Throughout the process of 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 (OEWG), the secretariat issued several calls for written submissions from governments and accredited non-government stakeholders on key topics.
Written submissions on the capacity building function of the panel | 18 August-13 September 2023
A call for written submissions on the capacity building function of the panel ran from 18 August-13 September 2023 in response to a request from the OEWG to “prepare mapping of capacity building in chemicals waste and pollution space” at its resumed first session (OEWG 1.2). Through this call, the Secretariat solicited submissions from a selection of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and United Nations agencies on their capacity-building activities on sound management of chemicals and waste and pollution prevention.
Submissions were received from seven organizations: the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions (BRS Conventions), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Marine Environment Laboratories, International Labour Organization (ILO), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Passenger and Cargo Border Team, Border Management Branch, Division for Operations, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ozone Secretariat. The submissions were consolidated into Appendix I to inform negotiations at the group's second session (OEWG 2).
A dedicated webinar presented the results of the mapping conducted by the secretariat of capacity-building activities in the chemicals, waste and pollution space. Two live sessions enabled real-time engagement with global audiences. The early webinar session can be viewed here and the later webinar session can be viewed here.
All written submissions on the capacity building function of the panel are available here.
Written submissions on the operating principles of the panel | 26 April-6 June 2023
A call for written submissions on operating principles ran from 26 April-6 June 2023 in response to a request from the OEWG at its resumed first session (OEWG 1.2). This call was complemented by a webinar on a set of draft operating principles for the forthcoming science-policy panel, to be considered at the group's second session (OEWG 2). During the webinar, the secretariat presented a background document analysing the operating principles of other science-policy panels, and how these principles had been set out in the broader context of other rules, procedures and guidelines.
All written submissions on the operating principles of the panel are available here, as received by the secretariat.
Written submissions on needs and questions the panel may handle | 10 August-5 September 2023
A call for written submissions on "needs and questions the panel may handle" ran from 10 August-5 September 2023 in response to a request from the OEWG at its resumed first session (OEWG 1.2). These submissions were compiled and analysed through an information document prepared in advance of the second session of the working group (UNEP/SPP-CWP/OEWG.2/INF/9 - Summary and analysis of submissions received on needs and questions the panel may handle).
All written submissions on needs and questions the panel may handle are available here, as received by the secretariat.
Stakeholder survey | 7 October 2022-2 December 2022
The secretariat also conducted an online multi-stakeholder survey from 7 October 2022-2 December 2022 to collect feedback to help inform OEWG deliberations, particularly on the principal functions and operational aspects of the panel.
The survey was sent to a wide range of stakeholders through the designated national and stakeholder focal points, as well as the focal points to relevant multilateral agreements (i.e., Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions and Minamata Convention), other international instruments (i.e., the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, SAICM) and intergovernmental bodies (i.e., United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, the World Bank, International Labour Organization, ILO, etc.) and major stakeholder groups. In total, 381 stakeholders from close to 100 countries responded to the survey.
Results of the survey were summarised in document UNEP/SPP-CWP/OEWG.1/INF/6.
