Work programme of the Open-ended Working Group for 2016–2017 (annex to decision BC-12/19)

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Topics
Activities
Mandate
Priority
I.  Strategic issues
A. Cartagena Declaration on the Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes and Other Wastes
Review the progress that parties and others have made in implementation of the road map for action on the implementation of the Cartagena Declaration.
Decision BC-12/2
Annex IV to the report of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
 
High
B. Development of guidelines for environmentally sound management
1. Review the inventory and categorization of existing Basel Convention documents related to environmentally sound management referred to in paragraph 14 of decision BC-12/1.
2. Review the revised set of draft practical manuals and revised fact sheets referred to in paragraph 15 of decision BC-12/1.
3. Review the progress made in the implementation of the work programme of the expert working group on environmentally sound management.
Decision BC-12/1
High
 
 
High
 
 
 
High
C. Strategic framework
Review the progress report on the preparation of the mid-term evaluation of the strategic framework.
Decision BC-10/2
Report of the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
Medium
II. Scientific and technical matters
A. Technical guidelines
1. Undertake work towards a review of all provisional low persistent organic pollutant content values in the technical guidelines referred to in paragraph 2 of decision BC-12/3.
2. Update the general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and prepare or update specific technical guidelines with regard to the chemicals listed in Annexes A and C to the Stockholm Convention by decisions SC-7/12–SC-7/14 of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, including the following:
(a)      Establishment of levels of destruction and irreversible transformation for the chemicals necessary to ensure that when disposed of they do not exhibit the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants specified in paragraph 1 of Annex D to the Stockholm Convention;
(b)      Determination of which disposal methods constitute environmentally sound disposal as referred to in paragraph 1 (d) (ii) of Article 6 of the Stockholm Convention;
(c)       Establishment, as appropriate, of the concentration levels of the chemicals in order to define for the Stockholm Convention low persistent organic pollutant content as referred to in paragraph 1 (d) (ii) of Article 6 of the Convention.
Decision BC-12/3
High
 
 
 
High
2. Further elaboration of work on guidance on the distinction between waste and non‑waste in order to prepare draft revised technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, in particular regarding the distinction between waste and non-waste under the Basel Convention.
Decision BC-12/5
High
3. Consider whether the technical guidelines on incineration on land, specially engineered landfill and hazardous waste physico-chemical treatment should be updated.
Report of the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
High
B. Amendments to the annexes to the Basel Convention
Consider and review any applications for changes and any corrections to the list of wastes in Annexes VIII and IX to the Convention.
Decision VIII/15
High
C. National reporting
Consider and agree on a list of waste streams for which additional practical guidance on the development of inventories should be developed, based on the report prepared by the Secretariat.
Decision BC-12/6
Medium
III.  Legal, governance and enforcement matters
A. Consultation with the Committee for Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance of the Basel Convention
Consult the Committee on the development of guidance on the take-back provision under paragraph 2 of Article 9 and the implementation of paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 9 of the Convention.
Decision BC-12/7
High
B. Providing further legal clarity (country-led initiative)
1. Consider the revised version of the draft glossary including explanations prepared by the small intersessional working group on legal clarity, finalize the glossary and prepare a draft decision for the Conference of the Parties at its thirteenth meeting for its consideration and possible adoption.
2. Consider recommendations on the review of Annex IV and related issues under Annex IX to the Convention.
3. Consider views from parties and others on the review of Annexes I and III to the Convention.
Decision BC-12/1
High
 
 
 
 
 
High
 
 
Medium
IV. International cooperation and coordination
A. Basel Convention Partnership Programme
1. Consider the report of the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) Working Group.
2. Consider the revised section 3 of the guidance document on the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment and submit it, amended as appropriate, to the Conference of the Parties at its thirteenth meeting for its consideration and possible adoption.
Decision BC-12/12
Medium
 
 
Medium
3. Develop a work plan on the environmentally sound management of household wastes, with a focus on the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including but not limited to the development of guidance documents and/or manuals on matters such as best practices, business models and innovative solutions for a circular economy in various socio-economic contexts and a concept for a partnership that will assist municipalities.
Decision BC-12/13
High
B. Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization
Consider and finalize the revised draft guidance manual on how to improve the sea-land interface to ensure that wastes falling within the scope of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, once offloaded from ships, are managed in an environmentally sound manner, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its thirteenth meeting.
Decision BC-12/16
Medium
V.  Programme of work and budget
Financing and budget for the biennium 
2016–2017
Consider the reports by the Secretariat on all sources of income received, including the reserve and fund balances and interest, together with actual, provisional and projected expenditures and commitments, and by the Executive Secretary on all expenditures against the agreed budget lines.
Decision BC-12/25
Medium