Call for Delegates

First Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

When: May 2–6, 2005
Where: Punta del Este, Uruguay
Number of ENGO Delegates sought: 1
Deadline to apply: March 22, 2005

The ENGO representative selected to attend the First Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Punta Del Este, Uruguay is: Fe de Leon of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)

NGO comments on Canada's Draft NIP under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

The Canadian Environment Network (RCEN) has been invited to nominate one ENGO representative for the First Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the Stockholm Convention on POPs, to be held from May 2–6, 2005 in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The successful candidate will be required to participate in the consultation process to be scheduled by Environment Canada in April 2005 to discuss the proposed Canadian positions to the issues to be discussed at COP1. Further, the successful candidate will be required to complete a report to update CEN membership on the discussions of the meeting.

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. POPs circulate globally and can cause damage wherever they travel. In implementing the Convention, Governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.

UNEP Governing Council Decision (1997) invited UNEP to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to prepare an international legally binding instrument on POPs. The INC and its subsidiary bodies completed work on the instrument, the Stockholm Convention on POPs, in December 2000. A Conference of Plenipotentiaries adopted the Stockholm Convention on 22 May 2001. The Convention entered into force on 17 May 2004.

Additional information can be found on the UNEP web site or visit RCEN’s web site.

Environment Canada will reimburse, consistent with Treasury Board Guidelines, the travel and accommodation expenses for up to 1 ENGO participant.

If you are interested in participating in this consultation, please complete the online registration form. For more information, please contact Manon Crôteau, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 29.
The deadline to apply is March 22, 2005.