The PCB Elimination Network (PEN) is a multi-stakeholder mechanism that promotes and encourages the environmentally sound management of PCBs with a view to attaining the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention.
The PEN was established by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention at its fourth meeting in 2009 (decision SC-4/5). The Secretariat of the PEN was transferred to UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch in 2011 (COP-5). The PEN informs on the progress of its work to every meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention and to the United Nations Environment Assembly. The PEN works in close collaboration with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat.
The PEN is comprised of an Advisory Committee and PEN members. The Advisory Committee oversees the work of the PEN and meets annually to review the activities undertaken and establish the direction for future work.
Membership to the PEN is open to governments, inter-governmental organizations, donors, PCB holders, non-governmental organizations, industry, experts/academia, Stockholm and Basel Conventions Regional Centres and business sectors. Terms of Reference of the PEN
Application for membership in the PEN
Parties to the Stockholm Convention (Official Contact Points and National Focal Points) are members of the PEN. All other stakeholders relevant to the management of PCB are welcome to apply for membership. Please fill in the application form (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish) and send it to the Secretary of the PEN at science.chemicals@un.org.
Activities
The PEN has been developing awareness raising activities to put PCBs back on the international agenda, including brochure, video, factsheets and webinars.
The brochure PCB: A Forgotten Legacy? contains an introduction to the major PCB related issues, information on specific themes such as PCB in open applications, efforts made towards elimination of PCB and case studies.
The video: PCB Forgotten Legacy? provides a general introduction into the global issue of PCB and the progress made toward elimination of PCBs.
Activities under the framework of GEF funded projects
In the frame of the Southern African countries (SADC) PCB project, the secretariat of the PEN has provided technical assistance to the GEF/UNEP project entitled Disposal of PCB oils contained in transformers and disposal of capacitors containing PCB in Southern Africa. The project included drafting a template for a PCB national phase-out plan. The project countries were also supported to the assessment costs and economics associated with decommissioning PCB contaminated electrical equipment and replacing them with energy efficient products. Communications plan and materials are currently being developed.
Several GEF projects on PCBs (e.g. Chile and Peru PCB mining project, PCB Reduction in Cameroon Through the use of Local Expertise and the Development of National Capacities) have been implemented by UNEP (UNEP/POPS/COP.8/INF/11).
UNEP completed the project on Capacity Strengthening and Technical Assistance for the Implementation of Stockholm Convention National Implementation Plans in African Least Developed Countries of the Economic Community of West African States Member states subregion. The project successfully disposed of almost 1,200 tonnes of PCB-contaminated waste from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The project also developed a Regional Guideline on the Environmentally Sound Management of PCB wastes which was instituted into legislation in nine countries, including development of PCB management elements into utilities’ quality and environmental management systems.
UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch is currently implementing the project in Southern African countries (SADC) for the disposal of PCB oils contained in transformers and disposal of capacitors containing PCB. The project is executed by the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre hosted by Africa Institute. It aims to manage over 4,000 tonnes of PCB-contaminated waste in an environmentally sound manner, covering 12 countries. Partners have inventoried PCB-containing equipment in the electrical utilities and started developing disposal plans. The project has also provided training for customs and inspection services for POPs identification and control.
UNEP is implementing a similar project in Cameroon with direct execution from the Ministry of Environment Protection and Sustainable Development. This project aims to manage 1,800 tonnes of PCB-contaminated equipment. Since 2016, have inventoried PCB-containing equipment in the electrical utilities and started developing disposal plans. The project has also provided training for customs and inspection services for POPs identification and control.
UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch executes the implementation of POPs global monitoring plan projects in 43 countries, to strengthen the capacities to monitor POPs, including PCBs, in selected matrices.
More information: United Nations Environment Programme report on the activities of the Polychlorinated Biphenyls Elimination Network (UNEP/POPS/COP.11/INF/14) May 2023.
WHY POPs . PCBs A FORGOTTEN LEGACY? . TOWARD ELIMINATION OF PCBs . PCB ELIMINATION NETWORK
