Page 142 - CW E-Magazine (16-7-2024)

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GLOBAL EFFORTS

Third OEWG meet stresses science-based management

of chemicals

It is globally accepted that the
world is facing three major crises:
climate change, loss of biodiversity
and pollution. For the fi rst two, Inter-
Governmental organisations have been
set up – the Inter-Governmental Panel on
Climate Change, in 1988; and the Inter-
Governmental Science-Policy Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services, in 2012.

In the United Nations Environ-
ment Assembly (UNEA) held in March
2022, Member States resolved that a
Science Policy Panel (SPP) should be
established to contribute to the sound
management of chemicals and waste
and prevent pollution, and requested
United Nations Environment Program Kartin Schneeberger, Director of Fede-  Arrangements for identifying and
(UNEP) to establish an Open Ended ral Offi ce for the Environment, Govern- engaging with experts to contribute
Working Group (OEWG) to prepare ment of Switzerland; Sheila Agarwal- to work of the panel;
detailed proposals. The fi rst session Khan, Director, Economy Division,  Procedures for the review and adop-

of the OEWG was held on October 6, UNEP; and Tessa Goverse, Princi- tion of reports and assessments pro-
2022 in Nairobi, followed by another pal Coordinator, OEWG Secretariat, duced by the panel;
meeting in Bangkok from January 30 to UNEP. They stressed the need for  Confl ict of interest policy;

February 3, 2023. The second session focused, inclusive, inter-disciplinary  Financial procedure and budget; and

(also in Nairobi) was held from December approach and evidence-based solutions  Evaluation of operational effective-

11-15, 2023. that would address environmental, ness and impact of the panel.
health, social and economic issues.
Third session of the OEWG To ensure wide representation,
The third session of the OEWG Participants in the OEWG meetings major stakeholders including NGOs,
was held in Geneva (Switzerland) from deliberated on: industry, science & technology com-
June 17-21, 2024 and attended by 550  Scope, objectives and functions of munity, women, children & youth,

delegates from 124 countries and 54 the panel; workers & trade unions, farmers, indi-
observer organisations. Indian scien-  Rules of procedure and the operat- genous people and local authorities,
tist, Dr. Bipul Saha, represented the ing principles governing the work were invited.
International Union of Pure and Applied of the panel;
Chemistry (IUPAC), the largest global  Process for determining the work IUPAC position

organisation of chemistry professio- programme, including prioritisation; Presenting its viewpoints IUPAC
nals, in the meeting.  Procedures for the preparation and representatives stressed the need for
clearance of the panel deliverables; transparency in all processes and deci-
Speakers at the inaugural session, in-  Relationships with key stakeholders sions of the panel, and engagement with
cluded Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, including Governmental and non- diverse stakeholders including scien-
Director-General, WHO; Gudi Alke- Governmental organisations and tists, policymakers, industry representa-
made of Netherlands, Chair, OEWG; civil society; tives, and the public. It also called on the

142 Chemical Weekly July 16, 2024

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