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Event Body Meeting

OEWG 3: Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution

17 Jun 2024 – 21 Jun 2024

Venue: CICG

Organization: Ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention

Chemicals and Pollution | Science

SDG3 | SDG12

The third session of the ad hoc open-ended working group to prepare proposals for a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (OEWG 3), took place at the International Conference Center in Geneva (CICG) from 17 to 21 June 2024. The meeting was preceded by informal, regional and stakeholder consultations, on 16 June 2024.

The third session of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on the Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution was suspended at 23.01 CEST, on Friday 21 June 2024. It will resume at a session to be organized back to back with the Intergovernmental Meeting.

Report of OEWG 3.1 (Advance)
UNEP Press Release | 22 June 2024

Developing a Science-Policy Panel On Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention

Chemicals and waste pollution is a global threat that warrants global action. While scientific studies have been and are being conducted to understand the impacts of the increasing production, diversification and management of chemicals and waste, international policy-makers do not have yet a global mechanism to stay informed regarding the up-to-date scientific evidence, limiting their ability to identify and address these threats in a timely manner. To minimize adverse impacts of chemicals and waste urgent ambitious and action is needed at all levels. This includes strengthening the science-policy interface through enhanced collaboration of scientists and decision-makers.

Effectively addressing the triple planetary crisis involving climate, biodiversity, and chemicals and pollution requires an international science-based assessment to tackle such a threat. Two of these these already have the scientific basis and bodies contributing fully to the development of of the science needed to address them, namely the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

UNEA Resolution 5/8

In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly at its resumed fifth session (UNEA-5.2) decided that a science-policy panel should be established to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. The establishment of a Science-Policy Panel can help strengthen the scientific basis of policies related to chemicals and waste management, and contribute to more effective and sustainable approaches to preventing pollution and protecting human health and the environment.

Through its resolution 5/8, UNEA further decided to convene, subject to the availability of resources, an ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) to prepare proposals for the science-policy panel, to begin work in 2022 with the ambition of completing it by the end of 2024.  The first two sessions of the OEWG took place in Bangkok and Nairobi in 2023. The third session will take place in Geneva, in June 2024.

Developing a Global Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention

OEWG 3

The third session of the ad hoc open-ended working group to prepare proposals for a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (OEWG-3), is held at the International Conference Center in Geneva (CICG) from 17 to 21 June 2024.

The meeting was be preceded by informal, regional and stakeholder consultations, on 16 June 2024 at the same venue. SPP OEWG-3 is held in-person and conducted in the six official languages of the United Nations.

At its third session, the working group is expected to conclude its substantive discussions on proposals for the establishment of a science-policy panel including issues outlined in paragraph 5 and 6 of UNEA resolution 5/8.

OEWG 3 Official Website
IISD Earth Negotiation Bulletin Live Coverage

Plenary Webcast

Plenary Day 5

Plenary Day 4

Plenary Day 3

Opening Plenary

Highlights

Photo Gallery | Day 5

The final plenary of the third session of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on the Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution broke for a final informal discussion a few minutes before it was suspended at 23.01 CEST, on Friday 21 June 2024.

Analyses and News

Photo Gallery | Day 4

Analyses and News

Photo Gallery | Day 3

In-Session Documents

Analyses and News

Photo Gallery | Day 2

In-Session Documents

Analyses and News

Photo Gallery | Day 1

Analyses and News

Photo Gallery | Day 0

Analyses and News

Press Briefing

On 14 June 2024, Jacqueline Álvarez, the Chief of UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch, provided details on OEWG during the UN Geneva Press Briefing.

Press Briefing 14 June 2024

Provisional Agenda

  1. Opening of the session.
  2. Election of officers
  3. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters:
    (a) Adoption of the agenda;
    (b) Organizational matters.
  4. Preparation of proposals for the establishment of a science-policy panel.
  5. Recommendations to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme for the preparation of the intergovernmental meeting to establish the science-policy panel.
  6. Other matters.
  7. Adoption of the report of the session.
  8. 8. Closure of the session.
Provisional Agenda (UNEP/SPP-CWP/OEWG.3/1)
Annotated provisional agenda (UNEP/SPP-CWP/OEWG.3/1/Add.1)

Tentative Schedule

Regional and Stakeholder Consultations

On Sunday 16 June 2024, regional and stakeholder consultations took place:

Major Groups & Stakeholders Consultation Press Release

Major Groups & Stakeholders held a successful consultation event on Sunday 16 June ahead of the OEWG3 Plenary. SPP Madame Chair Gudi Alkemade and Head of the SPP Secretariat Tessa Goverse joined the MGS event from their busy schedule, for an initial Q&A session, to support non-government participants about the practicalities in preparing for the week ahead. In the second session, the MGS discussed key aspects of the OEWG3 papers. It was good to hear that there was a significant amount of agreement and consensus in the room on key points relating to institutional arrangements and conflict of interest procedures. Members heard about the concept of a potential SPP Science Alliance and were broadly supportive of the idea – sources of funding and finding a suitable host would be the key next steps for this initiative. The MGS will meet every morning between 8.30-9.30 as the negotiations evolve.

International Geneva @ OEWG 3

Numerous Geneva-based experts and diplomats will be attending and actively participating in the third session of the ad hoc open-ended working group to prepare proposals for a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (OEWG 3).  Home of several international organizations and multilateral environmental agreements addressing chemicals, waste and related pollution challenges, Geneva is a major global hub for the governance of hazardous substances and to beat pollution. Find out more about Geneva actors engaged to achieve the goal of safe and sustainable management of chemicals. → Geneva addressing Hazardous Substances

Highly engaged in the process, actors and stakeholders from International Geneva have provided written submissions for the document to be prepared by the Secretariat presenting potential options on the working documents prepared for the third session of the open-ended working group: Switzerland | World Health Organization (WHO)

Road to OEWG 3 Series

Since April 2024, the Road to OEWG 3 webinar and events series, co-organized by the Secretariat of the OEWG and the Geneva Environment Network, aimed at building bridges and promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing between and among stakeholders, and raising public awareness about the OEWG preparing proposals for the establishment of the panel.  Rewatch the sessions’ recording, read summaries and access resources:

Documents and Links