GRULAC Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions 2017 Conference of Parties

The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions have as a common objective, the protection of human and environmental health from hazardous wastes and chemicals. Countries that have signed on to these Conventions, otherwise known as Parties, meet biennially at Meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COPs) to monitor and advance the implementation of the respective Conventions. In light of the challenges faced by many Parties in preparation for these back-to back Meetings, the Secretariat of the BRS organized regional meetings to facilitate the regional preparatory process.

In this regard, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions 2017 Conference of the Parties was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 28-30 March, 2017. The interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention took advantage of the opportunity and hosted a Working Session to Address Regional Specific Issues related to Ratification and Early Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury on the 27 and 31 March, 2017.

Trinidad and Tobago was represented at these two Meetings by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Waste Management Specialist, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development and Mr. Hasmath Ali, Registrar, Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals, Ministry of Health.

The key objective of the Regional Preparatory Meeting was to provide Parties of the three Conventions in the region, with a prime opportunity for consultation with each other prior to the 2017 Meetings of the BRS COPs, identify regional priorities and challenges, review meeting documents and discuss substantive matters.  The three day session of the Regional Preparatory Meeting commenced with a formal Opening and Introductory Remarks, after which discussions on Joint BRS issues commenced. On the second day, deliberations ensued on the Stockholm and Basel Conventions. The last day was devoted to Rotterdam Convention issues, along with a presentation by the Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention after the lunch break, before the formal closure of the Meeting.

Trinidad and Tobago’s participation provided the country with the opportunity to contribute to the proposals and actively influence the key recommendations that will be presented by GRULAC at the 2017 Meetings of the BRS COPs. In particular, those that relate to regional initiatives, strategic issues, financial and technical support, fostering partnerships for ensuring that hazardous wastes are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner and discussing matters as it relates to guidance on the operations of the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean.

Public Awareness Campaign for the NIP begins!

In fulfillment of the obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), in 2013 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), through funding from the United Nations Development Programme, completed and submitted Trinidad and Tobago’s National Implementation Plan (NIP). The NIP is a five (5) year road map that identifies mechanisms to measure, manage, reduce or eliminate the threat of POPs in the country.

A critical component of the NIP is the roll out of a public awareness campaign, with the aim of sensitizing the nation on the adverse effects of POPs, the mechanisms to reduce their exposure to such toxins, and to provide information on the recommended activities outlined in NIP.  As such, a limited but comprehensive public awareness campaign has been developed to target policy makers, the industrial sector and the general public. 

The main elements of the public awareness package include:

• Distribution of the NIP (hard copy and electronically).
• Dissemination of informational material including brochures, flip cards,and posters.
• Publication of articles on POPs in industry magazines and newsletters such as the Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce's (TTCIC) "Contact" Magazine and the Energy Chamber's "Energy Now" Newsletter.
• Publicizing of a 45 second advertisment on POPs on local TV stations and MovieTowne, Port of Spain and Caribbean Cinemas Southpark and on various social media platforms.
• Showcasing of information on POPs and the NIP on the EPPD's Blogspot: http://eppd-tt.blogspot.com/ 

Promotional material will be distributed to key actors in the waste and chemicals field, schools across the nation as part of an education campaign and the general public during the EPPD's public awareness. 

Be on the look out for information like the promotional material below, on 'what are' and 'how to protect yourself and the environment against' POPs!

Meetings of the COP to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

 

The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-12), the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-7) and the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-7) were held back-to-back from 4^th to 15^th May, 2015. 

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which was represented by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Environmental Engineering Specialist, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources participated as a Party to these three multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), which are commonly referred to as the BRS Conventions. Trinidad and Tobago was amongst  one hundred and sixty-four (164) country Parties in attendance. 

Ms. Gardiner (far left) and Dr. Ahmad Khan; Director, Basel Regional Convention Centre for the Caribbean (far right) participating in the Contact Group on Technical  Assistance and  Financial  Resources

The theme of this year’s COP was ‘From Science to Action, Working for a Safer  Tomorrow’.  The two weeks of discussions at the 2015 Meeting of the BRS COPs focused on inter alia, proposals for the organisation of the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and  Stockholm Conventions; joint activities for the biennium 2016-2017, budget for the biennium 2016-2017, strategies to improve performance of the respective Conventions and the outcome of strategic issues within the various Conventions.

Trinidad and Tobago reiterated the Government’s commitment towards the operationalisation of the    Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean, and by extension signaled to the Caribbean region and the  international community, the level of commitment of the country towards the implementation of the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions.