UPSC PRELIMS - 2017 - ENVIRONMENT - STOCKHOLM CONVENTION 2001

UPSC PRELIMS - 2017 - ENVIRONMENT - STOCKHOLM CONVENTION 2001

STOCKHOLM CONVENTION
ON
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS, 22 MAY 2001

Came in force: May 2004 

It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

It was called in 1995 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).


POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. POPs circulate globally and can cause damage wherever they travel.

The Stockholm Convention focuses on eliminating or reducing releases of 12 POPs, the so-called "Dirty Dozen".


Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) can lead to serious health effects including certain cancers, birth defects, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease and damages to the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Given their long range transport, no one government acting alone can protect its citizens or its environment from POPs.

The Stockholm Convention is perhaps best understood as having five essential aims:

Eliminate dangerous POPs, starting with the 12 worst
Support the transition to safer alternatives
Target additional POPs for action
Cleanup old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs
Work together for a POPs-free future

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is the designated interim financial mechanism for the Stockholm Convention.

The Stockholm Convention is the most significant global legally binding instrument for targeting POPs.

When adopting the Convention, provision was made for a procedure to identify additional POPs and the criteria to be considered in doing so. At the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP1), held in Punta del Este, Uruguay from 2–6 May 2005, the POPRC was established to consider additional candidates nominated for listing under the Convention.

The Committee is composed of 31 experts nominated by parties from the five United Nations regional groups and reviews nominated chemicals in three stages.