Global Action Vital for Chemical Crisis
17/02/2026
A newly established UN panel for assessing the science on and solutions for chemical waste and pollution hit a wall this month after its inaugural plenary ended with no clear path forward.
Commissioner Miriam Diamond, who attended the meeting, writes how the stalemate between member states exposes both the challenges of coordinating science and knowledge for solutions in a fractured geopolitical landscape as well as underscores the need for Safe and Just Boundaries to protect people and the planet.
By Miriam L. Diamond
In Geneva, we witnessed another breakdown of the world order.
During the first plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), negotiations collapsed with no agreement and no clear “next steps”.
Like the IPCC for climate, the panel was created as an intergovernmental body to meet policy needs by providing authoritative analyses and summaries of scientific and Indigenous knowledge to tackle the global scourge of chemical waste and pollution.
But instead of a roadmap toward a safer and healthier world, the meeting revealed the continued erosion of international norms and the urgent need for action.
A Rocky Start
We face a “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These challenges cost us trillions of dollars, degrade ecosystems, harm our health, and threaten the future of the planet.
In response to these the United Nations has international science-policy panels, like the IPCC, to assess the latest research and provide options for solutions that countries could adopt. The ISP-CWP was set to join their ranks, with a mandate to offer practical, evidence-based advice on managing chemicals and waste and preventing pollution.
While the outcome in Geneva was disappointing, it highlights the urgency of the Earth Commission’s work. Humanity has already crossed multiple Safe and Just Boundaries
Today, however, it is on life support. A block of countries, the same that have halted progress on climate and plastics negotiations, disputed and delayed every and all attempts at forming a functional panel. Without agreement on these foundational elements, it is unlikely that a country will come forward to fund the next meeting that could lead to a functioning panel.
Looking Ahead
While the outcome in Geneva was disappointing, it highlights the urgency of the Earth Commission’s work. Humanity has already crossed multiple Safe and Just Boundaries, putting ecosystems and human health at risk.
The Commission also is actively assessing where we stand with novel entities – the human-made substances like plastics, as well as naturally occurring chemicals whose abundance humans have altered. Understanding these risks is essential for a stable, thriving planet, and achieving this depends on evidence-based global cooperation.
In this context, having a working ISP-CWP is vital. Its goal to protect human health and safeguard the environment works in tandem with the Earth Commission’s mission. Together, they can provide evidence-based guidance, support managing chemicals and waste responsibly, and help ensure human activity stays within safe and just limits.
This work has always been challenging, but it is even more so now, as the old rules-based order is no longer guaranteed. As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted at this year’s World Economic Forum, nations must navigate a world where “might is right.”
At the same time, this reality creates an opportunity for middle powers and the majority of countries to form alliances grounded in principle and pragmatism. By working together and using science and Indigenous knowledge as a guide, governments can protect people and nature, strengthen international cooperation, and build a safer, more sustainable, and equitable future for all.
Miriam L. Diamond is a professor at the University of Toronto and an international expert in chemical contaminants from sources to management. She co-leads the Commission’s working group on novel entities.
