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Financing for innovative technologies and best practices to reduce persistent organic pollutants

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Abstract

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) threaten human health and the global environment. Recognizing their dangers many countries began to limit or ban POPs production, use, and release in the 1990s. Eventually the Stockholm Convention on POPs, was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides financial support to developing country Parties for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention. The GEF’s POPs investment portfolio focuses on: 1) strengthening the capacity of developing country Parties to implement the Stockholm Convention; 2) establishing and supporting partnerships to develop and implement National Implementation Plans (NIPs), and 3) demonstrating and deploying best technologies and practices to reduce POPs emission, including development of safe alternatives. Since 2001 the GEF has committed US$568.8 million to POPs projects and leveraged some US$1474.5 million in co-financing from partners in the public and private sectors, bringing the total value of the GEF POPs portfolio to over US$2 billion. With GEF support, 108 developing country Parties have developed their NIPs. The GEF also financed 109 projects for the implementation of the Convention. Upon completion, these GEF POPs investments will contribute to the disposal of more than 70,000 tons of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) oil, contaminated equipments, and waste, more than 40,000 tons of obsolete POPs pesticides and associated waste, and reducing dioxin/furan and mercury emission by introducing environmentally sound technologies and best practices. This paper summarizes: 1) direct and indirect GEF investments to support the goals of the Stockholm Convention; 2) investment case studies on PCB, DichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane (DDT), chlordane and mirex, medical waste, obsolete POPs and engaging civil society; and 3) lessons learned in terms of GEF financing strategies, best technologies and environmental practices to address POPs.

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Notes

  1. These projects include single country projects and regional projects.

  2. These figures do not include GEF investment to Enabling Activities for Parties to develop their NIPs.

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Acknowledgements

L. Granier, and R. Scheer contributed to prior drafts of this paper.

Disclaimer

The analysis and presentation does not represent the technical or policy views of the Global Environment Facility, its agencies, or its members.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Environment Facility, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC, 20433, USA

    Ibrahima Sow, Jie Pan, Anil Sookdeo, Evelyn Swain & Laurent Granier

  2. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20585, USA

    Robert K. Dixon

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  1. Ibrahima Sow
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  2. Robert K. Dixon
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  3. Jie Pan
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  4. Anil Sookdeo
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  6. Laurent Granier
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Correspondence to Robert K. Dixon.

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Sow, I., Dixon, R.K., Pan, J. et al. Financing for innovative technologies and best practices to reduce persistent organic pollutants. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 19, 93–106 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-012-9428-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-012-9428-9

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