The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) was formally established with the agreement of 107 Member States during the Intergovernmental Meeting held in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Following the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution 5/8 and the five sessions of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), the Panel was established on 20 June 2025 to strengthen the global science-policy interface for the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. The first Plenary session, scheduled for 2–6 February 2026 in Geneva, will establish the Panel’s operational foundations, including governance arrangements and initial activities.
With the support of the Government of Switzerland, UNITAR organised 4 regional webinars in January 2026 and has developed a supporting document to raise awareness of the Panel’s mandate and structures, support National Focal Points and other stakeholders in their potential roles, and present practical guidance for inclusive scientific engagement—drawing on lessons from established platforms such as the IPCC and IPBES (see further in the Resources page).
History
At its resumed fifth session in March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted resolution 5/8, calling for the establishment of a science-policy panel to support the sound management of chemicals and waste and the prevention of pollution. The resolution requested the Executive Director of UNEP to convene an ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) to develop proposals on the panel's scope, functions, institutional arrangements, governance, and financing.
The OEWG carried out its mandate between 2022 and 2025, through a series of meetings that brought together governments, scientists, and stakeholders from across the globe to design the new panel.
In June 2025, the Panel was formally established at an Intergovernmental Meeting convened by the Executive Director of UNEP in accordance with UNEA resolution 5/8. Created to address a long-standing gap in the global environmental governance landscape, the Panel will deliver independent, policy-relevant scientific advice to inform action on chemicals, waste, and pollution.
