The draft overall guidance document on the environmentally sound management of household waste is now available for comment by Parties and others, by 31 January 2020.

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Hot on the heels of the PWP launch in Geneva on 12 November, the first online consultation takes place on 13 November, chaired by the Co-Chairs, Mr. Ole Thomas Thommesen (Norway) and Mr. Ross Bartley (BIC).

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The 3rd meeting of the expert working group takes place 5 to 8 November, 2019, with generous financial support from the governments of Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.

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As the 2019 Our Oceans conference concludes in Oslo, Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment, Mr Ole Elvestuen, confirms substantial support for efforts to tackle marine plastic litter.

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Established by the Basel Convention COP in May, members and the diplomatic community gather to launch this new initiative at a special event hosted by the City of Geneva.

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A public/private partnership, technical guidelines on environmentally sound management, and a massive open online course are amongst the measures tackling e-waste, the world’s fastest growing hazardous waste stream.

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The Basel Convention ENFORCE partnership met in Geneva from 30 September to 1 October, thanks to funding support from Norway.

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With waste the theme of this year’s World Habitat Day, Antonio Guterres highlights the role of frontier technologies to transform waste into wealth, and stresses the need to reduce waste in the first place.

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With waste the theme of this year’s World Habitat Day, Antonio Guterres highlights the role of frontier technologies to transform waste into wealth, and stresses the need to reduce waste in the first place.

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The final evaluation of the Convention’s Strategic Framework for implementation for 2012-2021 is underway, and Parties are asked to submit information by 31 January 2020.

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The BRS Secretariat is still accepting applications for membership to the follow-up partnership to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE), and also inviting comments on the new work programme and terms of reference, with deadline 30 September 2019.

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Building on the recent Basel Convention plastic waste amendment, a new Norwegian-funded initiative has begun, with inception meetings in Dhaka for experts and stakeholders, 18 to 19 September, 2019.

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Dakar, Senegal, hosts a capacity-building workshop for governments and other stakeholders working towards the sound management of chemicals and waste, including plastic waste. Funding support kindly provided by the Government of France.

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Read Rolph Payet’s guest blog on plastic waste and the oceans and how the Basel Convention’s Plastic Waste Amendment can contribute to tackling the problem.

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At the recent regional High-Level Minister’s Talanoa in Apia, Samoa, Pacific countries welcomed the recent amendments to the Convention and urged action on implementing the new controls.

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With Croatia’s recent ratification of the @UN Basel Convention’s Ban Amendment, the threshold has now been reached, strengthening the prohibition of unwanted shipments of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries. Entry-into-force is 5 December 2019. Official Press Release to follow.

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Ratification by Caribbean island state brings the entry into force of the Amendment another step closer.

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The second meeting of the Household Waste Partnership takes place in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 4 to 6 September.

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The BRS Secretariat is now seeking partners to mobilise business, government, international organisation, academic and civil society interests and expertise on the environmentally sound management – including prevention and minimisation – of plastic waste. The deadline for expressing interest is 31 August 2019.

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Parties and observers are kindly invited to respond to requests from the recent COP-14, for follow-up to the decisions taken by Parties in Geneva, in May.

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The French government’s new fund supports activities in support of the global chemicals conventions in developing countries, and has a deadline for project proposals of 4 October 2019.

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Watch the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions “Behind the Scenes” video for a better understanding of how the Triple COPs work.

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On the occasion of World Environment Day, read the BRS Press Release highlighting the need to make the invisible, visible to beat air pollution.

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The online briefings will provide an overview of the main outcomes and decisions of the recent meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions that were held from 29 April to 10 May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Watch key parts of the Triple COPs, including the moment Parties decided, by consensus, to amend the Basel Convention to tackle plastic wastes.

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First plastics meeting since the COP decision to amend the Basel Convention sees GESAMP experts assess risks associated with plastics in the marine environment.

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The 2019 Triple COPs concluded successfully with a raft of decisions to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of chemicals and wastes, including plastic waste.

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Plastic waste and especially marine plastic litter is an environmental problem occurring on a global scale today. The ubiquitous transboundary movement of plastic wastes and microplastics is becoming a major concern as their property of durability makes their particles remain for long period of time.

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Read the opening day BRS press release, outlining what to expect from the 2019 meetings of the conferences of parties to the Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm conventions.

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BRS co-hosts workshop with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on the circular economy, e-waste, and the SDGs during the 2019 World Summit on the Information Society.

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To mark World Health Day on 7^th April, read the BRS Secretariat’s Press Release calling for greater action to prevent illness and death from unsound management of chemicals and waste.

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To reduce plastic waste at the meetings of the conferences of the Parties, arrangements have been made with the venue and catering service to minimize the use of plastic take-out containers, sandwich bags, cutlery and cups. Delegates are therefore invited to bring reusable drinking containers (mugs, bottles) for use at the cafeteria and water fountains located throughout the venue. There will be no disposable plastic cups at the COPs!

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Experts converge on the Stockholm Regional Centre for the Mediterranean in Barcelona 3 to 6 April, to share and develop best practices on ESM of plastic waste, with thanks to Sweden for funding support.

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With thanks to Norway and Switzerland for funding support, BRS regional preparatory meetings continue this week in Brno, Czech Republic and in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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With 187 Parties, the Basel Convention has come a long way since adoption on 22 March 1989. Read the BRS Press Release marking this milestone.

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Switzerland, the BRS Secretariat, and the Geneva Environment Network, co-host a special event in the UN Palais des Nations, 22 March 2019 at 16:00, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention’s adoption.

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With thanks to Norway and Switzerland for funding support, African countries come together in Nairobi, 18 to 20 March, to prepare for the 2019 Triple COPs.

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Aiming to make the invisible, visible, this special 8-issue newspaper is brought to you by the BRS Secretariat, Minamata Convention, SAICM, and UN Environment (Chemicals & Waste) Branch.

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A speech by the UNEA President on day one, and an informal gathering of dignatories and stakeholders in day two, mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention’s adoption.

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To mark International Women’s Day, read our new Press Release on why women and girls are more likely than men to suffer adverse effects from chemicals and waste.

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The Secretariat participated in more than 10 events, submitted numerous background documents, and staged 2 exhibitions throughout the 4th UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, 11 to 15 March.

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All working documents for the 2019 COPs, and most information documents, are now available online.

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With people everywhere marking World Wildlife Day on 3 March, read the new BRS Press Release on the impact of chemicals and waste on our planet’s fauna.

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A must-read for all those interested in, or working towards, the sound management of chemicals and waste.

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BRS Secretariat, UN Environment and the UN Office at Geneva urge international Geneva to minimize single-use plastics.

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The report of the joint meeting of the COPs bureaux, held in Geneva from 15 to 16 November 2018, is now available online.

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BRS Secretariat joins forces with Geneva Environment Network and the governments of France, Gabon & Norway to further explore options for tackling marine litter.

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Meet the BRS Science & Technical Assistance Branch, which has female staff from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, & Latin America, all working for a Clean Planet & Healthy People.

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Read the new BRS Blog to find out how the COPs will contribute to a clean planet and healthy people.

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Pre-session documents for the 2019 COPs, including the proposed programmes of work and budgets for the conventions for 2020-2021, are now available.

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