Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present scenario note, which was prepared in consultation with the presidents of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, sets out a proposal for the conduct of the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention and the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention to assist participants in preparing for the meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

The annexes to the present note contain a tentative schedule of work for the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (annex I) and a list of possible contact and other groups (annex II). The tentative schedule of work, which was agreed to by the bureaux of the conferences of the Parties to the three conventions at their joint meeting on 5 November 2024, is provisional and could be subject to changes before or during the two weeks of the meetings. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In order to facilitate consideration of the credentials of the representatives of the Parties present at the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Secretariat has prepared a table listing those States and political or regional economic integration organizations that have deposited with the depositary their relevant instruments expressing their consent to be bound by these conventions, as at 20 January 2025. This table is attached as an annex to the present note.

As is mentioned in the notes by the Secretariat on election of officers (UNEP/CHW.17/2, UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/2 and UNEP/POPS/COP.12/2), an overview table of all the elections expected to take place during the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is set out in annex I to the present note. Annex II, III and IV further outline the past membership of the Bureaux of the conferences of the Parties and the regional rotation between the Rapporteur and the President, as well as the past membership of subsidiary bodies under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, respectively. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the specific exemptions and acceptable purposes under the Stockholm Convention (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/4), the annex to the present note sets out a report on the review of information relevant for the decision on the request for the extension of specific exemptions, prepared by the Secretariat. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control and the promotion of alternatives to DDT (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/5), the DDT expert group assessed the information on production and use of DDT and prepared a report for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at its twelfth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control and the promotion of alternatives to DDT (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/5), the annex to the present note sets out the report by the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation of the road map for the development of alternatives to DDT. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on polychlorinated biphenyls (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/6), the annex to the present note sets out a revised strategy for Parties to meet the 2025 and 2028 goals on polychlorinated biphenyls of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants prepared by the Secretariat in collaboration with the small intersessional working group on polychlorinated biphenyls re-established in paragraph 6 of decision SC-9/3. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the evaluation and review of brominated diphenyl ethers pursuant to paragraph 2 of parts IV and V of Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/7), the annex to the present note sets out the report on the evaluation and review of brominated diphenyl ethers pursuant to paragraph 2 of parts IV and V of Annex A to the Convention prepared by the Secretariat and reviewed by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its twentieth meeting, held in Rome from 23 to 27 September 2024. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the guidelines and guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/8), the reports of the expert meetings on best available techniques and best environmental practices, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 9 November 2023 and from 8 to 10 October 2024 are set out in the annexes I and II to the present note, respectively. Annex I reproduces the report of the former meeting, as set out in document UNEP/POPS/TOOLKIT/BATBEP/2023/1/3, while annex II reproduces the report of the latter meeting, as set out in document UNEP/POPS/TOOLKIT/BATBEP/2024/1/10. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on guidelines and guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/8), the draft guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices relevant to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and Dechlorane Plus listed with specific exemptions under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants updated by the experts on best available techniques and best environmental practices is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the guidelines and guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/8), the draft guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices relevant to short-chain chlorinated paraffins listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants developed by the experts on best available techniques and best environmental practices is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the guidelines and guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/8), the draft guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices relevant to UV-328 listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants developed by the experts on best available techniques and best environmental practices is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10), the annex to the present note sets out information on the status of transmission of implementation plans, including revised and updated implementation plans, pursuant to Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and dates of receipt by the Secretariat as at 16 January 2025. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10/Rev.1), the annex to the present note sets out draft guidance on preparing inventories of methoxychlor. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10), the annex to the present note sets out draft guidance on preparing inventories of Dechlorane Plus. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10), the annex to the present note sets out draft guidance on preparing inventories of UV-328. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10), the annex to present note sets out draft guidance on alternatives to methoxychlor. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10), the annex to the present note sets out draft guidance on alternatives to Dechlorane Plus. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on implementation plans (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/10), the annex to the present note sets out draft guidance on alternatives to UV-328. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee: developments for action by the Conference of the Parties (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/11), annexes I and II to the present note set out decision POPRC-20/5 and a report outlining the options for identifying persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes and issues related to the production, import and export of products and articles containing persistent organic pollutants, respectively. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the notes by the Secretariat on regional centres under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (UNEP/CHW.17/17 and UNEP/POPS/COP.12/16), the annexes to the present note set out reports by the Secretariat on the activities of the Basel and Stockholm conventions regional centres.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the financial mechanism (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/17), the annex to the present note sets out the full report on the assessment of the funding needed by developing-country Parties and Parties with economies in transition for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention over the period 2026−2030, prepared by three independent experts, Suely Carvalho, William Kwan and Niko Urho. The report is reproduced as submitted. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the financial mechanism (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/17), the present note provides an overview of validation activities to support the assessment of funding needed by developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants over the period 2026–2030. Annex I to the present note provides a summary of the activities undertaken, including an analysis of the outcomes and recommendations for future validation activities. Annex II sets out the full report on the validation activities.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the financial mechanism (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/17), a compilation of submissions received from developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition on funding needs to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants over the period 2026−2030 is set out in annex I to the present note.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the financial mechanism (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/17), the present note refers to the request to the Secretariat set out in paragraph 15 (b) of decision SC-11/14 on financial mechanism to update, subject to the availability of resources, the report on further options for addressing the needs, including funding needs, and the challenges met to reach the targets related to the elimination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In response, the Secretariat prepared the report contained in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the financial mechanism (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/17), the annex to the present note sets out the full draft report on the sixth review of the financial mechanism of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, prepared by two independent experts, Greg Filyk and Marcia Joppert. It is reproduced as submitted. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the financial mechanism (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/17), the annex to the present note sets out the report prepared by the Secretariat on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Council of the Global Environment Facility with regard to cooperation between the secretariats and reciprocal representation, including follow-up actions. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on cooperation and coordination with the Minamata Convention on Mercury (UNEP/CHW.17/21–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/20–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/23), annex I to the present note sets out a report on the main joint cooperative activities undertaken in 2023 and 2024 by the secretariats of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm conventions Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in areas of mutual interest. The report was prepared jointly by the two secretariats. Annex II to the present note contains an outline on the main joint activities planned for 2025 and the biennium 2026–2027, developed by the two secretariats. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on international cooperation and coordination with other organizations (UNEP/CHW.17/22–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/21–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/24), the annex to the present note sets out in section I a report providing detailed information on the international cooperation and coordination activities undertaken by the Secretariat with international bodies, including intergovernmental organizations, international and regional organizations, other multilateral environmental agreement secretariats, international non-governmental organizations, and networks from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. Section II of the annex contains information on cooperation with other entities for activities with an international scope from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. The activities described in the report are either specific to one Convention or relevant to two or three conventions. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on international cooperation and coordination with other organizations (UNEP/CHW.17/22–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/21–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/24), the annex to the present note sets out an update on the ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution since 2023, submitted by the Secretariat of the open-ended working group. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes (UNEP/CHW.17/25–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/20–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/26), the annex to the present note sets out case studies prepared by the Secretariat on action taken by Parties to implement and enforce the trade control measures of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In decisions BC-16/28, RC-11/15 and SC-11/27, on programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2024–2025, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, among other things:

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on programmes of work and proposed budgets for the biennium 2026–2027: combined proposal (UNEP/CHW.17/27–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/26–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/29), the annex to the present note sets out budget activity fact sheets for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions developed by the Secretariat. They are consistent with the action proposed in the working documents for the meetings and should be read in conjunction with the aforementioned note and the information document on programmes of work and proposed budgets for the biennium 2026–2027: proposed operational budgets for the two funding scenarios (UNEP/CHW.17/INF/69/Rev.1–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/INF/39/Rev.1–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/INF/58/Rev.1).

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2026–2027: combined proposal (UNEP/CHW.17/27–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/26–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/29), the annex to the present note contains the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to the respective conferences of the Parties on the implementation of the memorandums of understanding for the reporting period 1 January 2023 to 30 November 2024. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Meetings of the Conference of the Parties shall take place at the seat(s) of the Secretariat, unless the Conference of the Parties decides otherwise or other appropriate arrangements are made by the Secretariat in consultations with the Parties. In the case of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the seat of the Secretariat is at Geneva, Switzerland. In the case of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the seats of the Secretariat are at Geneva, Switzerland, and Rome, Italy.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In decisions BC 16/26, RC-11/13 and SC-11/25, on the venue and dates of the next meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the conferences of the Parties decided that their next meetings, to be held back to back, from 28 April to 9 May 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, would include a high-level segment of no more than one day’s duration.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control and the promotion of alternatives to DDT (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/5), the annex to the present note sets out information from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the use of DDT and DDT alternatives in disease vector control. The WHO Guidelines for Malaria are available on the WHO website.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the proposal to amend Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/31) by the Government of Ethiopia, annex I to the present note sets out an explanatory note in the six official languages of the United Nations. Additionally, on 18 January 2025, the Secretariat received further communication from the Government of Ethiopia, as set out in annex II to the present note. Both submissions are reproduced as received. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on international cooperation and coordination with other organizations (UNEP/CHW.17/22–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/21–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/24), the annex to the present note sets out a report prepared by the Secretariat entitled “Addressing chemicals of concern in plastics through multilateral environmental agreements”. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the global monitoring plan for effectiveness evaluation (UNEP/POPS/COP.12/21), the annex to the present note sets out a report on activities supporting the global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants, as submitted by the United Nations Environment Programme. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes (UNEP/CHW.17/25–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/24–UNEP/POPS/COP.12/27), the annex to the present note sets out a workplan outlining timelines and associated actions, to strengthen Parties’ capacity to provide information about confirmed cases and experience related to preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and waste. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.