Background

Governance and institutional issues have received significant attention during the intersessional process on the “Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020”, including at the third meeting of the intersessional process (IP3) in Bangkok, Thailand, 1 – 4 October 2019.

As a contribution to support relevant discussions in the intersessional process, UNITAR organised an informal workshop on governance topics considered of importance for the process. The workshop was supported by the Governments of Germany, Norway, and Switzerland and took place in Frankfurt, Germany from 14 to 16 January 2020, hosted at DECHEMA .

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

With ICCM5 coming up quickly (October 2020), the workshop provided participants with an opportunity collectively to consider progress to date on governance matters and to share views on priority areas for discussion at IP4 (March 2020) and the period immediately after. It offered the chance to stand back from detailed wording aspects and consider:

• What are the main governance elements of the ‘package’ agreed to date?
• What, if anything, is missing or might require more detail, clarity or emphasis?
• What might be needed to ensure successful fulfilment of the mandate given to the intersessional process towards ICCM5?

The workshop built on the outcomes of IP3, and created an opportunity for stakeholders informally to discuss issues that came up, identify possible solutions, and seek points of agreement.