New Science policy panel on Chemicals opens its 1st session today

The United Nations’ most recent scientific body, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), will open today in Geneva and hold its first meeting this week. Following the well-known IPCC for climate change and the IPBES for biodiversity, the ISP-CWP was established last year as an independent, expert-driven body tasked with providing Member States and other stakeholders with scientifically sound assessments on chemical pollution, as well as policy-relevant advice and recommendations.

From the IPCC on climate change, to IPBES on biodiversity, and now the ISP-CWP on pollution, these international bodies reflect the need and the commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation and advancing solutions aligned with global agreements such as the Paris Agreement, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Global Framework on Chemicals (known as the three environment-related frameworks, the pollution one being the most recent).

In the face of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the effective involvement of local and regional governments in the work of the ISP-CWP will be essential once the Panel becomes fully operational. Even more than climate change mitigation or biodiversity protection, the prevention of pollution and the management of chemicals and waste lies primarily in the hands of local and regional governments, which regulate, operate, and enforce policies on the ground. As frontline actors directly responsible for waste management systems, planning, industrial oversight, and public health protection, subnational governments are indispensable to translate global scientific guidance into effective local action. The Global Cities Hub will closely follow the Panel’s initial steps, encouraging both panelists and Member states to fully integrate local and regional perspectives on chemicals, waste, and pollution into the Panel’s future work.

To use the gathering of experts and Member States, the week will finish in Geneva with the resumed Third part of the Fifth session of the Plastic pollution treaty negotiation (INC 5.3) where Member States will decide how to continue the negotiation of this new international treaty and who will be the Chair. Follow us to know  more about it as of next Monday.