2022-01-18-世界卫生组织-EPA-WHO_Memorandum_of_Understanding_MOU_7页_554kb

EPA and WHO MOU Summary: Cooperation on Environmental Health and Protection

Purpose

• To continue cooperating in promoting environmentally sound management and activities that contribute to human health and environmental protection.
• Encourage, facilitate, and amplify the importance of public health and healthy environments through enhanced collaboration.

Background

• Builds on a 29-year history of cooperation, including previous memoranda from 1992, 2002, and 2016.
• Reflects international commitments from the 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Addresses risks from environmental factors, such as modifiable environmental risks causing 24% of global deaths, and benefits from climate change mitigation, including implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Cooperation Areas

• Includes multiple fields: Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality and Health, Climate Change and Health, Water, Sanitation and Health, Toxic Chemicals, Pesticides and Risk Assessment, Solid Waste and Electronic Waste, Radiation and Health, and crosscutting issues like Environmental Justice and Children's Environmental Health.
• Open to other mutually agreed areas.

Activities

• Supported through various means: cooperative research, drafting and evaluation of scientific documents, personnel exchanges, training, capacity building, development and dissemination of tools and information, and networking initiatives.

Funding

• Activities are subject to financial and other resource availability; may involve fund transfers or use of external organizations' funds through appropriate mechanisms.

Management

• Each participant designates a Coordinator to oversee activities.
• Activities should foster consultation with other organizations to avoid duplication and enhance synergy; management involves seeking coordinated efforts.

Limitations

• This MOU is non-binding, not legally enforceable, and does not create contractual obligations or rights against third parties.
• Either party can terminate at any time with written notice; termination affects future activity imposition without invalidating ongoing work.
• Effective for an initial five-year period, renewable by mutual written consent.

Duration and Termination

• Activities commence upon signature, can last up to five years and be extended or terminated upon mutual agreement.
• Provides for dispute resolution through negotiations between specified senior officials.

Effective Date and Relevance

• Signed on January 11, 2022, in English; replaces the 2016 MOU.