Collaboration with the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme

UNEP/CHW.7/7

BC

UNEP/CHW.7/7
/ Distr.: General
3 September 2004
Original: English

Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention

on the Control of Transboundary Movements of

Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

Seventh meeting

Geneva, 25–29 October 2004

Item 6 of the provisional agenda[*]

Report on the implementation of the decisions adopted by

the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting

Collaboration with the South Pacific Regional

Environment Programme

Note by the Secretariat

I. Background

1. In decision VI/8 adopted at its sixth session, on 13 December 2002, the Conference of the Parties welcomed the establishment of the Joint Pacific Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes and the minimization of their generation for the countries in the region, based within the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), under the joint authority of the Parties of the Basel Convention and the Parties to the Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region (the Waigani Convention).

2. In the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat of the Basel Convention to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with SPREP, acting as the secretariat of the Waigani Convention, to establish a basis for the operation of the Joint Pacific Regional Centre.

3. In that decision, the Conference of the Parties also requested the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, in collaboration with SPREP, acting as the secretariat of the Waigani Convention, to promote both the ratification of the Basel Convention and its related instruments and the Waigani Convention within the Pacific region.

4. The Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat of the Basel Convention to report to the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting on the progress made on the establishment of the Joint Pacific Regional Centre and its work.

II. Implementation

5. A memorandum of understanding between the Secretariat of the Basel Convention and SPREP on the establishment of the Pacific Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the joint implementation of the Basel and the Waigani conventions in the South Pacific region integrated within SPREP was signed in Geneva, on 18 December 2003. A report on progress on the establishment of the Pacific Regional Centre will be presented to the Conference of the Parties of the Waigani Convention at its second session, in September 2004. Established within SPREP, the secretariat of which is located at Apia, Samoa, the Centre will operate under the joint authority of the Parties to the Basel and Waigani conventions.

6. The secretariats of the Basel and Waigani conventions have been mandated by the Parties to promote the ratification of both conventions and endeavours to that end have been made, primarily at relevant meetings of SPREP members. The secretariat of the Waigani Convention has also sent a circular to the countries in the region promoting ratification. Currently, nine members of SPREP have acceded to the Basel Convention and one has signed. Other SPREP members are well advanced in the process of becoming party to the Basel Convention.

7. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the Waigani Convention met from 21 to 23 June 2004. At that meeting the Committee affirmed the need for and importance of a joint regional centre for training and technology transfer for the Waigani and Basel conventions. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee approved the establishment of the Joint Pacific Regional Centre, urged the secretariat of the Waigani Convention to collaborate further with the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, called for the Joint Pacific Regional Centre to become operational at the earliest possible opportunity, and strongly appealed to Parties to support the Centre in its efforts to implement the business plan in line with the agreed work programme of the Waigani Convention and the SPREP work programme. The activities under the business plan of the Pacific Regional Centre have not yet been implemented owing to a lack of funds and the Centre is actively seeking the necessary funds. The business plan is also being updated for the period 2005–2006 (see document UNEP/CHW.7/5).

8. The secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is conducting several case studies on regional and subregional centres for the purpose of facilitating capacity-building and transfer of technology in accordance with article12 of the Stockholm Convention and with a view to contributing to the feasibility study provided for by the Convention’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in decision INC-6/9 (see document UNEP/CHW.7/29 on international cooperation). A case study on the regional delivery of technical assistance has been carried out by SPREP to address the issue of dioxins and furans information collection and management. The case study undertook to train designated people from seven Pacific island countries in a number of areas related to the management of dioxins and furans in their countries through a subregional workshop which was held in New Zealand from 14 to 18 June 2004. The countries participating were the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and Vanuatu. A report of the workshop will be available shortly.

III. Proposed action

9. Please refer to document UNEP/CHW.7/2, which contains a compilation of draft decisions for possible adoption by the Conference of the Parties.

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[*] UNEP/CHW.7/1.