SEO Riders:
– New UNEP‑hosted panel joins IPCC and IPBES to tackle pollution science.
– Panel to deliver global assessments, horizon‑scanning, and policy tools.
– Intergovernmental mandate finalized in Uruguay after UN talks since 2022.
Nations have officially established a new Intergovernmental Science‑Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention, following an intergovernmental meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay, on 20 June 2025. Convened under the aegis of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the panel aims to fill a critical gap in global environmental governance, offering independent, science-based policy advice on chemicals management, waste reduction, and pollution control . As part of the UN’s “triple planetary crisis” response—alongside the IPCC (climate) and IPBES (biodiversity)—the panel will produce comprehensive assessments, horizon scanning, and tailored guidance to help nations identify emerging threats and implement evidence-based solutions.
The Punta del Este meeting capped multi-year negotiations stemming from a UNEA 2022 resolution, resulting in an agreed mandate, governance structure, rules, and a timetable for its first plenary session. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen hailed the move: “Today we made history… first step in delivering meaningful action… secure a healthier, safer future for all”. Hosted by UNEP with anticipated collaboration from WHO, the panel is expected to commence work on its initial programme soon—bridging the gap between science and policy to safeguard public health and ecosystems from the growing burden of pollution
