Launch of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership

12 November 2019

The Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) was launched on 12 November 2019. The event, which was sponsored by the Government of Norway and hosted by the City of Geneva, brought together representatives from governments, the private sector and civil society who expressed their commitment towards making the PWP a success.

Moderated by Paul Rose, British television presenter and National Geographic Expedition Leader and Explorer,the official launch of the PWP took place on Tuesday, 12 November 2019, from 17:00 to 19:30 in Geneva’s Palais Eynard.

The launch began with opening remarks provided by the following speakers:

  • Mr. Antonio Hodgers, President of the Geneva State Council
  • His Excellency Mr. Hans Brattskar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
  • Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The highlight of the event was an interactive dialogue during which the following participants shared their views on challenges and opportunities in tackling the global plastic waste challenge and the critical role the PWP can play.

  • Mr. Ole Thomas Thommesen, Norway, Co-Chair of the PWP
  • Mr. Ross Bartley, Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Co-Chair of the PWP
  • Deputy Ambassador Mr. Alexander Grant Ntrakwa, of the Ghanaian Permanent Mission to the European Offices of the UN, WTO and other International Organizations in Geneva and Vienna
  • Mr. Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez‐Pérez, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention
  • Mr. Matthew Kilgarriff, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Richemont International SA
  • Ms. Giulia Carlini, Staff Attorney, Environmental Health Program, Centre for International Environmental Law, Geneva
  • His Excellency Mr. François Gave, Deputy Ambassador, Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Switzerland