Central and Eastern Europe

The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention (BC COP13), eighth meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP8), and eighth meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP8) began in Geneva, Switzerland. Meeting jointly in plenary throughout the day, the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) COPs first heard opening statements. Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment noted that the BRS Conventions cover the “worst chemicals,” and drew linkages between the work of these COPs and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Minamata Convention. Delegates then adopted the agendas and organization of work for each of the COPs, and discussed coordination and cooperation among the BRS Conventions. The COPs established a joint contact group on the review of synergies arrangements. During lunch, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) hosted a side event discussing past and future programming for impact. The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) held an event titled: “Toxic toy or toxic waste? Recycling POPs into new products.” In the afternoon, the COPs discussed matters related to the implementation of the Conventions, including international cooperation and coordination, technical assistance and financial resources. The COPs then established a joint contact group on technical assistance and financial resources. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided digital coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 2017 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Ceremony A yodelling performance opens the meeting Opening Plenary View of the dais during the opening plenary Mohammed Khashashneh, Basel Convention COP 13 President Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland Bill Murray, Executive Secretary, Rotterdam Convention - Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment Ana Berejiani, Georgia, speaking on behalf of Central and Eastern Europe Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Gilani, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group Francis Kihumba, Kenya, speaking on behalf of the African Group Francisco Fabian Saez, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) Reginald Hernaus, EU Matt Cahill, Australia Felix Wertli, Switzerland Side Events Throughout the Day Side event titled 'Looking Back, Looking Forward - Programming for Impact' hosted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Side event titled 'Toxic toy or toxic waste? Recycling POPs into new products' hosted by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the afternoon plenary Sam Adu-Kumi, Stockholm Convention COP8 President Chizuru Aoki, GEF Haendel Sebastián Rodríguez, Colombia Manoj Kumar Gangeya, India Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention Jiří Hlaváček, UN Environment Alfredo José Perez Gonzalez, Venezuela Maryna Belavus, Belarus Fagamou Sy Diop, Senegal Obed Baloyi, South Africa, speaking on behalf of the African Group Evening Reception hosted by the Government of Switzerland Delegates attend the evening reception hosted by the Government of Switzerland Felix Wertli, Switzerland Bill Murray, Executive Secretary,  Rotterdam Convention - FAO Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions Around the Venue Delegates gather for the start of plenary Delegates meet informally Delegates from Libya Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, BRS Conventions, and Mohammed Khashashneh, Basel Convention COP 13 President Delegates speak between sessions A 'Toxic Toy Store' highlighting the range of childrens' toys that contain toxic substances