All activities

Solomon Islands becomes 190th Party to the Basel Convention
Basel Convention edges towards almost universal coverage as the Solomon Islands deposits its instrument of accession, with entry into force on 23 November 2022

Solomon Islands becomes 190th Party to the Basel Convention

Solomon Islands becomes 190th Party to the Basel Convention
 
Pierce Brosnan and his son, Paris Brosnan, launch video appeal to tackle plastic waste pollution
Legendary Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan and Paris Brosnan, a filmmaker and environmental activist, have joined forces with the BRS Conventions to draw attention to the need for plastic waste management. Their PSA video is part of the Plastic is Forever campaign.

Pierce Brosnan and his son, Paris Brosnan, launch video appeal to tackle plastic waste pollution

Pierce Brosnan and his son, Paris Brosnan, launch video appeal to tackle plastic waste pollution
 
UN Oceans Conference side event highlights plastic waste trade regime under Plastic Waste Amendments
The event will take place on 28 June, 16:00 Lisbon time. Speakers will include ministers and high-level officers from the Seychelles Zimbabwe and Kenya as well as NORAD and SPREP, and the panel discussion among the representatives from the regional government of Sweden, SPREP, UNODC, and UNCTAD.

UN Oceans Conference side event highlights plastic waste trade regime under Plastic Waste Amendments

UN Oceans Conference side event highlights plastic waste trade regime under Plastic Waste Amendments
 
BRS COPs conclude with major decisions on e-waste movement and ban of harmful chemicals affecting firefighters
Pierce Brosnan and Dominic Thiem salute Basel Convention’s work to foster the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.

BRS COPs conclude with major decisions on e-waste movement and ban of harmful chemicals affecting firefighters

BRS COPs conclude with major decisions on e-waste movement and ban of harmful chemicals affecting firefighters
 
UN Palais des Nations shines bright during the BRS COPs Plastics Forum
With the campaign slogan “Plastic is Forever, so it’s time to get clever about managing it!”, the BRS Conventions highlight the need to manage plastic waste in environmentally sound ways.

UN Palais des Nations shines bright during the BRS COPs Plastics Forum

UN Palais des Nations shines bright during the BRS COPs Plastics Forum
 
Voices from the Field explain how they fight against the plastic waste crisis
The video series showcases stories from the development and implementation of SGP and PWP pilot projects.

Voices from the Field explain how they fight against the plastic waste crisis

Voices from the Field explain how they fight against the plastic waste crisis
 
Global environmental agenda advances as BRS COPs are held in Geneva to discuss chemicals and wastes management
More than 1500 registered participants representing the BRS Conventions reconvene in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 17 June, for the first time in three years. Under the theme “Global Agreements for a Healthy Planet: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste”, the BRS COPs will address the impact of hazardous chemicals and wastes on human health and the environment.

Global environmental agenda advances as BRS COPs are held in Geneva to discuss chemicals and wastes management

Global environmental agenda advances as BRS COPs are held in Geneva to discuss chemicals and wastes management
 
BRS COPs are reconvening in Geneva until 17 June!
The face-to-face segment of the Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs) picks up where the High-level Segment left off last week in Stockholm.

BRS COPs are reconvening in Geneva until 17 June!

BRS COPs are reconvening in Geneva until 17 June!
 
Plastic is Forever campaign draws attention to plastic waste management
The campaign, which hails the positive impact of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments, includes a PSA video, a hackathon event, a social media challenge, subsequent publications from the PWP photo competition, and the illumination of Geneva’s Palais des Nations.

Plastic is Forever campaign draws attention to plastic waste management

Plastic is Forever campaign draws attention to plastic waste management
 
BRS COPs High-level Segment: a global event for a planet safe from chemicals and wastes
More than 100 ministers and other high-level representatives meet in Stockholm to discuss ways of addressing the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, through the sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes.

BRS COPs High-level Segment: a global event for a planet safe from chemicals and wastes

BRS COPs High-level Segment: a global event for a planet safe from chemicals and wastes
 
Learn all about the 40+ side events during the BRS COPs!
Side events will be held during the face-to-face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, from 6 to 17 June 2022, in Geneva.

Learn all about the 40+ side events during the BRS COPs!

Learn all about the 40+ side events during the BRS COPs!
 
Join the INPLASTICS webinar series on understanding the circular economy for chemicals in plastics
Webinars are set for 5 and 13 May 2022, respectively covering textiles and bioplastics. The INPLASTICS project is part of the NORAD-funded Small Grants Programme.

Join the INPLASTICS webinar series on understanding the circular economy for chemicals in plastics

Join the INPLASTICS webinar series on understanding the circular economy for chemicals in plastics
 
The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund pledges 30 million NOK to support the BRS Conventions handling plastic waste in developing countries
The BRS Conventions Executive Secretary, Rolph Payet, visited Norway to sign the agreement with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund acting CEO, Eirik Oland.

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund pledges 30 million NOK to support the BRS Conventions handling plastic waste in developing countries

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund pledges 30 million NOK to support the BRS Conventions handling plastic waste in developing countries
 
Inspirational success stories from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
A selection of case studies where projects implemented by the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions have led to successful outcomes for human health and the environment.

Inspirational success stories from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Inspirational success stories from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
 
Basel Convention delegates convene in Nairobi to address the adverse effects of hazardous wastes
The face-to-face segment of the twelfth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG-12) took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4 to 6 April 2022, as a prelude to the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) that will be held in Geneva on 6-17 June 2022.

Basel Convention delegates convene in Nairobi to address the adverse effects of hazardous wastes

Basel Convention delegates convene in Nairobi to address the adverse effects of hazardous wastes

The face-to-face segment of the twelfth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (OEWG-12) took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4 to 6 April 2022, as a prelude to the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15), to be held in Geneva on 6-17 June 2022.

The OEWG-12 meeting was held on the heels of the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly, where a historic agreement was reached to begin negotiations for a global legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. Currently, the Basel Convention’s Plastic Waste Amendments is the only global treaty that legally binds 189 countries to address the negative impacts of plastic wastes on human health and the environment.

Apart from plastic wastes, the OEWG-12 agenda included issues pertaining to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), lead-acid batteries, and wastes containing mercury compounds. All items were discussed on the basis of four areas: strategic; scientific and technical; legal, governance and enforcement; and international cooperation and coordination.

Specific outcomes included:

  • The adoption of the revised terms of reference and programme of work for the biennium 2020-2021 for the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE). This decision was combined with a recommendation to the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (Basel Convention COP-15) to adopt the proposed work programme for the biennium 2022-2023.
  • Agreement on recommending that Basel Convention COP-15 updates the technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries.
  • Agreement on recommending for adoption by Basel COP-15:
    • Two guidance documents developed by the Implementation and Compliance Committee to improve implementation of the Basel Convention procedure to control transboundary movements of wastes (guidance on insurance, bond and guarantee, and guidance on transit transboundary movements);
    • The technical guidelines on the environmentally sound incineration of hazardous wastes and other wastes as covered by disposal operations D10 and R1;
    • The technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds in order to develop robust guidance that will support the environmentally sound management of mercury waste; and
    • The practical manual for stakeholders to ensure that notifications of transboundary movements meet environmentally sound management requirements.

In addition, the OEWG-12:

  • Fostered discussions on potential actions to be taken under the Basel Convention on plastic waste. In the coming months, experts will be collecting comments on the draft practical guidance about the development of inventories for plastic waste, obsolete pesticides and pesticide-container waste, and waste batteries containing lithium.
  • Made progress towards considering the Switzerland-Ghana amendment proposal of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for all e-waste. The proposal aims to improve the legal clarity of e-waste covered by the Basel Convention.
  • Exchanged views on the possible development of a future strategic framework and/or effectiveness evaluation of the Basel Convention.
  • Progressed towards finalizing the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of POPs, taking into account the POPs listed under the Stockholm Convention at its ninth meeting, which was held in 2019; and the technical guidelines on environmentally sound disposal of hazardous wastes and other wastes in specially engineered landfill (D5).

Packed with seven hours of plenary meetings, nearly 20 hours of contact group meetings, and five side events, the OEWG-12 was successfully concluded within the allocated three days, providing a solid foundation for the Basel COP-15, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 17 June 2022.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, or BRS Secretariat, supports Parties implement the three leading multilateral environment agreements governing chemicals and waste management, in order to protect human health and the environment. See www.brsmeas.org for more information and follow the @brsmeas Twitter feed for daily news.

For more information, please contact:

For technical questions on the OEWG-12, please contact: Susan Wingfield, BRS Programme Management Officer susan.wingfield@un.org.

For media inquiries please, contact: Marisofi Giannouli, BRS Associate Public Information officer, marisofi.giannouli@un.org.

 Impact of COVID-19 on BRS meetings <span class="attentionNote">(Updated 11 April 2022)</span>
 

Impact of COVID-19 on BRS meetings (Updated 11 April 2022)

 Impact of COVID-19 on BRS meetings <span class="attentionNote">(Updated 11 April 2022)</span>
 
Basel Convention collaborates with WCO and UNEP Ozone Action to raise awareness of the role that Customs have in controlling the TBM of hazardous wastes
The World Customs Organization (WCO) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (Ozone Action) and the Basel Convention Secretariat conducted a series of virtual workshops for the Eswatini Revenue Service and the Zambia Revenue Authority, to increase awareness of the Basel Convention and the Montreal Protocol agreements.

Basel Convention collaborates with WCO and UNEP Ozone Action to raise awareness of the role that Customs have in controlling the TBM of hazardous wastes

Basel Convention collaborates with WCO and UNEP Ozone Action to raise awareness of the role that Customs have in controlling the TBM of hazardous wastes
 
Africa preparatory meeting held in the lead-up to the triple COPs
The Africa regional preparatory meeting for the upcoming Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions takes place from 7 to 9 April in Nairobi, following the twelfth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG-12).

Africa preparatory meeting held in the lead-up to the triple COPs

Africa preparatory meeting held in the lead-up to the triple COPs
 
12th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention is underway
The face-to-face segment of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention will be held from 4 to 6 April 2022, in the United Nations Office at Nairobi.

12th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention is underway

12th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention is underway
 
Tentative schedule of work for the BRS COPs is available now!
The tentative schedule of work for the face-to-face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (BRS COPs) has been issued. The 2021/2022 BRS COPs will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 16 June 2022.

Tentative schedule of work for the BRS COPs is available now!

Tentative schedule of work for the BRS COPs is available now!
 
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