6 September 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC) held a consultation on the draft proposal of the UNEP Executive Director on an integrated approach to financing sound management chemicals and wastes, in Mexico City, Mexico, from 5-6 September 2012. Consultations on the paper are expected to continue at the Third International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3), convening in Nairobi, Kenya, from 17-21 September 2012.

The Mexico City consultation, attended by governments and other stakeholders active in the consultative process, sought advice and comments on the Executive Director’s draft proposal. The seven-page proposal includes three complimentary elements to the financing of chemicals and wastes: mainstreaming the sound management of chemicals and wastes into national development plans; industry involvement; and external financing.

According to UNEP, the three components are integrated in a parallel, complementary and mutually reinforcing manner, and are intended to supplement and complement domestic resources. The proposal’s third component, on external financing, has two elements: establishment of national chemicals and wastes units in all recipient countries, and creation of an integrated chemicals and wastes focal area under the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Such an arrangement would require the existing GEF persistent organic pollutants (POPs) focal area to be restructured to become an integrated chemicals and wastes focal area.

UNEP says the external financing component of the proposal likely will require decisions to be taken by ICCM3, the UNEP Governing Council, the governing body of the future host institution for the proposed integrated approach, and the governing bodies of existing and future chemicals and wastes related conventions. [UNEP DELC Website] [ICCM3 Meeting documents]