Resolution V/12: Programme of work and budget
The Conference,
Having adopted the Bonn Declaration For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste and the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste,
Recalling its resolution I/1, which invited the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Director General of the World Health Organization to provide appropriate staff and other resources, within available resources, to enable their organizations to take lead roles in their respective areas of expertise in relation to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management,
Welcoming United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/7 on sound management of chemicals and waste, in which the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme was requested to provide continuity of effective secretariat services and administrative support for the implementation of any decision made by the International Conference on Chemicals Management,
Welcoming also World Health Assembly resolution WHA76.17, on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health,
Recalling that funding for the secretariat of the Strategic Approach has been provided on a voluntary basis, and noting the needs arising from the adoption of the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste,
Acknowledging decisions BC-16/22, RC-11/9 and SC-11/21, on international cooperation and coordination with other organizations, adopted by the conferences of the parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, with a view to enhancing coordination and cooperation between the conventions and the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste, promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste, strengthening the implementation of the conventions at the national and regional levels, and fostering capacity-building efforts,
Cognizant of the ongoing negotiations to end plastic pollution, pursuant to United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/14, entitled “End plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument”, and of Environment Assembly resolution 5/8 on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution, as well as the potential interlinkages between the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste and those processes,
Taking note of the secretariat activities and budget document for 2024–2026, [1]
1. Notes with appreciation the work carried out by the secretariat of the Strategic Approach since the adoption of the Strategic Approach;
2. Invites the secretariat to further increase cooperation with the World Health Organization to continue and strengthen the involvement of the health sector in the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste;
3. Approves the indicative programme of work, budget and staffing structure for the secretariat for the period 2024–2026 as presented in tables 1 and 2 of the annex to the present resolution;
4. Invites the secretariat to further increase cooperation and coordination with relevant stakeholders, such as the secretariats of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as the secretariats of the bodies negotiating an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution and the establishment of a science-policy panel, and the secretariats of the resulting future instruments, on issues of common relevance;
5. Takes note of the adoption of procedural decisions on organizational, administrative and budgetary matters during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic via a silent procedure when the Conference was not in session;
6. Decides on the use of the remaining cash balance of the Quick Start Programme trust fund of 2,492,746.53 United States dollars, which consisted of refunds from implementing partners, final donor contributions, and the accumulated trust fund interest income gained over the years, as set out in resolution V/3 on financial considerations;
7. Encourages all Governments and other stakeholders in a position to do so, in accordance with the integrated approach to financing the sound management of chemicals and wastes, to contribute financial and other resources to enable the secretariat to perform its mandated functions as set out in the resolutions of the Conference;
8. Requests the secretariat to report to the Conference at its next session on its activities, staffing and budget;
9. Also requests the secretariat to prepare a budget for the period 2027–2029 for consideration by the Conference at its next session, explaining the key principles, assumptions and strategy on which the budget is based, and presenting expenditures for that period in a programmatic format and broken down by budget activity;
10. Decides that the timing of future meetings of the Open-ended Working Group beyond 2025 will be decided on by the Conference.
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[1] See document SAICM/ICCM.5/3/Rev.1.