Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that are characterised by their ability to remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Stockholm Convention) entered into force on 17th May, 2004 with the aim of protecting human health and the environment from POPs by requiring parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of 12 initial POPs into the environment. As of January 2021, there are 184 Parties to the Convention, inclusive of 14 Caribbean countries.
Map of Caribbean Parties to the Stockholm Convention
Through amendments to the Convention and additions to its original listing of 12 controlled POPs, Parties are now required to take measures to eliminate the production and use of 26 pesticides and industrial chemicals listed under Annex A, to restrict the production and use of 2 POPs chemicals included in Annex B and to reduce the unintentional releases of 7 chemicals listed under Annex C. As the effects of recently synthesised chemicals become more prevalent, Parties may propose the addition of new POPs to the Annexes of the Convention.