About the Campaign
About the Campaign
The US POPs Watch Campaign seeks full and effective ratification of the Stockholm POPs Convention by the United States. This is a joint objective of the Center for International Environmental Law and an active Working Group representing environmental health advocates from around the country.
Click here to view the US POPs Watch working group members.
The Campaign sees the Stockholm Convention as an important next step for taking concerted international action on the “worst of the worst” global pollutants. The United States played a major role in the lead-up and negotiation of the treaty and has much to offer in terms of practical experience, technical expertise, and financial resources to assist developing countries. For these reason and more we believe that the United States has not only an opportunity, but an obligation, to join the global fight against toxic pollution.
At the same time, U.S. ratification of the POPs treaty must not be used to undercut future environmental progress or to encroach on the rights of state, local and tribal government to uphold higher standards. This is no hypothetical threat. In 2004, draft implementing legislation in the House would have preempted state actions on “new POPs” while the federal government considers opting-in for additional chemicals added to the initial dirty dozen. Even worse, the proposal failed to grant EPA clear authority to regulate other chemicals added to the Stockholm POPs treaty, effectively preventing the agreement from having any influence over chemicals in the U.S.
http://www.ciel.org/Chemicals/Stockholm_US_Implementing.html
To clarify our expectations for U.S. ratification, Working Group members developed a short statement of principles outlining the essential elements for U.S. leadership on POPs.
Essential Elements for U.S. Leadership
The US POPs Watch Campaign is made possible with the generous financial support of the Beldon Fund, the John Merck Fund, the Mitchell Kapor Foundation and others.
