Persistent Organic PollutantsOverviewThe overall goal of UNITAR's Persistent Organic Pollutants activities is to provide support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. The POPs Programme Area, which is located within and draws upon methodologies developed through UNITAR's Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, aims to assist countries to strengthen the fundamentals of chemicals management in a number of areas; to provide technical assistance in specialised areas of POPs management; and to encourage integrated approaches involving all relevant ministries and stakeholders. Planning ActivitiesUNITAR provides a variety of services in support of planning for Stockholm Convention implementation, such as skills building for action plan development; assistance to countries in developing National Implementation Plans; support for National Profile development/updating; and building capacity within countries to undertake a systematic process for risk management decision making for priority chemicals. Implementation ActivitiesUNITAR also supports a wide range of Stockholm Convention implementation projects provides, including PCB elimination, legislative development and infrastructure building, and other institutional strengthening efforts (such as the design and implementation of Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals as part of Stockholm Convention implementation). More About the POPs ProgrammeTo view various POPs-related guidance material, please click here. What are POPs?POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. POPs circulate globally and can cause damage wherever they travel. In implementing the Stockholm Convention, governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. (1) UNITAR at the International LevelUNITAR is very active in policy-level coordination and deliberations related to POPs, including participation in the IOMC Coordinating Group on Persistent Organic Pollutants; and representation at previous meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Stockholm Convention and Stockholm Convention Conferences of the Parties. In addition, UNITAR is a partner in the African Stockpiles Programme. Draft guidance on calculation of action plan costs, including incremental costs and action plans for specific persistent organic pollutants for COP4In response to the requests below, the Secretariat, in collaboration with UNITAR, developed draft additional guidance on the calculation of action plan costs, including incremental costs, and action plans for specific persistent organic pollutants (UNEP/POPS/COP.4/INF/11). UNITAR Reporting to the INCs and COPs of the Stockholm ConventionUNITAR has reported on its Stockholm Convention-related activities in detail to COP-1 as well as the sixth and seventh sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Africa Stockpiles ProgrammeVirtually every African country has stockpiles of obsolete pesticides and associated wastes that have accumulated over periods as long as 40 years. At least 50,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides, as well as tens of thousands of tonnes of contaminated soil, have accumulated in African countries. These pesticides pose serious threats to the health of both rural and urban populations, especially the poorest of the poor, and contribute to land and water degradation. The stockpiles consist of toxic pesticides and associated contaminated materials. Many of these chemicals and their containers are in poor condition and threaten local and regional environments through the contamination of soil, water, food and air.
ASP brings together the skills, expertise, and resources of a diverse group of stakeholders, enabling national leadership to carry out country-led activities. This exciting, innovative project offers real on-the-ground solutions to a difficult problem. By reducing and removing long-standing toxic threats throughout Africa, ASP promotes improved public health, poverty reduction, and environmental safety--critical elements of sustainable development. (2) Fostering Active and Effective Civil Society Participation in Preparations for Implementation of the Stockholm ConventionUNITAR supported activities for the GEF Medium-Sized project Fostering Active and Effective Civil Society Participation in Preparations for Implementation of the Stockholm Convention, with financial support (provided as project matching funds) from SAEFL and SDC. UNITAR is providing direct financial support to a network of decentralised NGO “hubs” in different regions, and technical assistance that will be determined through an informal assessment of NGO needs that may be met through existing UNITAR services. UNITAR also participates in the Steering Committee for this project. Future DirectionsUNITAR's POPs Programme will continue to work with countries according to their needs in the area of POPs management. Specific plans include:
Other plans include:
|
|
Download: