International Pollutants Elimination Network

{{Short description|Global NGO network fighting various types of pollutants}}

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The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) (formerly International POPs Elimination Network){{cite web |title=New Name Better Reflects Breadth of IPEN's Work |url=https://ipen.org/news/new-name-better-reflects-breadth-ipens-work |accessdate=15 November 2019}} is a global network of NGOs dedicated to the common aim of eliminating pollutants, such as lead in paint, mercury and lead in the environment, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals, and other toxics.

IPEN was established by a number of environmental NGOs, including Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and Physicians for Social Responsibility in 1998.{{Cite book |last1=Wexler |first1=Philip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QgbLBQAAQBAJ&q=International%20POPs%20Elimination%20Network&pg=PA371 |title=Chemicals, Environment, Health: A Global Management Perspective |last2=Kolk |first2=Jan van der |last3=Mohapatra |first3=Asish |last4=Agarwal |first4=Ravi |date=2011 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4200-8470-2 |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Schmidt |first=Charles W. |date=1999 |title=Spheres of influence: no POPS. Persistent organic pollutants. |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |language=en |volume=107 |issue=1 |pages=A24-5 |doi=10.1289/ehp.107-1566311 |pmc=1566311 |pmid=9876117}} It became one of the most prominent NGOs in negotiations over the Stockholm Convention and has continued to play an important role in subsequent chemicals-related international negotiations.{{Cite book |last1=Zavestoski |first1=Stephen |url=https://archive.org/details/healthenvironmen0000unse_r4c6 |title=Health and Environment: Social Science Perspectives |date=2010 |publisher=Nova Science |isbn=978-1-60876-216-3 |editor-last=Kopnina |editor-first=Helen |location=Hauppauge, N.Y |pages=255–272 |chapter=Environmental health organizing in a globalizing world: The emergence of a global anti-toxics movement and its political, legal and economic challenges |editor-last2=Keune |editor-first2=Hans}}

IPEN is composed of public interest non-governmental organizations who support a common platform for the global elimination of POPs via the Stockholm Convention, work to influence the implementation of the Rotterdam and Basel conventions, as well as the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

IPEN's more than 550 public interest non-governmental organizations in over 120 countries work together for the elimination of toxic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis. This mission includes achieving a world in which all chemicals are produced and used in ways that eliminate significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, and where POPs and chemicals of equivalent concern no longer pollute local and global environments.{{cite web |title=About IPEN |url=https://ipen.org/about-ipen |accessdate=15 November 2019 |website=ipen.org}}

IPEN is co-chaired by Tadesse Amera and Pamela K. Miller. Former co-chairs were Sharyle Patton (1998–2004), Romeo F. Quijano (1998–2006), Jack Weinberg (2001–2005), Jamidu Katima (2006–2010), Mariann Lloyd-Smith (2006–2011), Emmanuel Calonzo (2011–2015) and Olga Speranskaya (2010–2018).{{Cite web |title=Executive Committee |url=https://ipen.org/about/executive-committee |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=ipen.org}}

IPEN is coordinated via Hubs in eight regions: Anglophone Africa; Francophone Africa; Central, Western & (sections of) Eastern Europe (CEWE); a portion of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus & Central Asia (EECCA); Latin America; Middle East & North Africa (MENA); South Asia; and Southeast Asia.{{Cite web |title=Regional Hubs {{!}} IPEN |url=https://ipen.org/about/regional-hubs |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=ipen.org}} Centre de Recherche et d’Education Pour le Développement (CREPD) based in Yaoundé, Cameroon is the Regional Hub for Fancophone Africa.{{Cite web |title=CREPD CAMEROUN |url=http://crepdcm.com/#/hub |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=crepdcm.com}} Arnika Toxics and Waste Programme based in Prague, Czech Republic is the Regional Hub for Central, Eastern & Western Europe.{{Cite book |last=Straková |first=Jitka |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351774362 |title=Throwaway Packaging, Forever Chemicals |publisher=Arnika, BUND, IPEN, CHEMTrust, HEAL |year=2021 |isbn=978-80-87651-93-3 |location=Prague}}