Opening statement at the High-Level Segment of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Madams and Mister Presidents of the three Conventions,
Madam Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme,
Madam Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization,
Mister Executive Secretary,
Excellencies,
Distinguished colleagues,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Geneva for the joint meeting of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

I extend a warm welcome to this city, which embodies dialogue, cooperation, and multilateral ambition.

Geneva is a global hub for environmental governance, particularly in the field of chemicals and waste. Through the work conducted here—within the BRS Conventions, the Minamata Convention, the Global Framework on Chemicals, at WHO, and ILO—this city brings to light realities that too often remain hidden in the shadows.

The theme that brings us together this year, “Make the Invisible Visible”, is both powerful and highly relevant. It reminds us that chemicals, though often invisible to the naked eye, have a profound impact on our societies – delivering undeniable benefits, but also posing risks to human health and the environment.

This theme also invites us to look ahead: to make tomorrow’s challenges visible, to recognize that pollution, hazardous waste, and persistent substances are not invisible externalities, but tangible realities that we must confront collectively.

Since the last BRS COP in 2023, the global governance on chemicals and waste has taken important steps forward. The adoption of the Global Framework on Chemicals marked a major milestone. It provides all stakeholders with an ambitious roadmap. At the same time, the ongoing negotiations for a legally binding instrument on plastics, as well as the forthcoming science-policy panel on chemicals and waste, will further strengthen our common framework for action.

In the face of interlinked environmental crises – pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss – the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions are more relevant than ever. They offer concrete tools to inform, to prevent and to act.

The synergies between the three Conventions are a major asset. They allow us to coordinate our efforts, avoid duplication, and adopt an integrated approach. Geneva plays a key role here, particularly by fostering dialogue between these Conventions and the Minamata Convention. Moreover, the upcoming round of negotiations on the plastics instrument will also be held here later this summer.

Yet we must also acknowledge that multilateralism is facing challenges. Geopolitical tensions and financial crises can at times weaken our ability to act collectively. That is why this conference – and this high-level segment in particular – are also valuable opportunities to reinforce international dialogue, a space where exchange and trust prevail.

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

Making the invisible visible also means shedding light on our achievements, our commitments, and the tremendous potential of multilateralism. Together, we have already demonstrated that collective action can deliver results. Let us continue to make these Conventions living, ambitious, and forward-looking instruments.

In the coming days, we have the opportunity to do just that – by listing under the Conventions the substances that warrant it, and by strengthening key mechanisms of the Conventions, particularly the PIC procedure under the Basel Convention, for which several important improvement measures have been proposed.

A successful BRS COP will also send a positive signal to the plastic negotiation. The INC-5.2 meeting in Geneva presents a critical opportunity for the international community to finalize the legally binding agreement to address plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle. Agreeing ambitious global rules during INC-5.2 will be essential to mitigate the environmental, social, and economic threats posed by plastic pollution. In this context the BRS Conventions have a role to play and the existing expertise and structure in Geneva is significant.

I wish us fruitful discussions, a spirit of openness, and a conference that rises to the scale of the challenges—and the hopes—that bring us together.

Thank you.