Description

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Context

From June 15 to 18, 2025, global representatives convened in Punta del Este, Uruguay, to launch a new science-policy panel focused on chemical pollution and waste management.

Origin of the Panel

According to a resolution adopted at the 2022 United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), a global science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution will be established.
This resolution was viewed as an urgent response to the growing need for an independent institution to evaluate scientific evidence of chemical risks, exchange knowledge, and close the knowledge gap between science and policy.
Based on the legacy of organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the new panel aspires to the same level of credibility and influence in the chemical safety and pollution control fields.

Primary Functions Of Panel

The new panel will carry out five core tasks:

Identify critical chemical pollution issues and propose scientific, implementable solutions.
Help developing countries by assessing local challenges and providing tailored guidance.
Fill existing knowledge gaps by highlighting areas that require additional research.
Encourage knowledge exchange, with an emphasis on equal access to data and findings.
Enhance institutional capacity through targeted training and capacity-building initiatives.

Need for the Panel

To mitigate the effects of the three planetary crises: climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
To reduce the impact of chemicals, waste, and pollution.
Chemicals used in modern life have increased, and there may be unintended negative consequences.
Municipal solid waste generation is expected to increase from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes in 2050.
Modern forms of pollution have increased by 66% over the last two decades.

Source: Downtoearth

Practice Question:

Q. With reference to the recently formed Global Science-Policy Panel on Chemical Pollution, consider the following statements:

It has been established under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The panel aims to address pollution from chemicals, waste, and plastics through global scientific cooperation.

Its recommendations will be legally binding on member states.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer:

A) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

Statement 1: Correct. The panel has been initiated under the UNEP and the World Health Organization (WHO) to tackle chemical, waste, and pollution crises.

Statement 2: Correct. The panel’s objective is to strengthen the science-policy interface for the sound management of chemicals, waste, and plastic pollution.

Statement 3: Incorrect. The panel’s findings and recommendations will be advisory in nature and not legally binding.