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'

Fourth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the highest decision making body on environmental matters in the UN system. It comprises all 193 UN Member States, Major Groups and other relevant stakeholders. Member States engage in formal preparatory discussions under the framework of the Open-Ended Meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in preparation for the agenda of the UNEA. The Committee of Permanent Representatives also provides advice to the Assembly on policy matters, prepares decisions for adoption by the UNEA and oversees its implementation.

The fourth meeting of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-4) was held during the period March 4th-8th 2019, at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), Kenya. It served as the main intergovernmental preparatory meeting for the fourth session of UNEA (UNEA-4), which was also held at the UNON, Kenya from 11th-15th March, 2019. There was also a High-Level Ministerial segment from March 14th-15th, 2019.

Trinidad and Tobago was represented by the Honourable Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Planning and Development (MPD), and Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist, MPD.  The Honourable Minister delivered Trinidad and Tobago’s national statement following the official opening ceremony of the High-Level Ministerial segment. Additionally, as part of the launch of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Waste Management Outlook, Ms. Gardiner was invited to represent the Caribbean SIDS on the panel for the event.

UNEA-4 was the largest Assembly thus far with participation from five (5) Heads of State and Government, 157 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and approximately 5,000 participants from 179 countries. The gathering provided high level interaction and discussion on the theme “Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production” and addressed the following three (3) focus areas:

i. environmental challenges related to poverty and natural resources management, which included sustainable food systems, food security and halting biodiversity loss;

ii. life-cycle approaches to resource efficiency, energy, chemicals and waste management; and

iii. innovative sustainable business development at a time of rapid technological change.

Following deliberations over two (2) weeks on an initial list of thirty-six (36) resolutions, and three (3) draft decisions, by the closing plenary, twenty-three (23) resolutions and three (3) decisions addressing global environmental issues were adopted at the Assembly. These reflect the ambitious goals on the global environmental agenda, with noteworthy resolutions including those on marine litter and microplastics, single-use plastics, curbing food loss and waste, sustainable nitrogen management, mineral resource governance and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in environmental governance.

At UNEA-4, Trinidad and Tobago was one (1) of three (3) countries that declared an interest in becoming a member of the UN Environment’s Clean Seas Campaign, which aims to fight against marine plastic pollution, bringing the total number of members to sixty (60) countries worldwide.

Honourable Minister Camille Robinson-Regis presents at UNEA-4 High Level Ministerial Segment

T&T Delegates at UNEA-4 - Honourable Minister Camille Robinson-Regis (right) and Ms Keima Gardiner (left)

Ms Gardiner represents Caribbean SIDS at the launch of the Waste Management Outlook

AOSIS website goes live!

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of global climate change. The group functions primarily as an a lobby and negotiating voice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within the United Nations (UN) system. 

A meeting of 20 UN ambassadors from small island states at Port of Spain, Trinidad

AOSIS has a membership of 42 States and observers, drawn from all oceans and regions of the world: Africa, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Pacific and South China Sea. Thirty-seven are members of the UN, close to 28% of developing countries, and 20% of the UN’s total membership. Together, SIDS communities constitute some 5% of the global population.

The AOSIS group functions on the basis of consultation and consensus, and work together primarily through their New York diplomatic Missions to the United Nations. The Alliance does not have a formal charter, nor do they have a regular budget and a secretariat. The current chairman of the AOSIS group is the Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia.

“One point five to stay alive" - AOSIS' slogan

These island states, aka  “the conscience of the UN climate change convention” are calling upon the international community to limit greenhouse gases to well below 350 parts per million, to limit temperature rises to below 1.5 degrees Celsius and to enter into a legally binding agreement in order to achieve these targets. The impacts of climate change, they assert, are already being felt and therefore even a two degree target is too high.

For example, the future of one of the low-lying Pacific islands called Kiribati is currently being threatened by rising seas, and the situation is so dire that the government is contemplating relocating the entire population to man-made islands resembling giant oil rigs, at a cost of US$2 billion. Beachside villages in Kiribati have already had to move to escape the encroaching waves. Water supplies have been contaminated by salt water, and crops destroyed. Erosion, caused partly by storms and flooding, is increasingly serious.

Climate change impacts are already being felt in some islands like the Pacific island of Kiribati

The world therefore desperately needs to act to reduce carbon emissions, and the engagement of multilateral agencies with the smallest and most vulnerable nations sends a powerful message regarding commitment to the global climate challenge. In order to enhance communication among the islands, as well to inform and involve stakeholders, the AOSIS website has been recently revitalised. Visit the AOSIS website to follow all the latest happenings in negotiations.

SBSTTA 16: PoWIB Review

The Sixteenth Session of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

 

A key technocrat meeting for biodiversity termed ‘SBSTTA 16’ was recently held in Montreal, Canada during April 30 - May 05, 2012.  The meeting was attended by over 400 representatives from governments, NGOs, indigenous communities, business and academia.

One of the key areas discussed at the meeting was island biodiversity. Island biodiversity, like Trinidad and Tobago's, are exceptionally rich reservoirs of biodiversity, but are also environmentally fragile and economically vulnerable. In order to protect and conserve this abundance, the CBD developed a Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity (PoWIB) in 2006, which aims to halt biodiversity loss and in turn, enhance the well-being of islanders.

While discussing the issues and draft recommendations of the report on the implementation review of the PoWIB, several concerns were raised including insufficient references to the technological and technical assistance issues of small island developing states (SIDS).

In order to resolve the contentious issues, a 'Friends of the Chair' group was convened in which a revised draft recommendations document was prepared by the Co-Chair of Working Group II for consideration. This meeting was co-chaired by Dr Floyd Homer, the delegate for Trinidad and Tobago. The draft document was accepted by the Group after some revisions to the document and later approved during the plenary session on May 03, 2012.

For a full summary of the issues discussed and decisions taken at SBSTTA 16, please click here.

Dr Homer during his participation in Working Group II which considered capacity building for the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI), new and emerging issues and island biodiversity.