Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions will this month have the chance to compare notes and form regional positions ahead of a Conference of Parties (COPs) meeting starting in April.

Preparatory meetings for the 2017 COPs will be held for the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asian region on 21-23 March in Riga, Latvia. Countries will consider meeting documents, identify regional priorities and challenges and prepare regional positions for the COPs, where they are expected to agree on the phase-out of more harmful chemicals.

Parties to the Minamata Convention on mercury will furthermore meet on 24 March to discuss its ratification and early implementation. Twelve more countries need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force and further phase-down mercury use.

Preparatory meetings for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions COPs are being organised thanks to generous financial support provided by the Government of Switzerland.

For more information please contact mijke.hertoghs@unep.org

Oceans cover around 70% of the Earth's surface, support the livelihoods of a large share of the world’s population, are home to nearly 200,000 identified species but more likely millions of them, and help regulate the Earth’s climate.

They are however heavily affected by human activities, including pollution, depleted fisheries and loss of coastal habitats. The year 2017 is pivotal for the marine environment and the implementation of Global Goal 14 on the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

On 23 February, UN Environment launched a #CleanSeas campaign gathering ambitious measures by countries and businesses to reduce the production and use of plastic, while calling on consumers to change their habits.

Several major events are now scheduled around the world during 2017.

In June, coinciding with World Oceans Day, UN member states will convene in New York for The Ocean Conference. This intergovernmental event will be solutions-focused and lead amongst others to the adoption of a ‘Call for Action’ to support Global Goal 14.

The EU will also be hosting the fourth edition of the ‘Our Ocean’ conference in Malta on 5-6 October 2017 on issues related to oceans and climate change, marine pollution, sustainable fishing and sustainable blue growth. The conference is expected to bring about new initiatives, partnerships and commitments by various stakeholders.

Finally, the UN Environment Assembly will on 4-6 December tackle the theme of pollution and provide another forum for concrete deliverables related to marine pollution - in particular marine litter.

For more details please get in touch with alexa.froger@unep.org