Welcome to the International POPs Elimination Network
UN Conference on Environment and Development Marks 20th Anniversary
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. A "Rio + 20" conference will take place in Brazil in June. IPEN will participate in Rio + 20; specifically to elevate our toxics-free future mission into the process, ensure that toxic chemical issues are part of the agenda, and by expanding the discussions from a Green Economy to include Green Societies and Green Environments.
See IPEN's draft submission to the Rio+20 Zero Document here (PDF)
See IPEN Text Recommendations for the 'Chemicals and Waste' Section (developed for the Rio + 20 Prepcom1) (PDF)
More information about IPEN's engagement in the Rio+20 process will be posted shortly.
New to the Issues?
What is the Stockholm Convention?
Read about the Stockholm Convention and how it protects us all from POPs.
Envisioning a Toxics-Free Future
Read how IPEN groups all over the world are working for a toxics free future.
Educational Guides
NGO Educational Guides to Key International Policies: Download educational booklets on POPs, Highly Hazardous Pesticides and SAICM.
These booklets are available in several languages, and provide a swift orientation of key international chemical policies and how NGOs can utilize agreements by the international community to protect their local communities from toxic threats.
IPEN Updates & Action
Joint IPEN-Greenpeace Study Finds Toxic Chemicals in Products in China
IPEN's Joe DiGangi appeared on the front page of ChinaDaily News. Read the article or see the press coverage list.On the 7th of December 2011, in Beijing and Hong Kong, IPEN and Greenpeace jointly launched a study of heavy metals in children's products on the Chinese market.
The study looked at 500 children's products — including toys, school supplies and other products — from five Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Hong Kong.) We tested for six toxics heavy metals using an XRF device. For details, please visit the Greenpeace East Asia website and the IPEN-China page. The IPEN page contains full testing results in English. Results are also available in Chinese in a searchable database on the Greenpeace website.
First Open-Ended Working Group for SAICM
Numerous representatives from IPEN Participating Organizations recently attended the 1st Open-Ended Working Group for SAICM (Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management) in Belgrade. Click below for some thoughts and observations about the meeting in the document: "IPEN Quick Views of SAICM OEWG," and here for additional information.
IPEN Updates Its Mercury-Free Campaign Webpage
An updated version of IPEN's Mercury-Free Campaign website can now be found at: http://ipen.org/hgfree/. This site contains information about IPEN's Mercury-Free Campaign, details about work to reduce and eliminate the harms caused by mercury, helpful educational publications in many languages and more. We will continue to add to the information resources link as more materials become available.
If your NGO is interested in joining IPEN's Mercury-Free Campaign, contact the IPEN Secretariat at ipen@ipen.org
Newly Elected IPEN-Co-Chair Manny Calonzo to Join Dr. Olga Speranskaya
IPEN congratulates Manny Calonzo, from GAIA Philippines, who will join Dr. Olga Speranskaya as one of the Co-Chairs of IPEN. Additionally, IPEN acknowledges the exceptional efforts and achievements by the outgoing IPEN Co-Chair, Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith.
Lead 100 times greater than guidelines were found in this toy.Toxic Substances in Consumer Products
Levels of toxins, such as heavy metals, in consumer products are a grave concern. Products containing concerning levels of lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and antimony, among others, are widely sold around the globe. IPEN has undertaken a study to test levels of these toxins in products sold internationally. We have started this study in Manila, Philippines. Over the coming weeks and months, we will test in other cities and countries.
Click here to view test results and learn more about the Toxic Products study.
Honoring Minamata
IPEN announces the launch of its new webpage dedicated to Honoring Minamata, where you'll find a Press Release addressing an upcoming meeting in Japan about the naming of the global mercury treaty. Click here to read IPEN's "Honoring Minamata Solidarity Statement" and learn more about how you can sign-on to the Statement to show your support.
* POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants. This is a group of chemicals that are very toxic to people and the environment.
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