April 27, 2017, Side Event “Regional Demonstration of Chemicals and Waste Related Conventions’ Synergies” was held successfully in Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) in Switzerland, during the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-13), the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-8) and the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-8).

 

The side event was co-organized by Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC China)/ Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Capacity-building and the Transfer of Technology in Asia and the Pacific (SCRCAP), Chinese Delegation and Swiss Federal Of?ce for the Environment. More than one hundred participants from all over the world attended the side event.

The side event was chaired by Prof. Li Jinhui, the Executive Director of BCRC China/SCRCAP. Ms. Jacqueline Alvarez from UN Environment, Mr. Suman Sharma from Secretariat of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Mr. Franz Xaver Perrez from Swiss Federal Of?ce for the Environment, Mr. Xia Yingxian from Ministry of Environmental Protection of China gave opening remarks. Delegate from Ministry of Environmental Protection of China was invited to introduced the progress and experiences of Basel Convention implementation. Delegate from Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, Ministry of Environment of Jordan were invited to introduced the experiences on national reporting under chemical and waste related international conventions. BCRC China introduced the progress on Metal Resources Recycling Partnership, and sponsored the “Initiative to Establish Global Recycling and Treatment Association for Used and Waste Power Batteries” together with GEM Co.,Ltd, which attracted, causing over one hundred delegates for extensive concern and a heated discussion.

The side event was held in a warm atmosphere where the reflection of all participants was all right. It enhanced exchanges between BCRC China, Chinese Delegation and other delegates, promoted the work and experience of convention implementation in BCRC China and some other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

As the mental resources recycling partnership and the co-sponsor of “Initiative to Establish Global Recycling and Treatment Association for Used and Waste Power Batteries”, the delegates of GEM CO.,Ltd attended the side event with sharing their management philosophy with participants.

BC COP, RC COP and SC COP, as the policy-making bodies for Basal, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, are holding a joint conference every two years. 1862 delegates from 169 contracting parties, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, other international institutions and NGOs attended the 2017 COPs.