On 16 December 2025 (14:00-16:30 CET), the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), as part of the GEF-funded and UNEP-led Global NIP Update Project (GEF ID 10785), will host a virtual webinar, "Activity Options for Action Plans on the Management and Elimination of PCBs and POP Pesticides."
The webinar will bring together Stockholm Convention focal points, National Implementation Plan (NIP) experts and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) management practitioners to strengthen understanding of practical action plan options for managing PCBs and POP pesticides in line with Stockholm Convention obligations.
The event will combine expert presentations with an interactive Q&A session, highlighting integrated approaches to POPs management, updates on the GEF/World Bank PCB phase-out project, criteria for 2025 PCB elimination targets and strategies for aligning action plans with national chemical and waste priorities.
The workshop will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into French, Russian and Spanish provided.
Objectives
- Introduce aspects of the integrated approach to POP management, with emphasis on pesticides and PCBs.
- Provide an overview of activity options for managing and phasing out POP pesticides, ensuring that no regrettable alternatives are used.
- Introduce a broader approach to pesticide substitution.
- Review current goals under the Stockholm Convention on PCBs.
- Provide an overview of the current technical and financial tools to support Stockholm Convention Parties on meeting their obligations on PCBs elimination.
- Provide insights into the initial steps of the Global Elimination Programme for PCBs and possible way forward.
Target audience
- Stockholm Convention Official Contact Points and National Focal Points particularly from project countries
- National officials and experts involved in the process of reviewing and updating the NIPs
- Practitioners working on POPs inventory and POPs management
- Members of NIP National Coordinating Mechanism/Committees and Project Coordination Units/Thematic Task Groups
- Representatives of Regional Centers and other relevant stakeholders
Agenda
(Please note that time is indicated in CET)
Time (CET) | Description | Speaker |
14:00 | Welcome and opening remarks | Ms. Anastasiya Buchok (GGKP) |
14:05 | Basic considerations on action plan development and integrated approach | Dr. Roland Weber (POPs Environmental Consulting) |
14:30 | Action plan options for management and elimination of POPs Pesticides & Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) (synergy with GFC) | |
14:55 | An alternative approach to substitute POP pesticides and HHPs | Mr. Lars Neumeister (Pesticide Expert) |
15:20 | Action Plan options for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs)) | Dr. Roland Weber (POPs Environmental Consulting) |
15:45 | Environmentally sound management of remaining PCBs in line with the Stockholm Convention goals - the financial mechanism and other tools | Mr. Agustin Harte (BRS Secretariat) |
16:10 | Q&A session | All |
16:30 | Closing remarks |
Speakers
- Dr. Roland Weber, POPs and NIP expert, POPs Environmental Consulting
- Mr. Agustin Harte, Programme Management Officer at BRS Secretariat/UNEP, Geneva, Switzerland
- Mr. Lars Neumeister, Pesticide Expert
Contacts
Anastasiya Buchok
Senior Project Associate, Global NIP Update Project (GEF 10785), GGKP
email: [email protected]
Soomin Bae
Knowledge management support consultant, Global NIP Update Project (GEF 10785), GGKP
email: [email protected]