • Over 2000 miners can be found working at one mining site where there is only a single toilet. This forces the workers to use bushes instead, which has put their health at significant risk, resulting in the contraction of cholera and other related diseases.
  • The use of mercury by artisanal small scale miners is introduced by gold buyers. Therefore, the workers are not afforded knowledge about the effective use of such chemicals and the implementation protective measures . In addition, waste water containing mercury is discharged in water catchment areas, like wetlands, polluting nearby bodies of water.
  • Moreover, mining activities are carried out in wetlands, which puts children and nearby communities in danger when mining sites are left uncovered, increasing the risk of diseases and accidents. In one instance, an uncovered mining site led to the death a child from a nearby community.
  • Men who work in mining communities confess that their families are breaking up due to their inability to function and participate well in a family environment after heavy days of work.
  • Lastly, the lack of nearby health facilities around mining sites and land-grabbing by investors has created continued health risk and turmoil for mining workers.

Peninah Atwine speaks at UNEA side event about the dangers of working in the ASGM industry.

4 December, 2017

From 15:30 - 16:15 today in Nairobi, IPEN and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) held a press conference to announce a new partnership. The overall theme of the IPEN - UNEP Partnership is to contribute to the work on Gender and Chemicals, through a focus on women in the following areas :

  • Raising awareness of the health effects and other impacts to women and children as vulnerable populations from chemical exposures, including by creating opportunities for training and experience-sharing and collecting relevant sex-disaggregated data;
  • Promoting women's engagement and leadership in decision-making processes at national and global levels; and
  • Implementing and contributing to activities related to SAICM Emerging Policy Issues and other Issues of Concern, as well as related chemicals conventions and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

IPEN Co-Chair Dr. Olga Speranskaya opened the press conference with a statement on the partnership, reminding attendees: "There are nearly 4 billion women and girls on the planet. Despite the fact that women make up roughly half of the population and chemical exposure is widespread, knowledge of exposure routes and the true impacts of chemical exposures on women aredifficult to determine because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated data." Read her entire statement here.

Other speakers at the conference included Ms. Imogen Ingram (Island Sustainability Alliance, Cook Islands), Ms. Eunice Atieno Juma (MOKAN Women’s Group, Kenya), Minster Karolina Skog (Minister of Environment, Sweden), and Dr. Ligia Noronha (Director of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, UNEP). Shradha Shreejaya (Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law & Development) facilitated.

To learn more about the speakers and the partnership, please see this introduction .

 

4 December, 2017:

IPENer Phyllis Omido (Center for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action- CJGEA, Kenya) participated in an event about environmental defenders: Stories from the front line of environmental protection. She was joined by John Knox (UN Secretary General’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment), Julius Opiyo (Global Witness), and Laetitia Zobel (UN Environment expert on indigenous people’s issues). For some background to the subject, please see : Global Witness Defenders of the Earth campaign .

2 December, 2017

Women and Chemicals Side Event

On 5 December , WECF , Balifokus , IPEN , and partners will premiere the film, "What Does Gender have to do with Chemicals?" during an event at UNEA3.

The documentary film addresses chemical and waste pollution areas, and looks at best practices from a gender perspective in Nigeria and Senegal. After the film, IPEN Steering Committee member Yuyun Ismawati from Balifokus will participate in a panel discussion on the topic of Strengthening Gender Policies for a Toxics-free Planet. At the conclusion of the panel, there will be a celebration of a new partnership on Women and Chemicals between IPEN and UN Environment. To see the flyer, visit this page .

1 December, 2017

A new video has been released by UN Environment at the 3rd Meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly featuring Minamata Disease survivor, Ms. Shinobu Sakamoto.

Shinobu calls for an end to pollution: "The fetal Minamata disease patients including myself are getting worse, year by year. Many people are still suffering and struggling from pollution. Today, I must repeat my message--Minamata disease is not over. Pollution must end."

The video is the result of a collaboration between Shinobu’s team, who attended the first Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention in Geneva, UN Environment and IPEN.

Prior to her participation in COP1, Shinobu launched the Honoring Minamata Campaign at the Mercury Treaty INC2, together with IPEN and Citizens Against Chemicals Pollution, Japan

Click here to learn more about Shinobu’s story.

27 November, 2017

Chemicals and Waste Panel

IPEN Co-Chair Olga Speranskaya participated in a panel on Chemicals and Waste at the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum 27-28 November 2017, highlighting that children today are born already contaminated with hundreds of man-made chemicals and emphasizing the urgent need for strong global bans on toxic chemicals.

Olga Speranskaya speaking on the panel.

Marine Pollution Panel

Semia Gharbi and David Azoulay, representatives from IPEN Participating Organizations AEEFG and CIEL , spoke on a panel at the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum to address Marine Pollution. The panel was moderated by Sascha Gabizon from WECF . Plastic pollution was a topic specifically emphasized, and representatives from the #BreakFreeFromPlastic member groups spoke on the development of the Break Free From Plastics movement. Solutions to address the problem of pollution in the ocean were discussed.

17 November, 2017

IPEN has participated in the first two UN Environment Assemblies, and will now be participating in the third. Find out more about this year's Assembly here .

See IPEN's Views of Selected Issues to be discussed at UNEA3 for information about IPEN's positions on specific resolutions.

Events of the meeting will be as follows:

  • 27-28 November : Civil society will host the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum , which facilitates the participation of civil society in the Environment Assembly and associated meetings.
  • 29 November - 1 December : The Committee of Permanent Representatives will hold its third open-ended meeting.
  • 2-3 December : The Science, Policy and Business Forum will bring together top scientists, citizen groups, policymakers and business leaders to promote and operationalize science-driven policies and innovations that address planetary challenges and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • 3-6 December 2017 : The Sustainable Innovation Expo will take place on the margins of the Assembly and will complement the high-profile Leadership Dialogues. The Expo will showcase that science teaches problem solving; it will also encourage critical thinking in how important, though small, our world is. The Expo will also engage participants in the oldest science of all—astronomy.

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