EU reaffirms commitment to science-based multilateralism on chemicals, waste and pollution

The panel will provide authoritative and policy-relevant scientific assessments on chemicals, waste and pollution.

Countries will meet in Geneva from 2 to 6 February for the first plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), marking a key step in the launch of a new independent scientific body.

The EU has played an active role in supporting the establishment and implementation of this new panel, reaffirming its commitment to independent science and evidence-based multilateralism.  

The ISP-CWP, meeting for the first time in Geneva, completes the global science-policy architecture alongside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the International Resource Panel (IRP).  

The panel will provide authoritative and policy-relevant scientific assessments on chemicals, waste and pollution, a long-standing gap in international environmental governance.

The work of the ISP-CWP will support informed decision-making throughout the entire life cycle of chemicals and materials, addressing the impacts of pollution on human health, ecosystems, climate resilience and economic sustainability. Its assessments are expected to guide international negotiations, such as those on the International Plastics Treaty, as well as national and regional policies. 

The first plenary session focuses on establishing the panel’s governance, work programme and operating modalities, laying the groundwork for future assessments. In the face of intensifying global environmental challenges, the EU considers the ISP-CWP to be an essential investment in multilateral cooperation, strengthening the role of facts, evidence and scientific integrity in policy-making. 

Chemicals and pollution are silent multipliers of risks to climate, biodiversity, water security, health and economic resilience. Following the example of climate, biodiversity and natural resources, the Panel will contribute to strengthening scientific capacity to support policies aimed at reducing pollution globally.

The EU is also attending the 12th Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Manchester, United Kingdom. This independent body provides decision-makers with the most comprehensive scientific evidence on nature-related issues. The Plenary Session is expected to conclude on 8 February with the adoption, among other decisions, of the assessment report on the impact and dependence of businesses on biodiversity.  

Background 

Created in June 2025 under the mandate of the United Nations Environment Assembly, the Panel addresses one of the most critical but least supported pillars of the global environmental agenda.

Pollution is now recognised as one of the main threats to planetary and human well-being; however, the global response remains fragmented and uneven. The ISP-CWP seeks to address this shortcoming by assessing knowledge, identifying policy options and promoting effective, inclusive and evidence-based actions. 

The creation of the panel is closely aligned with EU priorities, including the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Circular Economy Action Plan and broader objectives under the Clean Industrial Pact.

By contributing scientific knowledge and policy expertise, the EU aims to help ensure that the panel’s outputs are robust, inclusive and directly relevant to policymakers.  

On 7 January 2026, US President Trump announced in a presidential memorandum the withdrawal of the United States from international organisations, conventions and treaties, including IPBES and IPCC.   

More information: European Commission.