The present report provides an update on progress in the implementation of decision 26/12, on enhancing cooperation and coordination within the chemicals and wastes cluster, pursuant to paragraph 6 of the decision.

The present document is the final report of the Executive Director on the consultative process on financing options for chemicals and wastes, as requested by the Governing Council in its decision 26/7 of 24 February 2011. The report is based on, among other things, the outcome document of the fifth and final meeting in the consultative process, held in Bangkok on 6 and 7 October 2011; the co-chairs’ summary of the discussions of the contact group on finance and technical assistance at the first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the International Conference on Chemicals Management, held in Belgrade from 15 to 18 November 2011; and multilateral and bilateral consultations with Governments and other relevant stakeholders.

The report provides information on progress in the implementation of Governing Council decision 26/4 and on an intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including the outcomes of the first session of the plenary meeting to determine modalities and institutional arrangements for the platform, held in Nairobi from 3 to 7 October 2011. The Governing Council is not required to take a decision on this matter, as the second session of the plenary meeting is being organized pursuant to decision 26/4.

The present report provides an overview of the fifth Global Environment Outlook report, processes and outcomes. In addition, pursuant to section IV of Governing Council decision 26/2, it provides information on the pilot proof-of-concept phase of the UNEP-Live platform and an interimreport on the status of the platform.