The Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants

Abstract

latest in a series of global multilateral environmental agreements the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants entered into force on May 17, 2004. Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention, U.N. Doc. UNEP/POPS/CONF^ (May 22, 2001) (Convention). The Convention is an important milestone in international law and has particular relevance for the U.S. role in advancing international environmental protections, the evolution of U.S. law and practice, and the business community. As of early November 2004, 151 governments have signed the Convention, and 83 have ratified it. For many, U.S. implementation of the Convention is a necessary predicate to maintaining the U.S. government's historical leadership role in addressing persistent organic pollutants (POPs). U.S. ratification would also enhance the credibility of the United States in international environmental matters, given that the United States has failed to implement several other global environmental accords in recent years. This article reviews the negotiations leading up to the Stockholm Convention, outlines the basic obligations of the treaty, and discusses the environmental and economic benefits that would arise from U.S. implementation of the agreement. POPs are a small set of chemicals that remain