Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution

On June 20, countries gathered in Punta del Este, Uruguay, to establish a new global science-policy panel. This body, named the “Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution,” aims to support the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution worldwide.

Purpose and Context

• The new panel will provide nations with independent, policy-relevant scientific advice on issues related to chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention. Its creation follows a United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution in 2022 that called for such an intergovernmental body.
• This initiative comes as the impacts of the triple planetary crisis—climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste—become increasingly severe.
• The new panel completes a global scientific trifecta, joining the existing Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Addressing the Challenge

• While chemicals are an integral part of modern life, their unintended negative impacts significantly contribute to global pollution and increase the burden of disease. They contaminate the air, water, and soil, leading to profound consequences for both human and environmental health.
• The newly proposed panel seeks to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and policy implementation.
• Its primary goal is to empower governments, especially in developing countries, with the necessary evidence, insights, and tools to take effective, context-specific action against chemical and waste pollution.

(Source: UN)