18 September 2010: The Blacksmith Institute, together with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), convened a conference on legacy waste in developing countries. The event convened from 14-18 September 2010, at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre, Italy.

Attended by representatives of environment ministries, donor agencies and UN agencies, the aim of the meeting was to review the scope of toxic pollution in developing countries, using data collected by the Blacksmith Institute in collaboration with UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with funding from the European Commission and ADB. The meeting also reviewed case studies of remediation efforts and explored steps required in the short-term to long-term to promote awareness of toxic pollution, its health effects and a global response. Key outcomes of the meeting included discussion of the need for a dedicated fund for the clean up and remediation of legacy sites in Least Developed Countries, for emergencies and for technical assistance and capacity building. [Blacksmith Institute Conference Summary]