In 2020, SAICM established four CoPs – Highly Hazardous Pesticides, Chemicals in Products, Lead in Paint, and Chemicals and the Sustainable Development Goals – that have led successful knowledge exchanges. While the activities of these communities came to an end in 2022, the SAICM Secretariat is continuing the momentum with a single, all-inclusive CoP on chemicals and waste management, in partnership with the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP). This discussion is the first in the series in 2023.
As a contribution to the intersessional process on the Strategic Approach and sound chemicals and waste management beyond 2020, the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) submitted a paper on “Strengthening integrated chemicals and waste management” to IP.4 in Bucharest, Romania in 2022 (SAICM/IP.4/INF/18). The concept dates back to ICCM 1 and the adoption of SAICM in 2006 and some progress in implementation has been made. However, further discussions and action are needed to strengthen the concept and foster its implementation, taking into account developments such as the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The IOMC paper proposes three dimensions of integrated chemicals and waste management. They include: 1. Developing basic national chemical management systems and capacities in all countries; 2. Integrating chemicals management in key industry sectors and product value chains; and 3. Integrating chemicals management with sustainable development issues and initiatives. As a follow-up to the launch of the paper in 2022, a number of suggestions made in the paper have been taken up in the intersessional process.
