The 5th Session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management /ICCM5, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and hosted by Germany as the Chair of the Conference ICCM5 will be held from September 25 to 29, 2023 at the World Conference Center Bonn, Germany. A pre-conference briefing for the ICCM5 meeting was held in Geneva on 24 August 2023.
The briefing began with the moderator, Jacqueline Alvarez, Chief of the Chemicals and Health Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme, explaining what the international community is doing to achieve sustainable and sound management of chemicals and waste, a daunting task and inviting everyone to think about whether what is being done is enough to achieve this goal. While individual action makes a valuable contribution to the challenge, it is collective action that matters. The Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) represented a concrete change that demonstrated the impact that collective action could have, and she therefore invited all participating stakeholders to take courageous and bold decisions at the upcoming meeting to advance the sound chemicals management agenda.
Anita Breyer, Chair of ICCM5, said it was an honor to present this important milestone and collective mission to ensure the safe management of chemicals and waste to the Geneva Environment Network. The ICCM5 comes at a critical time when pollution is considered one of the top three ecological threats to life on Earth, along with climate change and biodiversity loss, and a significant portion of that pollution is caused by irresponsible or improper handling of chemicals and waste.
ICCM5, jointly organized by UNEP and the Government of Germany, is scheduled to take place from 25 to 29 September 2023 at the World Congress Centre in Bonn. This will mark the gathering of high-level policymakers, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, including youth groups, industry players and experts from all fields to work together to lay the political groundwork for ambitious commitments to tackle the far-reaching impact of chemicals and waste in today’s complex environment. A key element of this political foundation is increased attention to the importance of sustainable chemicals management. All sectors need to understand their respective responsibilities in creating a world of chemical safety.
On 28 and 29 September 2023, a high-level meeting will be held with the aim of mobilizing international commitment to the chemicals and waste agenda and making everyone aware of their responsibilities. The thematic round tables of the Conference will provide a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, focusing on ways and means to concretely implement the new framework instrument.
Next, Pierre Quiblier from the Secretariat of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management/SAICM provided an update on the preparations.
“I am more confident than ever that together we will create a strong international framework that will further drive multisectoral and stakeholder commitment and collaboration to deliver concrete actions across sectors and value chains,” said the ICCM5 President, summing up the most recent intersessional process meeting, held in Nairobi from late February to early March 2023.
At the Nairobi meeting, delegates welcomed the revised consolidated text submitted on 3 March 2023 as a significant achievement, but agreed with the proposal of the Co-Chairs of the Intersessional process that the Intersessional process meet again and reconvene two days before ICCM5, to be held in Bonn, Germany, on 23 and 24 September 2023. To complete the intersessional process.
In the stakeholder perspective segment, Shannon Lisa, Global focal point for the Youth Forum on Chemicals and Waste from major groups of children and youth, and Jorge, Programme Manager for Chemicals and Waste Management at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Chair of the Interorganizational Programme for Sound Chemicals Management (IOMC) Ocana; Tessa Goverse, Principal Officer of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Science Policy Group on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention (SPP); and David, Deputy Executive Secretary of the secretariats of the three international chemical Conventions (Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions) Ogden, Servet Goren, Director of International affairs for the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) from the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), Rory O ‘Neill, Labour and occupational Health Adviser from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and Health Care Susan Wilburn, Senior Sustainability Advisor, Without Harm, and other panelists gave their views.
(Note: This article is for information only and does not represent the views of the platform.)
Article source: Marine and Wetland （China Green Development Association）
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