European Development Days – for innovative solutions to the world challenges

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The European Development Days (EDD) bring the development community together every year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Organised by the European Commission since 2006, the EDD is a participatory programme, enabling governments, international organisations, companies, non-governmental organisations, and experts from the academia to take part into its preparation.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EDD have been cancelled in 2020. They are now coming back, with the following theme: “A Green Deal for a sustainable future”.

Usually organised in Brussels, the EDD 2021 will exceptionally be adapted to a virtual format.

A zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment

If plastics and chemicals can considerably improve the living conditions of populations, their mismanagement poses a significant threat to the environment and human health. The World Health Organization estimates the number of deaths due to certain chemicals at 1.6 million in 2016. Furthermore, the chemical industry represents more than 5,000 billion dollars at the global level, and projections indicate a doubling by 2030 with consumption and production increasing rapidly, especially in developing countries. Each year, 400 million tons of plastic are produced, and around 10 million tons are dumped into the ocean causing irreparable damage to wildlife and contamination of all organisms living in the ocean.

Aware of these challenges, the international community is developing a new voluntary framework for the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 and might launch negotiations on a legally-binding agreement on plastics at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in February 2022.

An afternoon of discussions on the management of plastics, chemicals and waste

On 15 June 2021, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs invites you to a high level panel, entitled « A zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment: a new framework for the international sound management of plastics, chemicals and waste ». This high-level panel will introduce an afternoon of discussions on pollution and chemicals.

This panel will present and discuss the issues driving the international community on this theme. It will also underline the important role played by the European Union and its Member States at the international level, with the European Chemicals Agency and European regulations related to plastics, chemicals and waste as well as circular economy.

Ms. Alix le Bourdon, France 24 Brussels correspondent, will moderate this panel, with the following speakers:

  • Mr. Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, French Ambassador for Polar and Maritime Issues, Government of France
  • Ms. Olivia Livingstone, Founder and Executive Director of the NGO Green Standards Inc.
  • Ms. Joanna Drake, Deputy Director General Environment, European Commission
  • Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
  • Mr. Philippe Lacoste, Sustainable Development Director, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
  • M. Jérémie Pellet, General Director of Expertise France
How to attend this panel?

When ? : Tuesday 15 June at 2:55pm
Where ? : Online, https://eudevdays.eu/
This panel will be available in French and in English.