photo by Ipek Imamoglu


The first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1) concluded in Geneva, Switzerland on 6 February 2026. The IPCP delegation included Gabriel Sigmund and Ipek Imamoglu who also provided daily meeting summaries. Policy briefs prepared by the IPCP as inputs to the process are available here. Other IPCP board members in attendance included Noriyuki Suzuki as a member of the delegation from Japan and Miriam Diamond as the Chemicals & Waste member of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility.

Day 0 – Meeting Fellow Observers and Navigating What is to Come

IPCP delegates are enthusiastically attending the first Plenary of the plenary of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals Waste and pollution (ISP-CWP) in Geneva. Being the “next generation” of IPCP delegates, they chose to depart from the excellent Shakespearian theme used for the last series of briefs from Punta del Este to a briefing style representing their “new hope” in the panels future.

The Geneva International Conference Centre has a flair of past decades full of promises for the future. When entering the almost empty hall we cannot stop to marvel at its history, which let us be honest, was not always graced with success. So we swiftly move to the “Foyer Infirmeríe”, a windowless secure room in the basement of the building.

As Observers to the “Galactic Senate” (aka the ISP-CWP P1) we met with a diverse group of people representing the wide range of interests in the “stakeholder” group of Observers at ISP-CWP. As this is the first time this group is formally meeting, we have to self-organize and make up the framework on how to engage and coordinate as we go. The day opens with all groups reporting on their progress with delegates from diverse groups including Children and Youth, Women, Indigenous Peoples, scientific societies, chemical industry, and NGOs such as IPEN, the INC science coalition, and us, representing IPCP. We presented our policy briefs to the group and brought some Turkish delight to lure everyone towards the printed-out policy briefs during the break.

Tessa Goverse, the Principle Coordinator of the Interim Secretariat, recapped what has happened, the ISP-CWP Foundational Document and gave us the great news that the “Galactic Senate” now includes representatives from 127 planets (aka Nations). She highlighted the most important items for the plenary in the coming weeks: the election of officers, selection of the physical location of the panel (Kenya or Switzerland), finalization of the rules of procedure, and other items on procedures and policies expected to be advanced during the intersessional. She also advised us to propose “stakeholder days” as a meeting prior to the plenary, as IPBES does. As for specific questions on how and when the panel will be operational, at this point in time we can only wait and see.

Following mandatory nutritious intake at the establishment’s cantina (unfortunately no cantina band to be found, Jabba the hut was also absent), we proceeded to discuss key details pertaining to the “pre-session” documents posted by the Secretariat relating to rules of procedure, the work program, conflict of interest, and deliverables. An important aspect that was raised by IPEN and RSC was to returning to the text of the document is risky because “by adding text, we risk losing text”. Specifically, there was an agreement in the room to avoid opening up already agreed upon items to prevent jeopardizing the totality of the previously agreed text.

Towards the end of the afternoon, concerns surrounding the Draft Procedures for the Preparation and Clearance of Panel Deliverables were discussed, particularly relating to Section G-Procedure for Safeguarding commercially sensitive information. This pertains to information provided by industry being safeguarded. No such procedure exists for IPCC, IPBES, POPRC or Stockholm Convention. We raised the point that it was highly unlikely for industry to freely share information it did not want to share, regardless of procedure. In addition, as pointed out by IPEN, any kind of such text would limit the transparency of the panel, thereby weakening its credibility.

Lastly, the Secretariat shared operational procedures for the coming days to help us navigate the universe of the “Galactic Senate” in the coming week. With that we look forward to contributing to the ambition of the panel to guide us all into a bright future and boldly go where no being has gone before.


Policy briefs and other materials prepared by the IPCP as inputs to the process are available at: https://www.ipcp.ch/policy-briefs/
https://www.ipcp.ch/publications/

Longer daily reports prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Earth Negotiations Bulletin are available at: https://enb.iisd.org/isp-cwp-p1-intergovernmental-science-policy-panel-chemicals-waste-pollution

Official UNEP website: https://www.unep.org/isp-cwp/plenary/session-1