Day 3: Highlights of OEWG1-2: Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollution
On 1st February 2023, discussions focused on the objective, scope, and functions of the panel in a contact group that met throughout the day. In the morning, informal consultations focused on a potential capacity-building function. In the stocktaking session, countries heard updates and established a contact group on the organization of work. The discussion included the progress in the contact group on scope and functions; considering the outcome of informal consultations with the Secretariat on resource mobilization efforts, the budget, and a provisional work plan (UNEP/SPP-CWP/OEWG.1/6); and establishing a contact group on timelines and a work program for the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG).
The focus points are given below:
• Resource mobilization efforts
• Budget
• A Provisional workplan
• Establish a contact group on timelines
• Developing a draft decision
All the delegates agreed, to establish a contact group to address the organization of work with a mandate to: develop a draft decision to guide the Secretariat in the organization of work, taking into account the outcomes of the contact group on scope and functions; agree on potential dates, locations, and format for the second and third OEWG sessions; and identify key issues to be discussed in those sessions. It was further requested that the contact group provide clear guidance to the Secretariat on the inter-sessional work, including documents and webinars.
Delegates also addressed the relevant experiences from other science-policy bodies, stressing that funding has been a major constraint on capacity-building activities; whether production of new data for assessments or horizon scanning is needed or existing data will suffice; ways to take into account existing capacity-building initiatives and prioritize capacity-building needs without preempting future panel decisions; and ways to contextualize capacity building, including improving overall participation in future assessments. Discussions will continue in the contact group on scope and functions.
