EASD representative participated on October 6, 2022 in the first part of OEWG1: Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (hybrid format).

The meeting allowed Member States and observers the opportunity to deliver general statements on the establishment of the science-policy panel (EASD is among observers*, in consultative status with ECOSOC and UNEP accredited, SAICM NGO Focal Point, participating also within NGOs Major Group, as well as Women Major Group). In its resolution 5/8, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), recognizing the importance of science-based assessments to inform decision-making processes,  decided that a science-policy panel should be established to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. UNEA further decided to convene, subject to the availability of resources, an OEWG to prepare proposals for the science-policy panel, to begin work in 2022 with the ambition of completing it by the end of 2024.

Before that, on October 5^th 2022, EASD representative participated in the second UNEP Webinar: Lessons learned for the Science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and prevention of pollution  and  organized by the UNEP Secretariat.  The webinar focus is on lessons and examples from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the International Resource Panel (IRP), the Montreal Protocol, and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the design and operation of the new Science-policy panel. It was followed by a dialogue between speakers on urgent issues and questions from the chair of the meeting to the panel members.

* Organizations accredited to the Environment Assembly as well as stakeholders admitted as observers to the meetings of relevant chemicals and waste-related multilateral environmental agreements and focal points of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management may also participate as observers.