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United Nations Environment Programme
Noticias Chemicals & pollution action

Spotlight on chemicals and pollution action

UNEP

Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.

UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste, while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity, and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.

Below are chemicals and pollution highlights from the United Nations System, from partners and from others helping to call attention to the fact that the future of humanity and our planet depends on action now. 

05 Mar 2024 18:23

UNEA-6 highlights rising global role of UNECE Multilateral Environmental Agreements to address triple planetary crisis

People sitting at a panel
Photo: UNEP/Natalia Mroz

Faced with increasing impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which together constitute the “triple planetary crisis”, no country can act alone. Like nature itself, these challenges know no borders, which makes international cooperation a crucial part of action to address them.  

With this recognition, the role of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) – including those negotiated at UNECE – emerged as a key feature of discussions at the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment, the United Nations Environment Assembly, which held its sixth session (UNEA-6) on 26 February-1 March in Nairobi, Kenya.  

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28 Feb 2024 15:11

Making rubbish a resource to end wasteful culture

Photo of people on sitting at a panel
Photo: UNEP

"This report shows that the direct cost of waste management was US$252 billion in 2020, which rises to US$361 billion when externalities are included. These externalities include the costs of pollution, resulting in poor health and greenhouse gas emissions from waste. Unless we take urgent action, total annual costs could almost double as waste generation rises," said Inger Andersen at the launch of the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 report.

"However, we can’t keep coming at the waste problem by trying to manage what we throw away. Open burning of waste is a disaster. Dumpsites are a disaster. Recycling can’t cope with the sheer volume of waste. To realize the vision of a zero-waste society, we need to redefine what waste is. A lot of what we throw away is a valuable resource, so we must start rethinking the design and delivery of products and services to keep resources in the economy," Ms. Andersen added.

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15 Feb 2024 14:57

New body aims to limit pollution’s deadly toll

Smoke rising towards the sky from the chimneys of a paper mill
Photo: Unsplash/Daniel Moqvist

Pollution is widespread – and often fatal.  

Dirty air alone is responsible for 6.7 million deaths globally every year, while conservative estimates suggest that in 2019, 5.5 million people died from heart disease linked to lead exposure.  

To stem the pollution crisis, countries agreed in 2022 to establish a new body that would provide policymakers with robust, independent information on chemicals, waste and pollution.  

Negotiators are finetuning the details of this new science-policy panel. Once operational, it will complete a trifecta of similar scientific bodies designed to counter the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. 

Find out about the new science-policy panel.

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09 Feb 2024 16:07

UN Environment Assembly to take on climate change, nature loss, pollution

Delegates will gather for the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), the world’s top decision-making body on the environment from 26 February to 1 March 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The assembly brings together 193 Member States, intergovernmental organizations, the broader UN system, civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector to shape global environmental policy.

Delegates are expected to discuss how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

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06 Feb 2024 12:44

Zero Waste Day: call for entries on best practices and success stories

Empty plastic containers
Photo: UNEP/Duncan Moore

The UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste is seeking best practices, projects, and success stories related to zero waste.

More information

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23 Jan 2024 10:07

Take action to #BeatWastePollution

 

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19 Jan 2024 22:29

Non-toxic alternatives to DDT for malaria control

 

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15 Jan 2024 19:13

UNEP Chief at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

A man working on plastic
Photo: UNEP

UNEP Chief Inger Andersen authored a blog on plastics as part of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland. Read the blog.

Last updated at
04 Jan 2024 10:12

Quiz: How much do you know about lead poisoning?

Ice sheet with water body in background
Photo: AFP/Mint Images

Lead. This heavy metal is used in items like paint, car batteries, spices, ceramics, ammunition and barbells. 

However, lead can damage ecosystems and cause serious health problems in humans, including neurological issues and kidney damage. Lead can also enter the food chain and accumulate in organisms.

Take the quiz to learn more about how to avoid falling victim to lead poisoning.

Last updated at
28 Dec 2023 10:53

The Quadripartite launches a guide to support countries implement One Health approach

Infographic on One Health

The Quadripartite Collaboration on One Health releases - The guide to Implementing the One Health Joint Plan of Action at National Level (the Guide) to support countries to strengthen their One Health actions.

Recognizing the multitude of risks that a changing climate is having and will continue to have on the health of all life on earth, the launch took place at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The launch coincided with the first-ever health day at COP28 as well as a climate and health high-level ministerial meeting.

The Guide is an operational addendum to the 2022 One Health Joint Plan of Action, signaling a strategic objective to country-focused implementation. The guide outlines three pathways – governance, sectoral integration, and evidence and knowledge – and five steps to achieve One Health implementation.

Access the full Guide.

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