Chemicals and Waste Reports for UNEA 5: An assessment of options for strengthening the science-policy interface at the international level for the sound management of chemicals and waste

UNEP has been preparing several reports to be presented at the 5^th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5) set to take place on 22-26 February 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya.

These reports provide several facets of the analysis and needs for sound management of chemicals and waste, building on the wealth of knowledge, key findings and messages provided by the Global Chemicals Outlook II (GCO-II).

This report seeks to facilitate and inform discussions on strengthening the science-policy interface for chemicals and waste management and thus support and promote science-based local, national, regional and global action on sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020. It also aims to provide elements for bringing agendas together, and how science-policy platforms need to interact and inform each other.

The report reviews a variety of existing SPI platforms and discusses lessons learned from the development of the GCO-II. It examines the impacts of- and outputs from a strengthened SPI platform, including how such platforms can inform different stages of the policy-making process. The report discusses the institutional design of SPI platforms and outlines options for strengthening the science-policy interface. Following a brief description, each option is assessed according to their potential strengths, potential weaknesses, and potential implications, including budgetary considerations.

The 2019 UNEA resolution 4/8 on the sound management of chemicals and waste, requested the development of this report.