On 15 of July 2026 ISC3 participated in the mini symposium "The New Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution" at the 10th EuChemS Chemistry Congress (ECC10) in Antwerp, Belgium Belgium.
Bringing together researchers, policymakers and industry representatives from across Europe, the congress provided an important forum for discussing scientific advances and their contribution to addressing pressing societal and environmental challenges.
The mini symposium explored the development of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) and discussed how the scientific community can already contribute to its future work, even though important elements of the panel's governance and work programme are still under negotiation.
The panel moderated by Tom Welton (Ambassador for Sustainable Chemicals Policy at the Royal Society of Chemistry and moderator), featured Janna Radi (Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP), Gabriel Sigmund (Associate Professor at Wageningen University), Bart Rymen (Belgian Science Policy Office, BELSPO), Matthew Davies (Professor at Swansea University) and Anna Isabel Becker (International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre, ISC3).
The discussion addressed key questions such as what types of knowledge products and work programmes the panel is expected to develop in the future, and how scientists can already position themselves to contribute effectively. Panel members highlighted that researchers do not need to wait until all institutional arrangements are finalised. Instead, they can already engage through scientific networks, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop the competencies required to translate scientific evidence into international policymaking.
Drawing on experience in science-policy capacity building, Anna Isabel Becker shared insights from the ISC3 Science for Policy Training programme, which has been developed and delivered over the past years. The training equips participants with scientific interest and background with the knowledge and practical skills needed to navigate international policy processes, communicate science effectively, and work across the science-policy interface. Such competencies are essential to ensure that transformative approaches such as Sustainable Chemistry can successfully contribute to future global chemicals governance.
As part of its continued commitment to strengthening the science-policy interface, ISC3 will organise another online One-Day Science for Policy Training on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. The training is open to a scientific community which is interested in strengthening their competencies to engage in international science-policy processes.
For further information and registration, please contact anna.becker@isc3.org.
