February 3, 2022
BANGKOK (TH) —The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) welcomed steps taken by States gathered in Thailand to advance the establishment of a new Science-Policy Panel on the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution.
Despite a limited agenda and some challenges in the run-up to the meeting, States made critical progress on important matters, including the scope and functions of the future panel and setting a roadmap for the rest of the negotiations.
Members of the CIEL delegation issued the following reactions:
Giulia Carlini, Senior Attorney
“The negotiations demonstrated that the majority of States are ready to take action to address the numerous health and environmental issues surrounding chemicals and waste. The presence of scientists and academics during the negotiations served as a pertinent reminder of the need to follow independent science when determining national, regional, and international policies on chemicals and waste.
Many States also highlighted the need for human rights to be at the heart of the operating principles of the Science-Policy Panel. As the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated during the negotiations, governments have legal obligations to respect and uphold human rights, especially in light of the recent universal recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by the UN General Assembly. A human rights approach, driven by the principles of precaution, prevention, and intergenerational equity, must be the guiding star for States in upcoming negotiations.”
David Azoulay, Director of the Environmental Health Program
“While active stakeholder participation advanced important discussions that have the potential to meaningfully impact the structure and role of the future Science-Policy Panel, the road ahead is still long and bumpy. And the stakes are getting higher. The next round of negotiations will be key to ensuring that the Panel has the means and power to take on the global chemicals, waste, and pollution crisis and pave the way for a toxic-free future for people and the planet. In particular, it will be critical to address the role of the chemicals industry in the Panel. If the Panel is to succeed, it will be essential to prevent conflicts of interest and the corporate capture of scientific and regulatory processes, which are currently responsible for continuous harm to communities and the environment worldwide.”
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Press contact: Niccolo Sarno | press@ciel.org
Notes to editors:
In March 2022, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) 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 first session of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) to negotiate the Panel took place on October 6, 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya, in a hybrid format, and resumed in person (OEWG-1.2) in Bangkok from January 30 to February 3. Similarly to the negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution (INC), the OEWG intends to complete its work by the end of 2024.
Relevant resources:
- Report by the Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Professor Marcos A. Orellana, “Right to science in the context of toxic substances”
- Quick view on the Science-Policy Panel by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN)
- Webinar by theInternational Panel on Chemical Pollution “Unwrapping Conflict of Interest in Chemicals and Waste Governance