At this year’s joint session of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, held on May 9, 2025 in Geneva, UN member states negotiated about the ways of strengthening control over hazardous substances.
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants: Banning Three Extremely Hazardous Substances
Participants of the session agreed on a global ban on three new persistent organic pollutants: hlorpyrifos, a pesticide known to harm children’s brain development; long-chain perfluorocarboxylic aids (LC-PFCAs), a subgroup of the so-called “forever chemicals” PFAS; and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCPPs), used in plastics such as PVC.
At the same time, a new concern arose regarding newly added exemption for UV-328 — a UV stabilizer listed as a globally banned POP in 2023 — allowing its use in aircraft was a small textual change that risked potentially far-reaching implications. There are concerns that this could set a precedent for further erosion of the bans.
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal: New Strategy and Focus on Textile and Plastic Waste
One of the main achievements was the approval of Strategic Framework for 2025–2031, which should contribute to the full implementation of the provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Also, new technical guidelines on environmentally sound waste management; launch of works on regulating textile waste; support for the implementation of rules on the trade in plastic waste have been adopted.
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade: new substances under control but the process took years
COP decided to include two new pesticides — fenthion and carbosulfan — in the Convention’s Prior Informed Consent system. Both substances have been on the agenda of this Convention for decades, which indicates a protracted bureaucratic struggle between science, politics and economic interests. However, some countries ban the chemicals domestically, but allow their export to other, less protected states.
While the decisions taken are important steps forward, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions require greater political will to ensure genuine, comprehensive control of hazardous substances. Environmental justice should not remain hostage to lobbying interests or intergovernmental compromises.
