Waste Management and Pollution Control
As part of the ongoing efforts to improve and strengthen working relationships with the United Nations Secretariat of the Basel Convention, the Pacific delegation met with Dr. Rolph Payet the Executive-Secretary of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, and his staff in Geneva this week.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) accompanied by Tonga the Chair of the Pacific Waigani Convention COP and, Fiji the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Pacific Regional Centre met with Dr Payet.

The meeting was convened at the request of Dr. Payet in recognition of the strong presence and participation of the Pacific contingent at the Conference of the Parties and the progress that the SPREP Basel centre had made in improving the management of hazardous waste in the region over the last two years.
Pacific meeting with BRS

Dr. Payet informed the Pacific delegation that as a SIDS national, he was well versed with the difficulties and challenges faced by the global groupings of SIDS in the thematic areas of waste management, with a focus on hazardous wastes.

The Executive Secretary of the Conventions also advised that "He was looking forward to working with the Pacific Island countries and SPREP" and "Affirmed his assistance in the management of chemicals and hazardous waste, especially with assistance in the mobilisation of resources to undertake these activities activities".

SPREP utilised the meeting to provide a brief overview of the organisation in the context of Pacific waste management, as well as informing Dr. Payet of SPREP's fundamental objectives in working with and assisting Pacific island countries in the areas of environmental, waste and chemical management.

SPREP also provided a background on the operations of the Pacific Regional Centre (PRC) which is the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Pacific region, mandated to implement the Basel and Waigani Conventions, respectively.

Tonga, on behalf of the Waigani Convention COP, highlighted and reinforced the important role of SPREP as the medium of communication between the Secretariat and the Parties to the BRS Conventions and requested that the BRS utilises SPREP as an effective tool for engagement.

The BRS Secretariat through Dr Payet affirmed that it looked forward to working closely with the PRC in exploring avenues for future assistance.

The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions are holding their Conferences of the Parties in Geneva, Switzerland from 4 to 15 May. To learn more about these International agreements please visit: http://www.iisd.ca/chemical/cops/2015/about.html