Representatives from at least 180 countries have gathered in Geneva for two weeks of high-stakes negotiations to address the escalating global threat posed by hazardous chemicals, including widely used pesticides and everyday stain repellents.

The talks are part of the biennial Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, which focus on regulating and reducing the environmental and health impacts of dangerous substances. The conference, which began on Sunday and runs through May 9, seeks to curb the widespread contamination of the planet by harmful chemicals.

Experts warn that the unchecked proliferation of hazardous compounds is among the most alarming indicators of the ongoing pollution crisis. “Chemicals are an integral part of the modern world, but too often, exposure to harmful chemicals through food, consumer products, and the environment can have severe consequences for people and the planet,” said Jacqueline Alvarez, Chief of the Chemicals and Health Branch at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

A recent UNEP report estimates that between 40,000 and 60,000 chemical compounds are regularly used in commercial products, ranging from agricultural fertilizers to consumer electronics. Many of these chemicals are persistent, infiltrating ecosystems and food chains, and are increasingly linked to chronic diseases and biodiversity loss.

The outcomes of the Geneva conference are expected to significantly influence international policies and industrial practices for years to come, as countries confront the challenge of balancing economic growth with the urgent need to protect human health and the environment.