Background

In September 2015, the fourth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management, through resolution IV/4, initiated an intersessional process to prepare recommendations regarding the Strategic Approach and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.

2023 Activities

IOMC Multi-stakeholder Expert Workshop on Advancing Chemicals and Waste Management in Economic Sectors and Industries

Development of guidance and elements of a possible global programme in preparation of IP 4.3 and the 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5)

 
Organized by UNITAR, on behalf of IOMC, and hosted in Geneva, 20-21 June 2023

 

 

Background

The second edition of the Global Chemicals Outlook (GCO-II) stated that hazardous chemicals in products and value chains are causing concern for human health and environment. Relevant economic sectors include: agriculture and food production, construction and building, cosmetics and personal care, electronics, energy, health care, minerals and mining, packaging, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, retail, textiles, toys, and waste management.

While developing global targets for chemicals and waste beyond 2020 at the fourth meeting of the intersessional process (IP4.1) in September 2022, one proposal encourages chemical intensive economic sectors to develop “sustainable chemical and waste management strategies…which identify priority chemicals of concern [as well as] standards and measures to reduce chemical input and footprint along the value chains”.

To help advance international discussion on the above developments, the IOMC invited interested stakeholders to a global multi-stakeholder workshop hosted by the OECD in Paris, in January 2023This workshop initiated important work to support economic industry sector engagement towards chemicals and waste management beyond 2020 and fed into the next meeting of the intersessional process held in Nairobi, in February-March 2023 (IP4.2). 

 

Workshop purpose

In response to these developments and to build on the outputs from IP4.2, the IOMC (FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UNITAR, WHO, the World Bank and the OECD) organized a two-day IOMC expert follow-up workshop, featuring specialist discussions on draft guiding principles to support sector strategies, deep dive consultations with stakeholders, as well as further exploration of activities for a possible Beyond 2020 Implementation Programme. The workshop brought together relevant actors from companies and associations, as well as other stakeholders to feed into the discussions.

The outcomes of this workshop will support discussions at the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management in Bonn, Germany (Sept. 2023), where the future global framework on the strategic approach and sound management of chemicals and waste Beyond 2020 is expected to be adopted. 

 

Document and information

Advancing global chemicals and waste management in chemical intensive economic sectors and value chains

 

A multi-stakeholder workshop in support of the intersessional process for the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 (“Beyond 2020”)
 
Organized by the IOMC and hosted by OECD in Paris, 18-19 January 2023

 

Background

The second edition of the Global Chemicals Outlook (GCO-II) stated that hazardous chemicals in products and value chains are causing concern for human health and environment. Relevant economic sectors include: agriculture and food production, construction and building, cosmetics and personal care, electronics, energy, health care, minerals and mining, packaging, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, retail, textiles, toys, and waste management.

While developing global targets for chemicals and waste beyond 2020 at the fourth meeting of the intersessional process (IP4.1) in September 2022, one proposal encourages chemical intensive economic sectors to develop “sustainable chemical and waste management strategies…which identify priority chemicals of concern [as well as] standards and measures to reduce chemical input and footprint along the value chains”.

 

Workshop purpose

In response to this development, the IOMC (FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UNITAR, WHO, the World Bank and the OECD) are pleased to invite interested stakeholders to a global, multi-stakeholder workshop hosted by the OECD, in Paris, France on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 January 2023. The workshop builds on IP4.1 discussions and the successful IOMC workshop held in Bucharest, on Friday 26 August 2022. 

The workshop brought together relevant actors from companies and associations, as well as other stakeholders to explore guiding considerations and principles to support effective global action in chemical intensive economic sectors and value chains under the new “beyond 2020” framework, as well as pertinent draft targets. Participants explored opportunities to operationalize the draft targets related to chemical intensive economic sectors and value chains.

The outcomes feed into discussions at the fourth meeting of the intersessional process (IP 4.2, Nairobi, Kenya, 27/2 – 3/3/2023) and the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management in Bonn, Germany (Sept. 2023). 

 

Document and information

2022 Activities

"Stakeholder workshop: Strengthening integrated chemicals and waste management:

How can a future framework beyond 2020 ensure effective engagement of all key stakeholders?”

A multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder workshop, Bucharest, Romania, 26 August 2022

At the 2022 regional SAICM meetings, the Inter Organization Programme of the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) indicated that there could be value in strengthening integrated chemicals and waste management. An important aspect of this approach is to ensure that all key sectors and actors in the value chain effectively engage in, and contribute to, achieving the objectives of a future approach to chemicals and waste management beyond 2020.

Furthermore, in June 2022, the IOMC and the SAICM Secretariat organized a side event at the BRS COPs to introduce proposed elements of integrated chemicals and waste management and to share the experience of some of the IOMC organizations. Participants demonstrated interest in the approach.

Drawing upon relevant features in the SAICM Overarching Policy Strategy, a refined integrated management approach could include three important dimensions: 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.

To give stakeholders the opportunity to discuss integrated management further and explore its relevance (or certain elements of it) for the “Beyond 2020” framework, IOMC is organising a 1-day interactive multisectoral and multi-stakeholder workshop on 26 August 2022, in advance of IP4 in Bucharest, Romania. Considerations of the IOMC, as well as input from other stakeholders will inform the workshop and its working groups. Outcomes may include suggestions to strengthen integrated management at all levels and to refine relevant “Beyond 2020” strategic objectives and targets currently under development.

The workshop constitutes the latest in a series of interactive workshops to support the intersessional process for the strategic approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020. 

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