On April 26, the representative of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the 2019 BRS COPs. The three conventions are the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, Convention on International Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Trade Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade Rotterdam and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The conference is held every two years. It will last from April 29 to May 10 with the theme of "Clean Earth, Healthy People, Sound Management of Chemicals and Wastes". The representative of CBCGDF will act as an observer to know about the latest global developments in chemical management.

It is obvious that dangerous chemicals and solid waste are harmful to the earth's ecological environment and human health. In recent years, many government agencies and social organizations around the world have been making continuous efforts to reduce or control this hazard. As an environmental protection public welfare organization, CBCGDF has been paying great attention to the prevention and control of hazardous chemicals and solid waste.

1). Actively carry out the action of reducing plastic pollution. Plastics contain chemicals and are difficult to degrade. A large number of plastics are burned after being used. It will produce toxic gases, which will cause great harm to the atmospheric environment and human health. The CBCGDF advocates that the public reduce the use of disposable plastic products, such as plastic flowers, plastic book covers, plastic bottled water, etc. At the same time, the CBCGDF organized volunteers to collect plastic waste in rivers, lakes and other watersheds during the spare time. They even went to Kenya to organize local students to collect plastic waste together with local environmental protection organizations.

2). Relevant legal litigation against chemical pollution. For example, the illegal sewage discharge incident of an enterprise in Mongke Tengri Desert, ConocoPhillips oil spill in Bohai Bay, the poisonous runway incident of a kindergarten in Beijing, the chemical pollution incident of Changzhou, and the illegal dumping of hazardous wastes by six chemical enterprises in Zhangqiu, Shandong, etc. CBCGDF carried out environmental public interest litigation against the above cases, which promoted the relevant departments to strengthen rectification, but also played a very good role in educating chemical production enterprises and the public.

3). The CBCGDF together with other NGOs, have actively put forward constructive suggestions in the process of formulating national regulations for the control and assessment of hazardous chemicals. At present, the relevant laws and regulations are being promulgated one after another. The law will play a direct role in the management of hazardous chemicals.

4). In April, the CBCGDF formally joined the International Alliance of Civil Chemicals Networks and became an observer of the three international conventions.

Together with more international NGOs, the CBCGDF will continue to promote the reduction of the impact of chemicals and hazardous solid waste on the environment and human health, and jointly protect the Earth.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4937/8446.html

By / Li Xue