CIEL Attends Signing of Persistent Organic Pollutants Treaty in Stockholm

United States and over 120 Countries Agree to Reduce and Eliminate Twelve of the World's Most Dangerous Chemicals

Representatives of over 120 countries gathered in Stockholm on May 22 to adopt a new global treaty on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).  The treaty commits states to work individually and collectively to reduce and eliminate twelve of the world’s most dangerous chemicals.  These chemicals—which include pesticides, industrial chemicals, and byproducts of incineration—are especially insidious because they are highly toxic, they take a long time to break down in the environment, they accumulate in the body fat of animals and people and can be passed from mother to child, and they can travel great distances on wind and water currents. 

USEPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman was among the high-level officials who signed the treaty on behalf of their governments.  The Bush Administration has used its endorsement of the POPs treaty to tout its commitment to environmental agreements that are rooted in “solid scientific information.”  With the exception of the unintentionally produced byproduct chemicals, all of the chemicals covered by the treaty have been banned in the United States for years, and no US manufacturer markets any of them.  Accordingly, the American Chemistry Council supports the treaty, and no significant opposition to US ratification has emerged.

Although most of the Stockholm convention was dedicated to the diplomatic formalities of adopting and signing the treaty, substantive negotiations did take place on the first day.  One of the treaty’s key features is the creation of a review procedure for identifying and adding additional POPs to the “dirty dozen” that the treaty presently regulates.  There are already several chemicals that most scientists agree should be listed.  However, because the treaty will not enter into force until after 50 countries ratify it, there could be several years before the review procedure begins, unless parties agree to set it up on an interim basis.  The European Union, with the strong support of environmental organizations, proposed a resolution that would have established the review committee and authorized it to begin the screening process for new chemicals during this interim period.  The Bush Administration flatly rejected this proposal.  Allied with Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the developing country bloc of the G-77 and China, the United States permitted adoption of a resolution that failed to establish any interim review of new substances, but—in a face-saving concession to the EU—did not affirmatively rule out the possibility of considering interim review at a later time.

Most non-governmental environment and health organizations that have been actively involved in the POPs issue have participated in the treaty negotiations as part of the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN).  Under the skillful hand of Claudia Saladin, CIEL has played a prominent role in IPEN’s largely successful efforts to guide governments toward the adoption of a strong treaty.  Now, the focus of IPEN and CIEL’s work will shift toward ratification of the treaty and implementation of its obligations, as well as the continued development of treaty mechanisms relating to listing of new chemicals, trade in listed chemicals, and compliance.  Staff attorney Glenn Wiser will represent CIEL in these efforts.