In 2017, Resolution 3/9 of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its 3rd session Eliminating Exposure to Lead Paint and Promoting Environmentally Sound Management of Waste Lead-Acid Batteries highlights the importance of financial, technical, technological, and capacity building support to strengthen national capabilities for sound management of lead particularly for developing nations and economies in transition and urges Governments and stakeholders to continue support for the Global partnerships on waste management.
In 2016, Resolution 2/7 of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its 2nd session requested the Executive Director to cooperate with Governments, with the private sector, including industry, and with other non-governmental organizations to continue work on lead and cadmium, and highlighted the need to assist countries by providing capacity-building to implement regulatory frameworks and programmes for the recycling of waste lead-acid batteries, including the role of the private sector therein.
In 2014, Resolution 1/5 of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its 1st session recognized the significant risks to human health and the environment arising from releases of lead and cadmium into the environment, requested the United Nations Environment Programme, in coordination with the World Health Organization, to continue to build capacity on lead paint through possible regional workshops; and looked forward to the compilation of information on techniques for emission abatement and on the possibility of replacing lead and cadmium with less hazardous substances or techniques.
In 2013, Decision 27/12 of the Governing Council at its First Universal 27th session emphasized that further actions are needed to address the challenges posed by lead and cadmium and urged governments to continue participating in and contributing to the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles and the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint.
In 2011, Decision 26/3 of the Governing Council at its 26th regular session set out a way forward in a number in a number of important areas that include lead and cadmium. Through this decision, it was noted that there remains a need for a continued focus to reducing the risks posed by lead and cadmium.
In 2009, Decision 25/5 II of the Governing Council at its 25th regular session requested the Executive Director to finalize the scientific review taking into account the latest available information in line with decisions 24/3 of 9 February 2007 and 23/9 of 25 February 2005 and to report to the Governing Council at its 26th session with a view to informing discussions on the need for global action in relation to lead and cadmium.
In 2007, Decision 24/3 III of the Governing Council at its 24th regular session encouraged efforts by Governments and others to reduce risks to human health and the environment of lead and cadmium throughout the whole life cycle of those substances. It also requested UNEP to provide available information on lead and cadmium to address the data and information gaps identified in the Interim Reviews, and to compile an inventory of existing risk management measures, with a further report back to the next GC.
In 2005, GC Decision 23/9 III of the UNEP Governing Council at its 23rd session reaffirmed its decision GC 22/4 III on lead andrequested UNEP to undertake a review of scientific information on lead and cadmium, focusing especially on long-range environmental transport, to inform future discussions on the need for global action in relation to lead and cadmium.
In 2003, GC decision 22/4 III adopted by the Governing Council at its 22nd session again called upon Governments that had not yet done so to act urgently to eliminate the use of lead in gasoline and to act urgently on the commitment of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to phase out lead-based paint and lead in other sources of human exposure, to prevent exposure to lead, in particular children’s exposure to lead, and to strengthen both the monitoring and surveillance and the treatment of lead poisoning. It also appealed to Governments, intergovernmental organizations, including UNEP, non-governmental organizations and civil society for active participation in assisting Governments, through information exchange, technical assistance, capacity-building and funding to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts.
In 2001, GC decision 21/6 adopted by the UNEP Governing Council during its 21st session, emphasized the importance of accelerating the process of eliminating the unsafe uses of lead, and called upon Governments who had not yet done so to eliminate the use of lead in gasoline.
