The Governing Council,
Recalling its decision SS.XI/8 of 26 February 2010 and the need for heightened efforts to
increase the political priority accorded to the sound management of chemicals and wastes and the
increased need for sustainable, predictable, adequate and accessible financing for the chemicals and
wastes agenda,
Recalling also that in decision SS.XI/8 it requested the Executive Director to launch, in
collaboration with relevant partners, initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of the sound
management of chemicals and wastes through various avenues, including the media and key
international opportunities such as intergovernmental meetings and public events at both the national
and international levels,
Taking note of General Assembly resolution 65/162 of 20 December 2010, in which the
Assembly welcomed the consultative process on financing options for chemicals and wastes and
expressed support for further efforts through the United Nations Environment Programme to continue
such discussions,
Recalling its decision 26/7 of 24 February 2011, in which it requested the Executive Director
to submit a final report to the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum at its twelfth
special session on the implementation of decisions SS.XI/8 and 26/7,
Recognizing the importance of an integrated approach to financing the sound management of
chemicals and wastes to maximize impact, particularly at the national level,
Recalling the financial provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior
Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Stressing that technology support and capacity-building, along with financial assistance,
support the effective implementation of the sound management of chemicals and wastes and
obligations under relevant conventions,
Having considered the final report submitted by the Executive Director on the consultative
process on financing options for chemicals and wastes,9
1. Welcomes the consultative process on financing options for chemicals and wastes and
takes note of its outcome and the final report of the Executive Director;
2. Takes note of the co-chairs’ summary of the discussions of the contact group on
finance and technical assistance convened during the first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group
of the International Conference on Chemicals Management, held in November 2011,10 at which the
participants considered possible long-term financing options for the Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management, including elements of the integrated approach pertinent to the
Strategic Approach;
3. Encourages the participants in other processes related to chemicals and wastes,
including the International Conference on Chemicals Management, to take into consideration, as
appropriate, the integrated approach and the final report of the Executive Director;
4. Recognizes that the continuing negotiation of a legally binding instrument on mercury,
including its financing mechanisms, is a parallel process that should not be delayed or prejudged by
the consultative process on financing options for the sound management of chemicals and wastes, and
invites the intergovernmental negotiating committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on
mercury to consider, as appropriate, the outcome document of the consultative process and the final
report of the Executive Director;
5. Encourages Governments and other relevant stakeholders to consider taking into
account the integrated approach, the outcome document and the final report of the Executive Director
in preparing for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and other high-level
international policy processes;
6. Requests the Executive Director to continue to provide support to the consultative
process, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, with a view to elaborating further a
final outcome based on the integrated approach to financing the sound management of chemicals and
wastes;
7. Also requests the Executive Director, taking into consideration the outcome document
of the consultative process and his final report, to prepare a draft proposal, and to seek advice thereon
through a consultative process, for consideration and possible decision at the third session of the
International Conference on Chemicals Management, in 2012, and at the twenty-seventh session of the
Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, in 2013;
8. Further requests the Executive Director, in collaboration with relevant partners, to
continue to raise awareness of the importance of the sound management of chemicals and wastes and
to report on progress in the implementation of the present decision to the participants in relevant
intergovernmental processes and meetings;
9. Invites Governments and other interested parties, including members of the private
sector, to provide financial and in-kind support for the consultative process.