The Stockholm Convention
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Most POPs were first synthesized during the industrial boom after World War II.
Since their creation, POPs have been suspected to have harmful effects on human health and the environment, however, the specifics of these effects were not always confidently supported.
During their early use, these harmful effects became better documented and those that have generated substantial evidence for hazard were targeted.
Many countries tried to implement their own federal restrictive policies on chemical production and release of various POPs.
However, due to their persistence and global movement, POPs necessitated bilateral and regional multination cooperative actions.
With some attempt, the desired reductions in environmental levels of POPs were not achieved, which suggested that actions needed to be expanded to a global scale.
1992 – At the Rio “Earth Summit” discussions started about a worldwide effort to combat POPs.
May 1995 – Decision 18/32 – UNEP Governing Council invited recommendations and any information needed for possible decision on appropriate to international approach to POPs from:
IOMC – Inter-Organizational Program for the Sound Management of Chemicals
IPCS – International Program on Chemical Safety
IFCS – Inter-Governmental Forum on Chemical Safety
IFCS concluded, with documentation, that there was sufficient evidence for immediate action on 12 POPs. These 12 chemicals have taken on the name, “The Dirty Dozen.”
1997 - In Decision 19/13C, UNEP Governing Council invited UNEP to create an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to address these 12 chemicals and prepare an international agreement against POPs.
December 2000 - The INC and its subsidiary bodies completed work on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
May 22, 2001 - The Stockholm Convention was adopted by a Conference of international plenipotentiaries
May 17, 2004 – Convention was officially ratified and came into force
Next International Action:
In May 2-6, 2005 – First meeting of the Conference of Parties will be held in Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sources:
[1] The Stockholm Convention of Persistent Organic Pollutants - www.pops.int/
[2] Global Environment Facility (GEF) – Initial Guidelines for Enabling Activities for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants issued April 6, 2001 by GEF Council.