The RECETOX has contributed to the Panel’s existence quite extensively. Prof. Martin Scheringer called in one of his papers to establish such a panel in 2006 already and advocated for its establishment on any relevant fora until an OEWG mandate was established. And Kateřina Šebková supported the negotiation process as one of leaders of the contact groups working on the text from the first meeting of the OEWG. She said: “After a difficult and long 5 days (and some nights) full of negotiating hours we finally succeeded to agree on the text and on Friday 20 June 2025 the IM adopted our text formally. The new panel will establish interdisciplinary expert committee and also relevant partnerships and I believe the RECETOX can contribute to its work over the long term. And I am more than happy that we succeeded to adopt the Panel on a birthday of prof. Scheringer. I hope he is pleased with the gift!”
The panel/ISPCWP hosted by UNEP will give policymakers science-based information they need to address the third pillar of the current triple planetary crisis - pollution - namely in the area of chemicals, waste and pollution and have a dedicated global science-policy interface. The panel is expected to conduct global assessments, identify knowledge gaps, communicate complex science in policy-friendly formats, and integrate capacity building for national decision-making in relation to the panel’s function. The panel will be also look ahead and forecast emerging threats on the basis of the best-available science and knowledge to anticipate and guide timely response.
The governments and delegates present in the Intergovernmental meeting welcomed establishment of the panel. UNEP`s Executive Director Inger Andersen affirmed: "Today we made history. You have demonstrated that you know that global problems require global solutions. That you recognize each of the elements of the triple planetary crisis needs independent and inclusive science. Therefore, you have established this critical panel, completing the group of science panels under the UN system."
The next step is to prepare for the panel’s first plenary session, where governments will discuss and adopt its initial work programme, priorities, and work on other document such as financial rules, partner engagement and establish conflict of interest procedures.
Triple planetary crisis = the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste
Existing expert panels = the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
OEWG: https://www.unep.org/oewg-spp-chemicals-waste-pollution
UNEP speech = Closing speech at IM (Inger Andersen) https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/new-science-policy-panel-marks-big-win-multilateralism
Martin Scheringer text: https://lnkd.in/dRKs6WC4
