The SCRC is fulfilling its role through organizing capacity-building, training and awareness-raising events. In the biennium 2023-24 there have been more than 30 events organised. Below we summarize the most important events.
OEWG on Science Policy Panel (28 - 29 January 2023)
Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG 1.2) on a Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollutio took place in UN premises in Bankok, Thailand. SCRC CZ worked in various contact groups - in particular on the scope and functions of the future panel.
3rd meeting of the High-level Roundtable EU Chemical strategy (1 February 2023)
3rd meeting of the High-level Roundtable on EU chemical Strategy for Sustainability. It focused on the evaluation of the status of implementation of the Strategy and on the recommendations from the high-level roundtable to the document on "Transition Pathway for the Chemical Industry".
Regional meeting of the Eastern Europe in preparation of the joint BRS COPs (28 March 2023)
Eastern Europe regional meeting in preparation for the 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (Zagreb, Croatia) on 28-30 March 2023. SCRC contributed to the meeting with contribution on the Stockholm Convention Global Monitoring Paln, Effectiveness Evaluation, National Implementation Plans, Compliance mechanism, technical assistance and informed about the planned side events.
Meeting of the Steering Committee for GEF GMP2 projects (4April 2023)
Meeting of the Steering Committee for GEF GMP2 projects supporting data generation for the Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention. The SCRC RECETOX invited to the meeting as project partner and supporter of the work in Africa and other regions, joined online. The meeting took place in Bankok and focused on status quo of delivering the country reports and finalization of the project deliverables and project closing workshkop(s).
Innolec lecture - Why dont we have a framework convention on chemicals (4 April 2023)
The lecture at Masaryk University was organized by the SCRC RECETOX. The lecturer was an experienced negotiator (Ms. Jill Hanna) and aimed to provide the audience with EU and government perspectives from developed and developing world enriched by experiences from non-governmental organizations on needs, opportunities and challenges in adapting global framework of chemical management. It strived to address the following issues: Are we focusing on the right chemicals? Which tools must the instrument comprise? And how do we finance the action? The outcome of discussions was the definition of challenges ahead in preparing for the International Conference on Chemicals Management, ICCM5 in Bonn, Germany in September 2023 and further long-term needs in effectively addressing chemicals and pollution at all levels - global, EU and nationally. It strived to identify what are future actions that require attention of science-policy interface and research community.
Final meeting GEF GMP2 projects in Bangkok (5 April 2023)
Final Meeting of the UNEP/GEF projects “Implementation of the POPs Monitoring Plan in the Asian Region” and “Continuing Regional Support for the POPs Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention in Pacific Region", Bangkok took place on 5 April.
First meeting of WHO collaborating centres (12 April 2023)
Online meeting of WHO collaborating centres, briefing by WHO headquarters.
State of the Environmental Health in Europe(17April 2023)
SPHERA conference "State of the Environmental Health in Europe – For a sustainable future" under the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, coorganized by Örebro University in collaboration with the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI), The Research Council FORMAS and the former HERA partners. K. Sebkova (SCRC) moderated whole conference whole day.
PARC national hub meeting (20 April 2023)
3rd meeting of risk assessment partners under the framework of PARCproject took place on 20 April.
National Hubs face-to-face meeeting in Riga (26 April 2023)
Two day meeting of 35 coordinators of national hubs targetting risk assessment on chemicals took place at University in Riga, Latvia. RECETOX presented its coordination mechanism and naitonal governance and data maangement.
COP11 Stockholm Convention (2 May 2023)
Contribution of the SCRC RECETOX at COP11 Stockholm Convention in May 2023 was in plenary for Global Monitoring Plan on 2 May 2023 and on the GMP side event on 3 May 2023 - on Measuring the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention including through GMP: assessment, insight, and outlook – data for decision making contributed by lecture on Key outcomes of the third global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants (GMP-3).
Review of report of human health effects of 6 chemicals (11 May 2023)
Kateřina Šebková contributed as a reviewer to the WHO report on Human health effects of benzene, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, lead and mercury. The report was published online on 11 January 2024 and is available via WHO publications online: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2023-8983-48755-72523
Webinar for the new global Plastic Treaty (12 September 2023)
Katerina Šebková further contributed to the negotiations of the new global Plastic treaty as a speaker in the online Webinar 4: Identifying chemicals and polymers of concern providing a talk on Regulating chemicals and polymers of concern in plastics - national level perspectives. The webinar was organized by UNEP and Geneva Environmental Network.
Regional preparatory meeting for Minamata Convention (18 September 2023)
Eastern European States Regional meeting prior COP5 Minamata Convention on Mercury in Armenia (Yerevan).
Press Conference in Paris in collaboration with Premieres Lignes (TV) (18 October 2023)
Petra Přibylová presented results of analyses and evidences showing high risks for firefighters stemming from their exposure to toxic chemicals for French ministries. On the basis of the evidence, the French Parliament was requested to start looking into the occupational exposure of firefighters and the reassessment of certain types of cancer as occupational diseases. A documentary film is in preparation.
COP5 Minamata Convention (30 October 2023)
Fifth meeting of the Minamata Convention on Mercury took place in Geneva, 30 October–3 November 2023. SCRC CZ was supporting the delegation of the Czech Republic in the meeting providing support in the fields of mercury monitoring, effectiveness evaluation and reporting.
Annual meeting of BCRC-SCRC directors (6 November 2023)
Three representatives of the SCRC-CZ (Nina Pavliuk, Lukas Pokorny and Katerina Sebkova) participated in the online Annual Joint Meeting of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions Regional Centres. Presentation by Katerina Sebkova on the major activities done by RECETOX in 2023.
Zero pollution action plan for the EU (9 November 2023)
Lukáš Pokorný is member of the Platform. Meetings in 2023 took place online and were dedicated to examining monitoring towards the Zero Pollution in the EU.
Meeting of the global coordination group and regional organization groups for the GMP on POPs (4 December 2023)
The 2023 meeting of the global coordination group and regional organization groups for the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) global monitoring plan was held online from 4 to 5 December 2023. All acknowledged the successful completion of the third phase of the global monitoring plan and expressed optimism for the forthcoming fourth phase. SCRC CZ (Katerina Sebkova) presented work of the SCRC in support of monitoring networks in air and water in the Eastern Europe and Africa.
OEWG SPP (11 - 15 December 2023)
Second session of the ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution was organized in UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya 11-15 December 2023, with preparatory meetings on 9 and 10 December. SCRC CZ (Katerina Sebkova) supported the Czechia delegation and also co-chaired/facilitated a contact group on the Work-related processes and procedures of the panel during the week.
Expert meeting on update of the GMP guidance document (23 January 2024)
Expert meeting and GCG meeting under the Global Monitorign Plan took place 23-24 January 2024, online. Objective of the meeting was to reflect the most recent listing in the Stockholm Convention in 2023 and advances in science that needed to be incorporated in the updated document prepared for COP12 in 2025. SCRC CZ coordinates the Eastern European region and also a group of 10 experts that are contributing to the reivew in the fields of air, water, analyses, statistical considerations, data handling, general principles and other topics.
Zero Pollution Monitoring and outlook workshop (24 January 2024)
On 24 and 25 January 2024 (noon-to-noon), the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform hosted a workshop on the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook in Brussels. During this workshop, the European Commission’s DG for the Environment (DG ENV), along with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) presented the results and lessons learned from the first edition of the Outlook, and preparations for the forthcoming second edition of the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report. Meeting was an opportunity to contribute to further strengthening and integrating the evidence base in support of Zero Pollution and the wider green and digital transition. Lukáš Pokorny, member of the Platform participated in the meeting and spoke about linkages to PARC and EIRENE and importance to reflect them in the monitoring activities.
WHO/UNEP meeting on human exposure to mercury (26 February 2024)
WHO/UNEP meeting on evaluation of effectiveness of the Minamata Convention (in terms of human exposure to mercury) took place online. SCRC CZ was invited as WHO collaborating centre active in this field. The meeting mapped interest and existing capacities that can be utilized to assist with undertaking the work needed on human monitoring trends for mercury as well as potential needs and direction for the future evaluations. SCRC CZ confirmed its interest to support this activity.
Webinar BRS-Minamata-contribution to Kunming-Montreal (18 April 2024)
Contribution of the chemicals and waste conventions to Target 7 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework took place on 18 April 2024. It was an information session on the “Contribution of the chemicals and waste conventions to Target 7 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” jointly organized by the Secretariats of the Minamata Convention and the BRS Conventions. SCRC CZ was participating as one of the panellists delivering a brief presentation on the relevance of the GMP data on POPs for assessing the impacts of pollution in biota, which is very relevant to target 7 of the newly adopted Global Biodiversity Framework and to raise awareness among CBD Parties about the linkages between chemicals, waste and pollution and biodiversity loss.
Consultation with US journalist on air pollution and exposome (23 April 2024)
On 23 April 2024 a consultation with US journalist Virginia Gewin was held. She visited the RECETOX and had a number of meetings with the reserachers and SCRC staff to understand our work within the chemicals-waste cluster - in particular on monitoring toxic chemicals, legal frameworks at EU level, air monitoring and human exposure data under the Stockholm and Minamate concentions, GMP and capacity building activities.
Regional meeting on OEWG 3 SPP (25 May 2024, online)
EEG Regional Consultation of the ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution on 21 May 2024 was held online. SCRC reported on the outcomes of OEWG 2 in the work related procedures and processes
Training on planning strategies for health protection through chemicals` life cycle (4 - 6 June 2024)
Kateřina Šebková was invited as a lecturer to the training on planning strategies for health protection through chemicals` life cycle. The training on 6 June used example of the chemical mercury and the framework of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to set the scope for the national health protection strategies in line with the Article 16 of the Minamata Convention. Contribution of the RECETOX comprised: Evaluation of the effectiveness of implementing policy decisions in the Minamata Convention framework and provided 40+ participants from the WHO European Region (over 30 countries) with introduction to the Minamata Convention and its effectiveness evaluation procedure a well as informed them on their role and opportunities for involvement in the mercury monitoring and effectiveness evaluation.
1st Meeting of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group (25 June 2024)
SCRC CZ (Katerina Sebkova) is a member of the group representing the Eastern European region. The meeting was to get to know each other, review the mandate and workplan in the current months in preparation towards the COP6 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (November 2025).
Annual Joint Meeting of the regional centres under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions (21 June 2024)
Annual Joint Meeting to enhance cooperation and coordination between the regional centres under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions was organized back to back OEWG3 and Basel OEWG at the International Environment House in Geneva from 21 to 22 June 2024. SCRC CZ chaired the second day of the meeting and delivered presentation on the relevant RECETOX activities.
2nd meeting of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group (4 September 2024)
SCRC CZ (Katerina Sebkova) is a member of the group representing the Eastern European region. This meeting was to start working on the analysis of progress in implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and received updates on the relevant processes under the Convention, including the work of the Open-ended Scientific Group and the Implementation and Compliance Committee.
27th Congress of SCTM (25 September 2024)
27th Congress of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia took place on 25 September. Over 100 participants from the Balkan countries were present. SCRC RECERTOX was an invited speaker and delivered a presentation on the Critical Importance of Environmental Data and Analysis for Addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis on 27 September 2024. Dr. Ondrej Adamovsky provided in his lecture insights on The Microplastic Visualization and Analytical Challenges and provided participants with information about negotiations of the new global treaty on combatting plastic pollution.
14th meeting of the Global Monitoring Plan experts(12 November 2024)
14th meeting of the Regional Organization Group (ROG) and Global Coordination Group (GCG) were held in Lima, Peru. Kateřina Šebková is member of the GCG/ROG for central and eastern Europe and regional coordinator for POPs monitoring activities. In addition to finalization of the GMP guidance document, the meeting in Lima developed regional strategies for data generation, collection, analysis. Meeting also prepared a set of recommendations for upcoming COP12. Meeting also established increased communication links with the Minamata Convention on Mercury and with the Global Framework on Chemicals as well as collaboration with Convention on Biological Diversity (Montreal-Kunming targets) and use of other POPs data, not just on core matrices to interpret current status quo globally as well as use information in modeling.
Opening of the exhibition "Towards a healthy future" (14 November 2024)
RECETOX, together with the Czech Ministries of Environment and Foreign Affairs, organized an awareness-raising exhibition in Nairobi. On 12 posters, the exhibition showcased long-term cooperation of RECETOX with partners in Africa in the area of increasing capacities in the management of chemicals (POPs monitoring, data analysis etc.). It also described the various aspects of RECETOX´s contribution to strengthening the implementation of the Stockholm Convention in Africa. The exhibition was launched at the Czech Ambassador’s residence on 14 November 2024 and it will be showcased in United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in coming weeks for UNEP staff and visitors (several hundred people each day) to see work and activities of the Czech Republic and RECETOX expertise in understanding and addressing environmental pollution by toxic chemicals.
Open Conference EnvHealth Network (20 November 2024, online)
The RECETOX via its SCRC is a member of the EnvHealth Network since 2021. SCRC organized an open conference on Research infrastructures (online). The conference talks introduced available resources and services for research communities to conduct research and foster innovation. The meeting focused on the role research infrastructures play in supporting environment and health policies in Europe. It highlighted the current European long-term efforts such as EIRENE, PARC and EHEN and it examined the success for each infrastructural network/project in bringing both environment and health sectors together.
3rd meeting of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group (5 December 2024, online)
Third meeting of the Effectiveness Evaluation Group took place on 5 December 2024, online. SCRC CZ (Katerina Sebkova) is a member of the group representing the Eastern European region. This meeting received updates on the work of the Open-ended Scientific Group and the Implementation and Compliance Committee. The participants also viewed overall results from the initial individual analysis (Sept-Oct 2024). Further six thematic sub-groups will be formed to advance the work of the EEG. Next meeting is in March 2025 online.
FAO work on Pesticides, International Soil Day (19 December 2024, online)
FAO office in Astana was organizing one day meeting for Kazakhstan line ministries, partners and stakeholders on the progress in mapping current and obsolete pesticides in all regions of the country and identification of contaminated sites. The RECETOX was invited to inform the Conference about the arrangements for pesticide monitoring and actions under the Stockholm Convention on POPs.
National training in Georgia (26 December 2024, online)
This was a three day meeting organized jointly by Ministry of Environment of Georgia, REC Caucasus and the RECETOX. it contributed to implementation of the 10785 project in Georgia. The RECETOX was invited to provide a presentation on the status of implementation of the project, next steps and activities.