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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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 meeting report of the recent COP-14 is now accessible (Advance English version).

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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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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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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 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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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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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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Apply for space at the Information Fair, 2 to 4 May, to showcase products, processes or partnerships which improve implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions.

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Regional preparatory meetings for the 2019 COPs will be held throughout March 2019, jointly with meetings on the Minamata Convention & SAICM. Invitation letters for the meetings have been sent out.

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In Geneva on International Mountains Day, experts urge greater efforts to beat plastic pollution upstream, since Mountains Matter.

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The Barcelona and BRS conventions strengthen their cooperation to support the Mediterranean Action Plan and tackle marine plastic litter, at a signing event on 7 December 2018.

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Preventing, detecting & acting against the illegal transboundary movements of hazardous & other wastes is a crucial element in the global waste challenge.

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Important meeting assesses how to improve governance for tackling marine plastic pollution.

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The objectives of this webinar are to provide an overview of the electronic reporting system of the Basel Convention and enhance understanding of the reporting obligations under the Basel Convention. It is primarily intended for newly-designated focal points for the Basel Convention.

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Basel and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre’s roundtable meeting brings together participants from 7 Asian countries to discuss better approaches to chemicals and waste management.

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Vanuatu has become the 187th Party to the Basel Convention, with entry into force on 14 January 2019.

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The bureaux will meet on 15 and 16 November 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss preparations for the 2019 triple COPs.

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ICC-13 concludes Cabo Verde, Eritrea, Libya, Guinea-Bissau, Oman and Turkmenistan have overcome their difficulties in implementing obligations to transmit national reports or designate country contacts.

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Accepted recently by Iceland and Namibia, the Amendment now requires only two more COP-3 Parties to deposit their instruments of acceptance, to enter into force.

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Written comments are invited by 31 December 2018, on a proposal by Norway for COP-14 to amend Annexes II, VIII & IX of the Basel Convention to address plastic waste.

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Regional information sessions, throughout October, are staged back-to-back with Minamata Convention COP-2 preparatory meetings.

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BRS Executive Secretary moderates the “Ministerial Dialogue on Innovative Solutions to Detoxify our Environment” on marine plastic litter and sound management of chemicals & waste.

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This year for the first time, 13 October is designated International E-waste Day, to raise awareness of the possible hazards to health and environment of recycling mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices.

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Read the BRS Newsletter, now online, to keep up with actions for a clean planet and healthy people.

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Regional information sessions, throughout October, are staged back-to-back with Minamata Convention COP-2 preparatory meetings.

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A new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxics states that one worker dies every 30 seconds from toxic exposure in the workplace.

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Thanks to funding from the UK, an art installation in the heart of international Geneva became the focus of public awareness activity as part of the Basel Convention High Level Event on 4 September.

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