On the road to UNEA-5.2: Establishing a Science-Policy Panel (SPP) for Chemicals, Waste and Pollution

Albania, Mali, North-Macedonia, Switzerland and Uruguay are co-convening a series of webinar events entitled “On the road to UNEA 5.2: Establishing a Science-Policy Panel (SPP) for Chemicals, Waste and Pollution”, in December 2021, with UNEP logistics and technical support. The aim is to share key findings from the UNEP Assessment Report, and further reflect on the urgent need to strengthen the science-policy interface, ahead of the second segment of the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), scheduled to take place from 28 February to 2 March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.

At its fourth session held in 2019, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) adopted resolution 4/8, which recognized that science is needed to set priorities, for policymaking and to monitor progress: science-based decision-making should be promoted at all levels, and that the science-policy interface needs to be strengthened. UNEA-4 further requested the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to prepare an assessment of options for strengthening the science-policy interface at the international level. The assessment report (available here) reviews a variety of existing science-policy interface platforms and examines potential impacts of and outputs from a strengthened science-policy interface for chemicals and waste. This series of webinars is co-convened by Albania, Mali, NorthMacedonia, Switzerland and Uruguay with the support of UNEP. It aims to inform stakeholders of the key findings from the UNEP Assessment Report in preparation for discussions expected to take place during the second segment of the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), to be held from 28 February to 2 March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Programme

Meeting Facilitator: the webinar will be facilitated by Mr. John Roberts

Welcoming Remarks – Co-convener(s) of the region - ~5 Minutes
The co-convener(s) will open the event and welcome participants. A brief background on the need for an international Science Policy Panel (SPP) on chemicals, waste and pollution will be provided.

Introduction of the UNEP Assessment Report – Author/UNEP - ~10 Minutes
The UNEP report on “Assessment of options for strengthening the science-policy interface at the international level for the sound management of chemicals and waste” will be introduced. A brief overview of the report structure will be provided, and key messages highlighted.

Key features– Author/UNEP - ~10 Minutes
The key features necessary for an effective international science-policy interface for chemicals and waste will be presented as identified in the UNEP Assessment Report.

Lessons Learned from Relevant Science-Policy Panels (SPPs)– Two/Three Representatives - ~15 Minutes
Representatives with knowledge or involvement in relevant Science-Policy Panel, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), will provide lessons learned and recommendations as they may be of relevance to the establishment of a Science-Policy Panel for chemicals and waste.

Introduction of the proposal for a draft UNEA-5.2 Resolution to establish a Science–Policy Panel to support
action on chemicals, waste and pollution - by one of the co-proponents – 15 Minutes
One of the countries co-sponsoring the proposal for a draft resolution to be presented at UNEA5.2, will introduce its main elements.

Question and Answer Session - ~30 Minutes
The floor will be opened for participants to ask questions to the presenters or co-conveners or provide comments.

Concluding Remarks - ~5 Minutes
The meeting facilitator will provide concluding remarks, including an initial summary of key outcomes from the briefings and perspectives on the next steps towards a Science Policy Panel for chemicals, waste and pollution.
The meeting will be closed by one of the co-conveners.

Schedule of Events

1 December 2021 from 10:00a.m. to 11:30a.m. (CET)
Audience: Africa

Languages: English and French with simultaneous interpretation

2 December 2021 from 4:00p.m. to 5:30p.m. (CET)
Audience: Latin America and the Caribbean

Languages: English and Spanish with simultaneous interpretation

2 December 2021from 9:00a.m. to 10:30a.m. (CET)
Audience: Asia

Language: English

Register: https://unep.webex.com/webappng/sites/unep/meeting/register/cdc6115cc8c94450ab59e2d711d14091?ticket=4832534b00000005f8475c67aa92d7eec858e2a75157727a84cc655c3d067fa8cff32d6df016ac7c&timestamp=1638377397777&locale=en_US

6 December 2021from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (CET)
Audience: Central and Eastern European

Languages: English and Russian with simultaneous interpretation

14 December 2021 from 2:00p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (CET)
Audience: Western European and Other States Group, jointly organized with the Geneva Environment Network
Language: English

Register: https://unep.webex.com/webappng/sites/unep/meeting/register/469e9d1060b547b397ed6dc05165ed31?ticket=4832534b000000056e6211c08287caa885eda8eac46c5d223e08f5adedab2da47f4f0c867530122e&timestamp=1638377401148&locale=en_US

15 December 2021 from 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. (CET)
Audience: Permanent Missions in Nairobi

Language: English

Find out more here: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/events/on-the-road-to-unea-5-2-establishing-a-science-policy-panel-spp-for-chemicals-waste-and-pollution/

Published on December 1, 2021