Pollution, especially from chemicals and waste, has been identified as a main driver of biodiversity loss. Linkages between pollution and biodiversity have been highlighted in various technical reports. In this regard, calls for enhanced cooperation have also been made by the governing bodies of chemicals and wastes Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) among the two clusters.

Along with the GBF, the CBD COP-15 adopted a monitoring framework for the GBF in decision 15/5. The GBF monitoring framework is comprised of a set of agreed indicators for tracking progress towards the goals and targets of the GBF. Under Target 7, the agreed indicators in the monitoring framework are aimed at measuring agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, plastic and hazardous waste. Under Target 16 on enabling sustainable consumption choices to reduce waste and overconsumption, several indicators related to waste reduction and recycling were considered.

Further in the same decision, the CBD COP-15 requested the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to complete the scientific and technical review of the monitoring framework and decided to consider the requirements for further work to fully implement and review the effectiveness of the monitoring framework for the GBF at its sixteenth meeting (CBD COP-16). Accordingly, SBSTTA is expected to consider revisions to the GBF monitoring framework at its twenty-sixth meeting (SBSTTA-26), which will take place from 13 to 18 May 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, and to make recommendations to CBD COP-16 in this regard.

This side event will focus on presenting the recent developments and outcomes under the chemicals and waste international agenda and explore ways on which this can be considered for supporting the implementation of the GBF.  Moreover, it will provide the opportunity to share experiences from countries and organizations on how to strengthen collaboration and coordination between the biodiversity and chemicals and waste and pollution prevention clusters, based on the collaborative efforts of UNEP and the relevant MEAs.

Relevant MEAs

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions together with the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury prepared an initial joint study entitled “Interlinkages between the chemicals and waste multilateral environmental agreements and biodiversity: key insights”. Ultimately, this exploratory study identified a significant number of areas of convergence between chemicals and waste management and biodiversity and suggested the need to resolve challenges in these areas of convergence in a manner that better reflects the interconnectedness within our natural environment.

The conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, in their decisions BC-16/22, RC-11/9 and SC-11/21 on international cooperation and coordination with other organizations, welcomed the adoption of the GBF by the CBD COP. In those decisions, the COPs reiterated their call to Parties to take into account the objectives of the GBF in their actions to implement the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions and requested the Secretariat to prepare, subject to the availability of resources, a report, including possible recommendations, on how the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions could contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Targets and 2050 Goals of GBF, for consideration by the COPs at their meetings in 2025.

The Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, in its decision MC-5/17, welcomed the adoption of the GBF by the CBD COP and requested the Secretariat to prepare a draft road map, including possible actions and indicators, to support Parties in demonstrating and maximizing the co-benefits arising from the implementation of the Minamata Convention and the GBF. In the same decision, the Minamata Convention COP noted the absence of indicators regarding the overall risk from highly hazardous chemicals in the monitoring framework for the GBF, and invited the CBD COP to consider additional indicators, under target 7, to cover highly hazardous chemicals and mercury.

The Montreal Protocol and its Amendments have successfully prevented catastrophic amounts of solar UV radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface, while at the same time reduced global warming through the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances, most of which are potent greenhouse gases. In addition, the Protocol’s 2016 Kigali Amendment focuses on phasing down hydrofluorocarbons, powerful greenhouse gases used as substitutes to ozone-depleting substances in many applications. Thus, the Montreal Protocol has been safeguarding the ozone layer and mitigating effects of harmful UV radiation and climate change. By doing so, it has been protecting life on earth, including biodiversity, human health and ecosystems.

The science of the ozone layer, relevant environmental effects [including on biodiversity] and techno-economic options for transition to ozone- and climate-friendly alternative substances in key sectors are assessed by the Protocol’s three independent Assessment Panels, which help parties take informed decisions. The 35th Meeting of the Parties, held in October 2023, adopted decision XXXV/3 on the terms of reference of the 2026 quadrennial assessments of the Assessment Panels. Many of the issues parties have asked the Panels to assess are related to biodiversity protection including the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV Radiation, and interactions with climate change on plastics and pollution. In recent years, exploring options to enhance the global and regional atmospheric monitoring of controlled substances is another key area under consideration where cooperation and leveraging with other entities would be important. In 2004, the Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties adopted decision XVI/34 on cooperation between the secretariat of the Montreal Protocol and other related conventions and international organizations. In that decision the Secretariat was requested, inter alia, to seek opportunities to enhance its cooperation with and monitor developments in other relevant conventions or organizations on issues related to the Montreal Protocol; and report such information to the Meeting of the Parties. In accordance with that decision, the Secretariat has been providing such reports to the parties on an annual basis.

The Global Framework on Chemicals

The new Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), adopted by the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), in Bonn in 2023, provides a vision for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, for a safe, healthy and sustainable future – where industry and private sectors are strategic actors to foster innovation, move towards sustainable business models and drive change. It is backed up by a High-Level Declaration that provides the political drive for its fast implementation and reminds stakeholders commitment to actively promote and support transitions to circular economies.

During the ICCM5, several important resolutions were adopted together with the framework. Resolution V/6 on international cooperation and coordination encouraged all stakeholders to consider, when implementing the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste, the important interlinkages with chemicals- and waste-related aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and also those with other instruments and measures for addressing other international development challenges, in particular in relation to poverty, health, food, energy, labor, water, sanitation, climate change and biodiversity loss. Moreover, it welcomed the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and invited stakeholders to take into account the objectives of that framework in their actions to implement the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste and requested the Secretariat to prepare a report on interlinkages between the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste and the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, outlining entry points for enhancing collaboration and cooperation in the implementation of the two frameworks, for consideration by the Conference at its next session.