9th meeting
4 February 1999

20/24. International action to protect health and the environment through measures which will reduce and/or eliminate emissions and discharges of persistent organic pollutants, including the development of an international legally binding instrument

The Governing Council,

        Having considered the report of the Executive Director on international action to protect human health and the environment through measures which will reduce and/or eliminate emission and discharges of persistent organic pollutants, including the development of an international legally binding instrument (UNEP/GC.20/41),

1. Welcomes the progress in the preparation of an international legally binding instrument for implementing international action on certain organic pollutants as well as the implementation of the immediate actions called for in paragraph 13 of its decision 19/13 C of 7 February 1997;

2. Invites the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Organic Pollutants to continue its work with a view to the conclusion of a legally binding instrument by the year 2000;

3. Requests the Executive Director to continue taking the actions as requested by the Governing Council in its decision 19/13 C, including the immediate actions identified in paragraph 13 of that decision;

4. Calls upon Governments as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to consider providing financial contributions for further negotiations of an international legally binding instrument for implementing international action on certain organic pollutants, particularly through the "POPs Club";

5. Encourages Governments as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide financial and in-kind contributions for supporting the implementation of the immediate actions as called for in paragraph 13 of Governing Council decision 19/13 C;

6. Requests the Executive Director to report to the Governing Council at its twenty-first session on progress in the implementation of the present decision.