Stockholmkonventsiooni

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty adopted in 2001 and effective from 2004. Its primary objective is to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of persistent organic pollutants, often referred to as POPs. POPs are toxic chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms, and are toxic to humans and wildlife.

The Convention aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of POPs. It initially listed 12 chemicals, known as the "dirty dozen," which were divided into three groups: those intended for elimination (like DDT, PCBs, and dioxins), those intended for restriction (like aldicarb and endosulfan), and unintentional production of POPs (like dioxins and furans). Over time, additional chemicals have been added to the Convention's annexes.

Parties to the Convention are obligated to take measures to reduce or eliminate releases of POPs. This includes developing national implementation plans, phasing out the production and use of listed chemicals, and managing stockpiles and wastes containing POPs. The Convention also promotes research, development, and cooperation in finding safer alternatives to POPs and in developing environmentally sound management practices. A global monitoring plan is in place to assess the effectiveness of the Convention.