Essential Elements of U.S. Leadership in Ratifying the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

A joint statement from a coalition of environmental and health organizations urging the U.S. Congress to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by passing implementing legislation that ensures timely action, respects state laws, and provides clear legal authority to the EPA.

• The signatories argue that Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) represent a global hazard due to their environmental persistence, ability to travel long distances via wind and water, and bioaccumulation in the food chain. These chemicals are linked to cancer, immune system changes, and neurological and learning disabilities, with children, Arctic communities, and indigenous peoples being particularly vulnerable.
• The Stockholm POPs Convention, signed by the Bush Administration in May 2001, regulates 12 initial POPs—including DDT, PCBs, and dioxins—and provides a science-based framework for adding further chemicals. The document notes that none of these initial 12 chemicals are currently intentionally produced in the United States.
• The coalition proposes three specific criteria for implementing legislation to ensure U.S. leadership: first, the U.S. should promptly decide whether to regulate new POPs added to the treaty (noting an 'opt-in' safeguard); second, federal legislation must not weaken state and local laws in places like California, New York, and Washington; and third, the EPA must have the authority to use the Convention's scientific review process and health-based standards rather than redundant evaluations or cost-benefit balancing tests.
• The document states that at least 106 countries have joined the Stockholm Convention, including major trading partners in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The authors claim that by not ratifying the agreement, the United States damages its international reputation and loses the ability to influence the Convention's success.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2005). Essential Elements of U.S. Leadership in Ratifying the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/POPs_Leadership_7Sep05.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Essential Elements of U.S. Leadership in Ratifying the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). 2005. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/POPs_Leadership_7Sep05.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Essential Elements of U.S. Leadership in Ratifying the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |date=7 September 2005 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/POPs_Leadership_7Sep05.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2005essential, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Essential Elements of U.S. Leadership in Ratifying the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2005}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/POPs_Leadership_7Sep05.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }