India Champions Global Chemical & Waste Governance at BRS COPs 2025

India reaffirmed its leadership in environmental governance at the BRS COPs 2025 in Geneva. Led by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the Indian delegation advocated for sound management of chemicals and wastes, access to finance and technology for developing countries, and pushed for action on plastic pollution. The conference theme, “Make visible the invisible”, highlights global concern over the unseen hazards of chemical mismanagement.

Why in the News?

India participated in the 2025 Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, held in Geneva from 30th April to 1st May 2025. Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav led the Indian delegation, emphasizing India’s commitment to global action on chemical and waste management.

Theme

• “Make visible the invisible: Sound management of chemicals and wastes”

India’s Role at the BRS COPs 2025

• Led by Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav.
• Emphasized India’s regulatory framework and environmental legislation.
• Stressed the need for technology transfer, capacity-building, and financial access for effective implementation.

India’s Interventions at the COPs

• Reaffirmed commitment to multilateral environmental agreements.

Promoted national laws like,

• Environment (Protection) Act
• Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules
• E-Waste Management Rules, 2016
• Emphasized institutional investments and infrastructure support.

Bilateral Engagements

• Participated in consultations hosted by Norway on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for plastic pollution.
• Bilateral meeting with Switzerland’s environmental chief Ms. Katrin Schneeberger on the legally binding treaty on plastic pollution.

India’s Domestic Initiatives on Plastic Pollution

• Ban on single-use plastic items.
• Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging.
• India introduced UNEA-4 resolution on single-use plastics—key moment in global negotiations.

Static Info

• Basel Convention (1989): Control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
• Rotterdam Convention (1998): Prior informed consent for certain hazardous chemicals.
• Stockholm Convention (2001): Eliminate/restrict production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
• UNEA – United Nations Environment Assembly.
• Venue: Geneva, Switzerland.

Challenges Ahead

• Ensuring equity for developing countries.
• Strengthening science-policy interface.
• Need for global legal mechanisms on plastic and chemical pollution.