The 5th session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), organised by UNEP and hosted by the government of Germany who held the presidency of this fifth session of the Conference, took place from 25 to 29 September 2023 at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) with a High-Level Segment (HLS) on 28 and 29 September 2023.
ISC3 had a very productive and fruitful time at the ICCM5, where international stakeholders convened to decide on the policy framework governing chemicals and waste management.
The conference's structure was designed to explore critical intersections within the chemicals and waste field, with each day centering on distinct themes:
🌦️ Day 1, 25.09.2023: Addressing the Nexus of Climate, Biodiversity, and Agriculture
👷 Day 2, 26.09.2023: Exploring the Crossroads of Health and Labor
📚 Day 3, 27.09.2023: Emphasizing Human Rights, Science, and Education
💰 Day 4, 28.09.2023: Analysing Economics, Value Chains, and Innovation
In addition to the conference's official agenda, the German ICCM5 Presidency organised the German Pavilion. This exhibit offered a comprehensive overview of Germany's involvement in the global chemicals and waste agenda. We are proud that we were a part of it.
While we were happy to discuss all topics related to Sustainable Chemistry, our primary focus at the exhibition was on our Capacity Building activities and training programs, which was very well perceived.
Our training programs can empower individuals and organisations in the field of Sustainable Chemistry. Therefore it was a great opportunity to discuss it with all of you!
You missed the ICCM5? Check out our training page here. We always look forward to connecting with you!
Further information and our press release can be found at Investor Forum.
In the framework of UNEP’s side event program of the ICCM5, CAPCI presented the main learning experiences on capacity building on the chemistry-climate change nexus and South-South exchange between partner countries. It addressed the linkages between sound chemicals management and climate change in the light of learning experiences from international cooperation activities with selected developing countries and emerging economies. For these countries, the implementation of effective and coherent chemicals management and climate change policies is a particular challenge that requires, among others, adequate human and institutional capacities. Examples of stakeholder dialogues and action-oriented roadmaps resulting from capacity building of key stakeholders in partner countries (Argentina, Ghana and Thailand) were presented.
This side event was organised in the German Pavillon at the ICCM5 by the IKI project CAPCI in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana (EPA), the ISC3 and the IKI project Power-to-X Hub. It presented training concepts for climate protection, renewable energies, green hydrogen and carbon capture utilisation in the chemical industry and shared lessons learnt from Capacity Building measures in developing countries and economies in transition. The focus was on the exchange on best practices for demand-oriented formats of knowledge sharing and training on Sustainable Chemistry and climate change.
Buildings, and the materials they are constructed from, contain a host of different chemicals that provide unique properties (flame retardancy, insulation, water repellence), but some are hazardous that pose concerns for people and planet. Experiences and lessons from the GEF-funded SAICM project on chemicals in building materials (GEF ID 9771) and UNEP’s work on green and Sustainable Chemistry innovation in the construction sector were presented. These perspectives informed the new UNEP-led and GEF-funded Integrated Programme (IP) on “Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Supply Chains”. ISC3’s publications and trainings were also presented.ISC3 moderate the session and presented our studies and trainings on the topic of sustainable construction. Startups from ISC3's startup-service will take part in the panel discussion.
Building the Future: Chemicals and Innovation in Construction and Electronics background note
More information on the UNEP website.
A one-day Youth Forum organised by Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform (CWYP), a self-organised constituency of the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), was hosted in Bonn (Germany) at the eagerly anticipated Fifth Session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5). Sessions included four thematic panel presentations, a moderated intergenerational dialogue between youth and key decision-makers, and the official launch of the “Global Youth Declaration on Chemicals and Waste.”The Youth Forum at ICCM5 marked a historic moment for the UN and governments to hear directly from children and young people about their needs and priorities for the future of chemicals governance. Young people want to see targeted policies and programmes developed that will specifically address youth/children’s environmental health, rights, and justice in the context of chemical exposures, monitoring and risk assessments.
Prep-meetings took place the week before. Before the ICCM5 even started exciting additional event took place, giving a platform and voice to NGOs: the group of German Civil society organisations (SCO) hosted a half-day Civil Society Conference in Bonn on 22 September. The event included a high-level panel discussion open for CSOs, delegates, media, etc. followed by a workshop and an interactive discussion session for CSOs only. The CSO part offered additional opportunities to exchange and shape our positions and ideas before the negotiations started.