From June 6 to 17, 2022, the 2022 conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Relying on this Conference of the Parties, the Basel Convention Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific successfully held a side event "Establishing Zero-waste City: From Concept to Practice" on June 15. This side event invited Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention and Stockholm Convention, and Mr. Xiao Xuezhi, Deputy Director of the Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, head of the Chinese delegation, to deliver speeches for the event. This side event was held both online and offline, attracting a total of 208 participants including representatives of the contracting parties and external experts.

Zero-waste City Side Event Geneva Conference Site

Zero-waste City Side Event Online Venue

In the speech session of the event, Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the BRS Conventions, delivered a speech. He expressed his appreciation for China's leading role in the field of zero-waste cities and holding this side event to promote the process of international zero-waste city construction, hoping to see more zero-waste cities to be built around the world.

Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the BRS Conventions, delivered a Speech

Mr. Xiao Xuezhi, Deputy Director of the Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, head of the Chinese delegation, said in his speech: Chinese government attaches great importance to the prevention and control of solid waste pollution, and launched a pilot project for the construction of a Zero-waste City in 2019. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, 113 cities at the prefecture level and above and 8 special regions in China will carry out the construction of zero-waste cities; Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hebei and other provinces will also carry out the construction of zero-waste cities at provincial level. China also attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation in the process of building zero-waste cities. With the support of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Basel Convention Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific launched the International Network of Zero-waste Cities Initiative to strengthen cooperation between cities. It is hoped that more cities will join the International Network of Zero-waste Cities Initiative and jointly promote the process of international zero-waste city construction.

Mr. Xiao Xuezhi, Deputy Director of the Foreign Cooperation and Exchange Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, head of the Chinese delegation, delivered a speech

Mr Li Jinhui, Executive Director of Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific/Professor of School of Environment, Tsinghua University, said in his speech: In its resolution 4/7, Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes, appreciating the focus of its fourth session on innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production of solid waste and other zero-waste practices implemented by member states, inviting member states to support national and local zero-waste practices to minimize the environmental impact of wastes. The Basel Convention aims to reduce the generation of hazardous wastes and promote the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of waste management. The goals of the Basel Convention are consistent with the construction of Zero-waste Cities. In response to the resolutions of the United Nations Environment Assembly and the construction of China's Zero-waste Cities, the Basel Convention Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific launched the International Network of Zero-waste Cities Initiative.

Mr Jinhui Li, Executive Director of Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific/Professor of School of Environment, Tsinghua University, delivered a speech

Ms. Gabriela Nair Medina Amarante, Director of Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for Latin America and Caribbean Region, said in her speech: A number of cities in Uruguay have spontaneously launched the construction of zero-waste cities, and the three provinces including Salto, Cerro Largo and Rivera have joined the International Network of Zero-waste Cities Initiative. Thank you very much for this platform built by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, which has promoted the exchange of experiences between Uruguay and China's pilot projects of zero-waste cities.

Ms. Gabriela Nair Medina Amarante, Director of Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for Latin America and Caribbean Region, delivered a speech

In the reporting session, firstly, Mr. Wang Ziyuan, Officer of Solid Waste Division, Department of Solid Waste and Chemicals, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China, introduced Zero-waste City in three aspects: the working process of the pilot construction of China's Zero-waste City, the remarkable results achieved in the pilot construction of the Zero-waste City, the promotion plan for the construction of Zero-waste City during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. Then, Ms. Clare Chow, Senior Assistant Director, Environmental Policy Division, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment,Singapore, introduced Singapore’s Zero-waste Master Plan and Singapore’s circular economy management measures for three priority waste streams: food waste, packaging waste, and e-waste. Thirdly, Ms. Shan Guijuan, Deputy Chief of Environmental Technology Branch of Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, and Mr. Craig Boljkovac, Senior Advisor, jointly introduced the organizational progress of the International Network of Zero-waste Cities Initiative. Finally, Mr.Mehdi Sameni, Director of Basel Convention and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer in Iran, introduced Iran's nationwide zero-waste initiative, and said that the Basel Convention and Stockholm Convention Regional Center for Iran will work with the Basel Convention Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific to build a zero-waste Kish Island.

This side event has received extensive attention from the representatives of the contracting parties, publicized the progress and effectiveness of China's zero-waste city construction, enhanced countries' understanding of the necessity of zero-waste city construction, and further promoted the process of international zero-waste city construction.

Mr. Wang Ziyuan, Officer of Solid Waste Division, Department of Solid Waste and Chemicals, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China, reported on China's Zero-waste City Construction Achievements and Promotion Plan during the “14th Five-Year Plan”

Ms. Clare Chow, Senior Assistant Director, Environmental Policy Division, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment,Singapore, reported on Towards a Zero-waste Country: a circular economy approach to waste management in Singapore

Ms. Shan Guijuan, Deputy Chief of Environmental Technology Branch of Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, reported on Progress of the International Network of Zero-waste Cities Initiative

Mr. Mehdi Sameni , Director of Basel Convention and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer in Iran, reported on Establishing Zero-waste Cities: Practice in Iran