Key Takeaways from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention COP meetings:

Basel outcomes:

- Parties included the full scope of e-waste in its controls and started work on lithium-ion and other batteries. E-waste shipments contain plastic, metals, and potentially hazardous chemicals. For developing countries, e-waste represents a serious health and environmental threat. Now, all countries will have information about what’s in each shipment, and they can refuse it, as the entire e-waste stream is now covered by the Convention.
- Instead of focusing almost exclusively on technical work, parties are using the Convention’s legal mechanisms to respond to waste concerns. The Basel Convention’s plastics amendments make it a central body in the newly-launched negotiations of an agreement on plastics pollution.

Rotterdam outcomes:

- Parties agreed to list two substances—decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the PIC Procedure.

Stockholm outcomes:

- Parties agreed to phase-out perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), an industrial chemical used in products such as firefighting foams, stain-resistant fabrics, and grease-resistant food packaging.
- Parties are required to end the use of PCB containing oil in equipment by 2025, and ensure environmentally sound waste management of liquids containing PCBs and equipment contaminated with PCBs by 2028.
- Several developing country parties emphasized that funding for implementation is key to any future agreements to establish a compliance mechanism.
More details in the full ENB report here:

Barbados PM: Climate change requires a new financial architecture for us all

Please see below webinar from colleagues at the Archipelagic and Island States Forum, with international panel of speakers discussing how maritime governance can be linked with the development of the blue economy to build resilience and strength in archipelagic and island states. Interesting points on the need for improved Port-State control, as well as the need for sustainability in Ports. Also touches on the challenges faced by crew coming from Pacific SIDS, including poor treatment and working conditions and forced labour. Calls for more oversight and accountability in the industry:

Landmark decision from shipping company CMA - refusing to carry plastic waste. Any thoughts from SIDS? Will this help?

“Climate Islands” - a new Podcast series exploring the issues of climate change and coastal communities in Papua New Guinea.
Climate Islands aims to shine a spotlight on island communities most vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change - and how communities and individuals are working toward solutions to mitigate these effects.
Climate Islands is produced by the UNDP Papua New Guinea Country office.

Click on the link below to listen to it on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/show/4r3AQygawkH7njHZ1VVPsX

GEF ISLANDS is officially launched!!

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen during the BRS COP in Geneva this week - we look forward to exciting years ahead.

Please find the recording attached as well as the press release.

Join the ISLANDS Communities of Practice to keep in touch and be part of a global movement to beat pollution in island nations!