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This briefing previews the first Plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), scheduled for February 2-6, 2026, in Geneva. The document outlines the Panel's purpose as a non-binding science-policy body designed to provide scientific assessments to inform policymakers, while highlighting critical unresolved governance issues regarding rules of procedure, conflict of interest policies, and the inclusion of gender and Indigenous Peoples' rights.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and partners examines the application of the Polluter-Pays Principle (PPP) to the PFAS pollution crisis. It argues that current implementation in the EU is inconsistent and that a comprehensive strategy is needed to shift the staggering financial burden of remediation and health costs from the public to the producers and users of PFAS.

This policy brief summarizes a UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) project report on advancing non-motorized transport in Indonesia, utilizing a case study of Medan to identify barriers and provide recommendations for increasing active mobility to combat road congestion, air pollution, and health issues.

A joint statement submitted by Ecojustice on behalf of ten environmental and health organizations, criticizing proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations. The signatories argue that the changes fail to strengthen environmental oversight, restrict public access to confidential test data, and do not sufficiently advance Canada's commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

This policy brief by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) provides a comprehensive overview of the institutional entry points and governance processes within the World Trade Organization (WTO) where trade and environmental policies intersect. It details the roles of various WTO bodies, including the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), the dispute settlement mechanism, and the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM), while highlighting recent member-led initiatives on plastic pollution, fossil fuel subsidies, and environmental sustainability.

This briefing note from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment calls for a second reform bill to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to address gaps left by Bill S-5, specifically regarding air quality standards, citizen enforcement, and protections for First Nations reserve lands.

This report by RMI argues for the establishment of comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) guidelines in the United States to protect public health and inform building decarbonization. It examines the health risks of indoor pollutants, compares indoor and outdoor air regulation, reviews international and domestic examples of IAQ guidelines, and outlines how such guidelines can be applied to product safety, building codes, and certifications.

A joint statement from six Canadian environmental and health organizations providing comments on the Draft state of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) report and the Risk Management Scope (RMS). The organizations advocate for regulating PFAS as a class under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), fast-tracking their addition to Part 1 of Schedule 1 as toxic substances, and implementing a comprehensive ban on non-essential uses to protect human health and biodiversity.

This briefing note provides a preliminary review of global trade flows across the entire plastics life cycle, from feedstocks and chemical additives to finished products and waste, to inform international negotiations on plastic pollution.

This briefing by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines the key provisions of Bill S-5, which modernizes the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The bill introduces the right to a healthy environment into federal law and strengthens the framework for assessing and managing toxic substances, while the authors identify several remaining gaps in environmental protection and enforcement.

A blog post authored by representatives from the Center for International Environmental Law, Greenpeace International, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International urging Council of Europe Member States to recognize the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment during the May 16-17, 2023, Summit in Reykjavik, Iceland.

This guide, a joint initiative by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Holy See's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, outlines the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and social injustice. Inspired by Pope Francis's encyclical 'Laudato si’', the document advocates for a fundamental shift from an economy of exploitation and fossil fuel dependence to one based on care, circularity, and social equity to ensure a livable planet for future generations.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) report details the 2023 activities of its Preventing Toxic Exposures Program, focusing on legislative advocacy, public awareness, and partnerships to reduce chemical pollution and address environmental racism in Canada.

An oral intervention by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Child Rights Connect delivered to the Human Rights Council on March 10, 2022, regarding the report by Special Rapporteur David R. Boyd on non-toxic environments and the creation of "sacrifice zones."

A joint statement and news release from several environmental and health organizations, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, urging the Canadian Senate and House of Commons to prioritize, strengthen, and pass Bill S-5 to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

This policy brief examines the evolution, effectiveness, and challenges of science-policy interfaces (SPIs) in global environmental governance since 1972. It analyzes existing models like the IPCC and IPBES, evaluates proposals for new SPIs focused on chemicals, waste, and food systems, and provides a three-pronged design framework to ensure future interfaces are credible, inclusive, and policy-relevant.

This document introduces a legal overview designed to inform the development of a new global instrument to address the plastics crisis. It notes that 10 formal propositions were submitted between 2017 and 2020 and that negotiations were set to begin at the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA5.2) in February 2022. The report analyzes the typology of international legal instruments, with a focus on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), to help negotiators determine the appropriate structure and type of agreement.

This policy guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development advocates for the integration of health and environmental sectors to address the "triple planetary crisis" of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It aims to bridge the gap between health professionals and global environmental policy negotiations to support planetary health and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 'State of Global Environmental Governance 2022' report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reviews the progress of multilateral environmental negotiations in 2022. It highlights a significant rebound in face-to-face diplomacy following the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in landmark agreements on biodiversity and the establishment of a loss and damage fund for climate-vulnerable nations. The report also examines the integration of human rights into environmental policy and the impact of geopolitical conflicts, specifically the war in Ukraine, on global environmental governance.

This policy brief reviews fifty years of international efforts to regulate ocean dumping, focusing on the evolution from the 1972 London Convention to the more restrictive 1996 London Protocol. It examines the challenges of managing radioactive waste, the regulation of climate mitigation technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the role of regional treaties in protecting marine ecosystems.