This blog post draws on the presentation and remarks of Dr Roland Weber, Head, POPs Environmental Consulting, delivered during the GGKP webinar Activity Options for Action Plans on Cross-Cutting Issues of Specific Stockholm Convention Articles, held on 24 February 2026.
Updating National Implementation Plans (NIPs) is essential for translating the Stockholm Convention’s commitments into practical national action against persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Key priorities include strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks, reducing releases from intentional production and use, managing exemptions and addressing stockpiles, waste and contaminated sites. Equally important are robust systems for information exchange, monitoring, reporting and effectiveness evaluation.
Structuring action plans under the Convention
The Stockholm Convention guidance for developing NIPs proposes structuring action plans around clear objectives, activities, performance indicators, timeframes, responsible institutions and resource needs. This framework helps countries translate Stockholm Convention obligations into practical national measures.
One key priority is strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks. Countries are encouraged to review existing legal instruments, identify gaps or overlaps in responsibilities among ministries, and update regulations governing the lifecycle management of POPs and other hazardous chemicals.
Capacity-building is equally important. Training programmes for regulators and implementing agencies can strengthen enforcement, while information materials and outreach initiatives help industry and other stakeholders understand and comply with regulatory requirements.
Dr Roland Weber highlighted: “We need to inform and build the capacity of stakeholders on legal requirements and on the enforcement and compliance of regulations on POPs and other hazardous chemicals.”
Reducing releases from intentional production and use
While many POPs are banned, several remain in use under specific exemptions, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds; medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs); UV-328 and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).
For these chemicals, Parties must first understand where exempted production or use still occurs and assess the associated releases to air, water and waste streams. This requires compiling inventories, evaluating emissions from industrial processes and identifying possible control measures.
At the same time, Parties should continually assess alternatives to exempted chemicals. If safer substitutes become available, exemptions can be phased out earlier than expected.
Dr Roland Weber highlighted: “The reduction of unnecessary chemicals and unnecessary plastics needs to be a priority considering the essential use concept, and needs to be also a part of sustainable consumption.”
Managing HCBD
Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) is listed in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention without exemptions and was later added to Annex C. It is primarily generated as a by-product of chlorinated solvent production, including tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), trichloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride.
Recent research highlighted that HCBD concentrations in Arctic air have increased significantly, underscoring the need for stronger monitoring, inventories and control measures.
Countries with current or past production of chlorinated solvents or related organochlorine chemicals are encouraged to develop detailed inventories of HCBD releases, residues and waste streams, including assessments of historic waste disposal and potential contamination from legacy industrial activities.
Substitution is another priority. Perchloroethylene used in dry cleaning, for example, can be replaced by alternatives such as liquid carbon dioxide systems, wet cleaning technologies or hydrocarbon-based solvents. Where substitution is not feasible, best available techniques and best environmental practices (BAT/BEP) should be applied to minimize emissions and ensure safe waste management.
Legacy contamination also requires attention. Residues from chlorinated solvent production have been disposed of in landfills, creating long-term risks for groundwater and surrounding communities.
Managing exemptions, waste and contaminated sites
Article 4 of the Stockholm Convention requires the establishment of a POPs register for the purpose of identifying Parties that have specific exemptions. Because the number of POPs with possible exemptions has increased, Parties need clear processes for evaluating whether exemptions are necessary. This includes science-based assessments and periodic reviews, as well as formal notification and registration with the Convention Secretariat.
Waste management is addressed in Article 6, which focus on stockpiles, wastes and contaminated sites. Large volumes of waste containing brominated flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other POPs continue to accumulate globally.
Countries are encouraged to establish regulatory frameworks for identifying, separating, transporting and disposing of POP-containing waste in an environmentally sound manner. This includes developing collection systems, identifying appropriate treatment technologies and determining when export is required for safe destruction.
In parallel, contaminated sites must be identified, assessed, secured and, where feasible, remediated. This includes developing inventories, prioritizing sites and applying BAT/BEP for site management and clean-up.
Strengthening information exchange and public awareness
Effective implementation of the Convention also depends on strong systems for information exchange and awareness raising under Articles 9 and 10. Countries are encouraged to establish mechanisms for sharing information nationally, regionally and internationally, including through clearing-house systems and dedicated platforms.
Public awareness and education initiatives should target key stakeholder groups – including policymakers, industry, workers and the general public – to build understanding of POPs risks and promote safer practices. Integrating POPs into education systems and linking awareness efforts with broader chemical safety and sustainable development agendas is also recommended.
Monitoring, reporting and effectiveness evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation systems are central to tracking progress. Research, development and monitoring under Article 11 are essential, and countries are recommended to generate data on POPs occurrence, develop monitoring programmes and support scientific assessment of alternatives and emerging risks.
Under Article 16 on effectiveness evaluation, Parties are encouraged to contribute to the Global Monitoring Programme (GMP) by generating comparable data on POPs in key matrices such as human milk, blood and air. These data are used to assess whether the Convention is effectively reducing environmental and human exposure to POPs.
National reporting under Article 15 complements this process by ensuring that countries provide regular updates on implementation progress, challenges and results. Together, monitoring, reporting and evaluation enable evidence-based decision-making.
Towards stronger NIP action plans
Parties can strengthen their NIP action plans by addressing specific Stockholm Convention articles alongside POP-specific actions. By improving regulatory frameworks, evaluating exemptions, managing waste and contaminated sites, strengthening information exchange and awareness, and enhancing monitoring, reporting and evaluation systems, countries can build more effective systems for controlling POPs across their lifecycle.
These efforts also benefit from alignment with broader initiatives, such as the Global Framework on Chemicals and other related international agreements. Strengthening coordination across institutions and sectors will be essential for translating Convention commitments into practical national actions.
To learn more about the Global NIP Update project, visit Global NIP Update | Green Policy Platform.
For a deeper dive into the GGKP webinar Activity Options for Action Plans on Cross-Cutting Issues of Specific Stockholm Convention Articles, you can access the full recordings and materials here.
This article was curated by Mark Schulman, Content Editor, GGKP, and reviewed by Soomin Bae, Project Support Consultant, GGKP.
