Meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Conferences of the Parties, 2019

The protection of human health and the environment, through the environmentally sound management (ESM) of hazardous materials is the common objective of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, commonly known as the BRS Conventions. The 2019 Meetings of the COPs to the BRS Conventions were held in Geneva, Switzerland from April 29^th - May 10^th, 2019. Trinidad and Tobago participated as a Party to these three (3) multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in the chemicals and waste cluster and was represented by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist, Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), Ministry of Planning and Development; Head of Delegation, Mr Hasmath Ali, Ministry of Health; and Mr. Wayne Rajkumar, of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).

Approximately 1,400 delegates from 180 countries spent two (2) tedious weeks negotiating towards the adoption of several decisions. These decisions included the topical issue of plastic pollution as exhibited through the landmark decision to increase the cross-border control of low-quality plastic waste, and the establishment of a global Partnership on Plastic Waste under the Basel Convention, the global treaty that deals with the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Locally, this decision would be effected through the EMA, the National Competent Authority under the Basel Convention.

There was also the listing of two (2) new toxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under Annex A of the Stockholm Convention: Dicofol, a pesticide (production of which is primarily in India and is expected to cease soon) and perflorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and related compounds. PFOA is used for non-stick kitchenware, surface treatments in textiles, paper and paints and in fire-fighting foams. Annex A listing means that all Parties are to take all measures to eliminate the production and use of these POPs. Once endorsed, Trinidad and Tobago's National Implementation Plan on POPs will work towards achieving this.

Under the Rotterdam Convention, there was the historic adoption of a Compliance Mechanism, 15 years after the Convention's entry into force, via a majority vote of 120-6. Trinidad and Tobago was one (1) of twenty (20) countries in the ‘Friends of the President’ group established to initially resolve this issue by consensus. There was also the listing of two (2) new chemicals: phorate, a toxic pesticide and the industrial chemical hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), which means these would now be subject to the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure to promote information exchange between countries engaged in its trade. Locally, the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Inspectorate and the Environmental Policy and Planning Division would be responsible for this process.

On the invitation of the BCRC Caribbean, Ms. Keima Gardiner presented on behalf of the Caribbean SIDS at a side event on ‘Bringing the Benefits of BRS Conventions to SIDS’. The delegation also took the opportunity to pay a visit to Her Excellency, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Makeda Antoine-Cambridge at the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, Geneva.

T&T Representative (L-R) - Mr. Wayne Rajkumar, Ms. Keima Gardiner and Mr. Hasmath Ali

Ms. Keima Gardiner (front, centre) representing T&T in the 'Friends of the President Group'

Ms. Keima Gardiner presenting on 'Bringing the Benefits of BRS Conventions to SIDS'

GRULAC Preparatory Meeting for the 2019 Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Conference of the Parties

The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2019 Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Conference of the Parties (COPs) was held in Montevideo, Uruguay from March 27^th-30^th, 2019. Trinidad and Tobago participated as a Party to the three (3) multilateral environmental agreements in the chemicals and waste cluster: the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which are commonly referred to as the BRS Conventions. The country was represented by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development. The Ministry of Planning and Development serves as the Focal Point to these Conventions.

The aim of the regional preparatory meeting was to provide the GRULAC Parties with an opportunity to consult with each other in advance of the meetings of the triple BRS COPs, identify regional priorities and challenges, consider meeting documents and discuss substantive matters with an aim of arriving at regional positions in advance of the COPs.

The meeting was attended by a total of ninety-one (91) participants, including sixty (60) representatives from twenty-six (26) Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) countries. The agenda of the Preparatory Meeting comprised of a three (3) day session on a range of topics, inclusive of a small ceremony to commemorate the thirtieth (30^th) anniversary of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal.

Under the joint BRS session, the main topics of discussion were on technical assistance and the Basel and Stockholm Convention Regional Centres, of which Trinidad and Tobago is the host country for the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean region. Discussions also centred on the two (2) chemicals under consideration for listing to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds, and dicofol, and those proposed for listing under the Rotterdam Convention, namely: acetochlor, hexabromocyclododecane, phorate, carbosulfan, chrysotile asbestos, fenthion and paraquat formulations. Under the Basel Convention, the key issues related to marine litter and plastic waste, household waste, the technical guidelines on POPs, e-wastes, mercury wastes and landfills, and the Ban Amendment which was established to prevent disposal of hazardous wastes in specified territories.

There was a also a Gender Training Workshop and an Information Session on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, held in conjunction with the preparatory meeting. The objective of the interactive Gender Training Workshop was to improve understanding of gender, promote mainstreaming and describe how it contributes to the sound management of chemicals and waste, as well as to catalyse implementation of the BRS Gender Action Plan. During the information session on the Minamata Convention on Mercury participants were apprised about the emerging technical, policy and financial issues under the Minamata Convention. 

Ms. Keima Gardiner - T&T's representative at the 2019 GRULAC Preparatory Meeting

GRULAC Delegates at the Regional Preparatory Meeting

The Caribbean Contingent at the GRULAC Preparotory Meeting - Ms Keima Gardiner (2nd from right)