Through environmental and human monitoring, scientific collaboration, training, and technical support, the Global Chemicals Monitoring Programme (GCMP), launched in 2026, helps countries better understand chemical pollution, track progress under international agreements, and make informed decisions to protect human health and the environment. For the first time, global monitoring of POPs and mercury is being carried out under a single programme.
As the GCMP progresses, new information will be added to this page.
Previous project
From 2016 to 2023, the second phase UNEP/GEF POPs GMP projects was implemented through 4 regional projects in 42 countries in the Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands and the Latin America and the Caribbean regions. Analysis included the 12 initial POPs, the 14 new POPs adopted between 2009 and 2015, and the 7 new POPs added since COP6-9, providing the first set of data on these POPs in the environment and in humans for developing countries. Over 900 samples were analyzed with over 50,000 data points generated on POPs in air, water, human milk and matrices of national interest.
In Africa region, the project (GEF/UNEP project document / Appendices) ran in 15 countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia. The project was launched in its Inception Workshop in July 2016, in Ghana, the Midterm Workshop took place in July 2018, in Zambia. Two virtual meetings took place to present the results of POPs monitoring in the matrices: in air and water in October 2020 and in human milk and national samples in November 2021. The project final meeting took place in Casablanca, Morocco, in November 2023.
In the Latin America and The Caribbean (GRULAC) region, the project (GEF/UNEP project document / Appendices) ran in 11 implementing countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay. The Inception Workshop took place in December 2015, in Uruguay, the Midterm Workshop in June 2018, in Colombia. Two virtual meetings took place to present the results of POPs monitoring in the matrices: in air and water in October 2020 and in human milk and national samples in November 2021.
In the Asian region, the project (GEF/UNEP project document / Appendices) ran in 7 countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam. The project was launched in its Inception Workshop in January 2016, in Vietnam. The Midterm Workshop took place in August 2018, in Mongolia. Two virtual meetings took place to present the results of POPs monitoring in the matrices: in air and water in October 2020 and in human milk and national samples in November 2021. The project final meeting combining the two regions Asia and Pacific Islands took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on 4-5 April 2023.
In the Pacific Islands region, the project (GEF/UNEP project document / Appendices) ran in 9 countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. The project Inception Workshop took place in April 2016, in Fiji, the Midterm Workshop in September 2018, in Australia. Two virtual meetings took place to present the results of POPs monitoring in the matrices: in air and water in October 2020 and in human milk and national samples in November 2021. The project final meeting combining the two regions Asia and Pacific Islands took place in Bangkok, Thailand, in April 2023.
WHY POPS . GCMP OVERVIEW . DATA GENERATION . CAPACITY BUILDING . INTERLAB . HISTORY . REPORTS
