The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty signed on 22 May 2001 in Stockholm and effective from 17 May 2004. It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
History
- In 1995, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council called for global action on POPs, defined as chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate, and pose risks to human health and the environment.
- The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) assessed the "dirty dozen" — 12 worst offending POPs.
- The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) met five times between June 1998 and December 2000, culminating in the adoption of the convention in May 2001.
- The convention entered into force on 17 May 2004 with initial ratification by 128 parties and 151 signatories.
- The treaty requires outlawing nine of the dirty dozen chemicals, limits DDT use to malaria control, and curtails unintentional production of dioxins and furans.
- Parties agree on a review process to add new persistent toxic compounds meeting specific criteria.
- As of September 2022, there are 186 parties (185 states and the European Union); notable non-ratifiers include the United States, Israel, and Malaysia.
- EU legislation adopted the Convention through Regulation (EC) No 850/2004, replaced in 2019 by Regulation (EU) 2019/1021.
Summary of Provisions
- Developed countries must provide financial resources and measures to eliminate or restrict intentionally produced POPs.
- The Convention promotes elimination of unintentionally produced POPs where feasible.
- It mandates environmentally sound management and disposal of POPs wastes.
- Precautionary principle is emphasized throughout the Convention.
Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC)
- Established at the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) in 2005.
- Composed of 31 experts from UN regional groups.
- Reviews nominated chemicals in three stages:
- Screening based on persistence, bioaccumulation, long-range environmental transport (LRET), and toxicity (Annex D).
- Drafting a risk profile assessing potential for significant adverse effects (Annex E).
- Risk management evaluation considering socioeconomic impacts (Annex F).
- Makes recommendations to list substances under the Convention’s annexes.
- Meets annually, mostly in Geneva or Rome; some meetings held online.
Listed Substances
- Initially, 12 chemicals ("dirty dozen") in three categories.
- Some chemicals, such as hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls, appear in multiple categories.
- New chemicals have been proposed and listed over time, including:
- Chlorinated naphthalenes, hexachlorobutadiene, pentachlorophenol (POPRC-7)
- Hexabromocyclododecane (POPRC-8)
- Various chlorinated naphthalenes, decabromodiphenyl ether, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (POPRC-9 and beyond)
- Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) proposed for listing without exemptions (POPRC-15)
- Currently under review: chlorpyrifos, long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins.
Controversies
- The treaty allows regulated use of DDT for malaria control, but critics allege it contributes to malaria deaths.
- Developing countries cite lack of data on POPs sources and levels as a challenge in negotiations.
- Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is controversial due to its persistence, toxicity, and economic impact despite not being in the original dirty dozen.
Related Conventions and Negotiations
- Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedure
- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP)
- Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- Ongoing negotiations: Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS), Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
References and Further Reading
- Chasek, Pam et al. Global Environmental Politics, 6th Ed., 2013.
- Downie, Krueger & Selin. "Global Policy for Toxic Chemicals", 2005.
- Downie & Templeton. "Persistent Organic Pollutants", 2013.
- Selin & Eckley. International Environmental Agreements, 2003.
- Kohler & Ashton. "Paying for POPs", 2010.
- Porta et al. "Monitoring concentrations of persistent organic pollutants", 2008.
- Selin. Global Governance of Hazardous Chemicals, 2010.
- Wang et al. "Enhancing Scientific Support for the Stockholm Convention", 2022.
External Links
- Stockholm Convention Secretariat(http://chm.pops.int/)
- Text of the Convention(http://chm.pops.int/Implementation/Legislation/tabid/1059/Default.aspx)
- Ratifications(http://chm.pops.int/Parties/StatusofRatifications/tabid/450/Default.aspx)
- Earth Negotiations Bulletin Coverage(https://enb.iisd.org/chemical-pollution/stockholm-convention/)
- Introduction to the POPs Convention(https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/stockholm-convention)