Ottawa

Standing up for asbestos

By Aaron Wherry

The Canadian delegation interjected yesterday to object to the inclusion of asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention.

At a summit in Switzerland, Canada’s delegation ended days of silence and speculation by opposing the inclusion of asbestos on a UN treaty called the Rotterdam Convention. “Yes, I can confirm they intervened in the chemicals contact group meeting this afternoon and opposed listing,” Michael Stanley-Jones of the UN Environment Program said in an email.

Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also opposed the listing.