Feature story - February 18, 2004
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — The Stockholm Convention’s entry into force a victory for the environment and our future.
Amsterdam 2004-02-18 - Today the 50th country ratified the Stockholm Convention, bringing it into legal force. From now on it will be mandatory for governments to protect the environment and human health from toxic chemicals. (1)
"This is not just a victory for the environment but also clearly
demonstrates that with political will, the international community
can secure a safer future for the next generation by putting
people's health over the short term interest of some polluting
industries," said Greenpeace campaigner Zeina Al-Hajj.
The Stockholm Convention was adopted on 23 May 2001 in
Stockholm, Sweden, after several years of negotiations, constantly
undermined by the US and it's corporate interest. It's a global
legally binding agreement outlawing the production, use and release
of toxic substances. (2)
"The 50th ratification of the Stockholm Convention by France is
an example of how even industrialised states are demanding that
corporations take preventative action before environmental damage
or health effects occur," said Al-Hajj. (3)
A key feature of the Convention calls for the elimination of all
Persistent Organic Pollutants, POPs, and lists twelve of these
substances for priority action, the so-called "dirty dozen". They
include intentionally produced chemicals, such as pesticides and
PCBs, as well as by-products such as furans and cancer-causing
dioxins that are released from industries that use chlorine and
from waste incinerators.
The Stockholm Convention also aims to prohibit industries from
inventing new POPs, introducing them in the market place or
recycling of POPs. This will prohibit the chemical industry from
dumping new hazardous chemicals on the market and will force the
industry to adopt the so called substitution principle. (4)
"The main challenge ahead of the Convention is its
implementation. Instead of finding temporary loopholes, such as
incineration when dealing with waste, it is far more cost-effective
to go straight to the source of the problem and find a sustainable
substitute, "said Kevin Stairs of Greenpeace when calling on
Parties to the Stockholm Convention to start the implementation of
the treaty. "Every day more poisons are poured into our environment
and bodies and the need for action is urgent."