International Governments Combine to Create a New Intergovernmental Science-Policy Body Focused on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) was officially established in June 2025 following years of negotiations initiated after a 2022 United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution. This new panel, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is a critical tool for global environmental governance, aiming to protect human and environmental health by providing independent, policy-relevant scientific advice on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention.
The role of the ISP-CWP is multifaceted. It will support sound management of chemicals and waste, conduct global scientific assessments, and translate complex science into policy-friendly formats to assist countries in integrating scientific knowledge into national decision-making. The panel will also address the pollution crisis, safeguarding people and the environment by guiding timely responses and informed policies.
The establishment of the ISP-CWP was the result of extensive negotiations spanning more than three years. Although the panel's foundational documents were adopted, several key operational details and policies remain undecided and will be resolved by the panel in upcoming meetings. Issues pending include the conflict of interest policy, the framework for determining work programs and priorities, and how to handle confidential business information, especially in relation to industry claims.
The first meeting of the ISP-CWP will focus on finalizing its rules of procedure and operational framework. It will also begin organizing global scientific assessments and capacity-building activities. The panel aims to be quickly operational to address the urgent global chemical and waste pollution challenges. Continued coordination with UNEP and other multilateral environmental agreements is expected to maximize impact.
Air pollution alone is linked to an estimated 6.5 million deaths annually. The next step is to prepare for the panel's first plenary session, where governments will discuss and adopt its initial work programme, priorities, and partner engagement. The Intergovernmental Meeting, held from 19-20 June 2025, formally established the panel.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), stated that this panel represents science and cooperation coming together to minimize the negative impacts of chemicals and waste and prevent pollution. The ISP-CWP completes a global scientific trifecta alongside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
The impacts of unmanaged chemicals, waste, and pollution are profound, contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil we depend on. Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Deaths from modern forms of pollution have risen by 66 per cent over the past two decades.
The proposed panel aims to equip governments, particularly in developing countries, with evidence, insights, and tools for effective, context-specific action. The panel will also support horizon scanning to anticipate emerging threats and guide timely response. As the global direct cost of waste management was an estimated USD 252 billion in 2020, the ISP-CWP's work is crucial in addressing these pressing global challenges.
- The ISP-CWP, a critical tool for global environmental governance, aims to protect human and environmental health by providing independent, policy-relevant scientific advice on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution prevention, aligning with the fields of environmental-science and policy-and-legislation.
- The panel will address the pollution crisis, safeguarding people and the environment by guiding timely responses and informed policies, addressing the immediate concerns highlighted in general-news.
- Given the profound impacts of unmanaged chemicals, waste, and pollution on the climate, biodiversity, and our health, the panel will equip governments, including those in developing countries, with evidence, insights, and tools for effective, context-specific action.
- As the global direct cost of waste management continues to rise, with an estimated USD 252 billion spent in 2020 and municipal solid waste predicted to grow significantly by 2050, the work of the ISP-CWP is crucial in addressing these pressing challenges in the realm of carbon management and sustainable development.
