At 10 a.m. on May 1, 2023, the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-16), the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-11), and the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-11) was opened in Geneva. The 2023 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions are being held under the theme “Accelerating action: Targets for the sound management of chemicals and waste”.

Picture by CBCGDF global coordinator

The number of participants in this meeting is much larger than that of the past three years. Four representatives from China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) attended the event, including the side event held by CBCGDF themed on “chemicals and agricultural biodiversity”.

The opening ceremony was decorated with the music of the alphorn, a Swiss folk musical instrument, welcoming all the guests from all over the world on behalf of the Swiss government, which was followed by the opening remarks by the Secretariat.

Picture by CBCGDF global coordinator

Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme said that the world produces a lot of waste every year, causing greenhouse effect and climate change. We should take more actions to maximize the protection of the interests of the next generation. We need to do more work, which is why we are here today to solve the problem of hazardous waste and chemicals. 2025 is approaching, and we should strive to eliminate waste and chemicals within the deadline. 2023 is an important year to achieve the goals, including biodiversity and human rights. The whole meeting should bear in mind the theme of this time.”

Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the BRS Conventions, welcomed all delegates and participants to make efforts for the conference and to make suggestions for their work.

Ms. Christine Fuell, Interim Executive Secretary of the Rotterdam Convention expressed that Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a historic achievement, which includes 23 urgent targets to be completed by 2030. Goal 7 involves the use of dangerous chemical pesticides. The use of dangerous chemical pesticides continues to destroy biodiversity, but also causes harm to human body and environment.

Original Chinese Article:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5wcSAcJ18n9XWpsXjchDUQ

Translator: Victoria

Checked by Maggie

Editor: Victoria

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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