Chemicals are pervasive. While they are used in most industries and provide essential benefits to everyday lives, they can also threaten human health and the global ecosystems upon which humanity depends. But with chemicals found in everything from food to detergents and children’s toys, exposure is unavoidable.
Research shows that if not managed effectively, they can cause acute poisoning and long-term effects on humans such as cancers, neurological disorders and congenital disabilities. In 2019, at least 2 million people died due to exposure to a small number of hazardous chemicals, while 900,000 people globally die from lead exposure each year.
Harmful chemicals can also trigger the eutrophication of water bodies, ozone depletion, and threaten sensitive ecosystems and biodiversity. As the third-largest industrial emitter of carbon dioxide, the chemical industry is a major driver of the climate crisis, particularly through energy and material-related emissions.
The sound management of chemicals and waste is therefore critical to reducing their adverse impacts on people and planetary health, say experts.
“Sound chemicals management is needed in every industry to ensure we can live in harmony with nature and safeguard human well-being,” says Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Economy Division. “We must engage all stakeholders to facilitate a transformation of our global chemical and waste management systems that embraces an integrated approach to chemicals throughout their life cycle – from production to use to waste.”
The current policy framework to promote global chemical safety is called the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). This voluntary multi-stakeholder policy framework hosted by was adopted by the First International Conference on Chemicals Management on 6 February 2006 in Dubai.
A new global framework
Government and industry leaders are now negotiating a new global framework to manage chemicals and waste safely. Similar to other multilateral agreements, this was slated for adoption in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19.
At an international meeting in Bucharest last month, Member States, industry representatives, academia, NGOs, and youth groups finally agreed on a vision for the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.
Priorities for the framework include setting targets to eliminate certain chemicals, increase education and awareness, improve data collection, standardize tools and guidelines for chemical management, and ensure the private sector incorporates sound chemical management into their business models.
The framework also seeks to enhance innovation and identify synergies to link chemical management with other environmental priorities and multilateral frameworks.
If implemented effectively, experts say the new framework can help realize the important benefits of chemical use in medicine, agriculture and technology, which are key to achieving nearly all dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals and protecting human and environmental health.
“We are on the right track to make the progress needed for a successful post-2020 instrument for sound chemicals management,” said Aggarwal-Khan. “We need to ensure we build upon this momentum when the session resumes in 2023 to give us the best chance of establishing a global post-2020 framework. Only with urgent, collaborative action can we promote chemical safety.”
Delegates will reconvene in early 2023 to continue deliberations.
Contact Information: To learn more, please contact Kakuko Nagatani-Yoshida, UNEP’s Global Coordinator of Chemicals and Pollution Action: nagatani-yoshida@un.org
To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution, a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations.
