In many ways, chemicals have become the unsung heroes of progress. They have made farming more productive, medicines more effective and sanitation more widespread, improving countless lives.
Yet, amid this transformative power lies a sobering truth: the unchecked proliferation of hazardous chemicals has placed the planet in a perilous place. Many chemicals are allowed to flow freely into the environment, polluting land, sea and air, and, often, making people sick. Every year, 1 billion people are exposed to hazardous substances.
For the last 15 years, an international framework, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, has helped to guide the use of chemicals and lessen their impact on the planet.
Starting this week in Bonn, Germany, policymakers, scientists, industry players, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders will hold discussions on its successor. On the table at the gathering, known as the 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), will be an ambitious plan to address the environmental and human health risks emanating from the production and management of chemicals.
We spoke to Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of Industry and Economy at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about what is at stake at ICCM5 and the vital role that collaboration with the chemical industry plays in shaping a chemical-safe future.
As important as chemicals are, they can be devastating for people and the planet if not managed properly. How will ICCM5 help lessen their environmental impact?
Sheila Aggarwal-Khan (SAK): ICCM5 aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including governments, industry players, non-governmental organizations, experts, Indigenous Peoples and youth to collectively address challenges in chemicals and waste management. The primary goal is to adopt a new and ambitious framework that strengthens the management of chemicals, has strong strategic objectives, and includes targets that can change behaviour and scale up financing for the sound management of chemicals.
Recent studies, including one from UNEP, have said countries must dramatically step up their efforts to manage pesticides and fertilizers, whose chemical components are damaging to the environment. What can governments do about that problem and the others posed by chemicals?
SAK: Governments have a vital part to play in shaping policies and regulations that guide chemical management. They can create legislative frameworks that prioritize the use of safer alternatives, promote disclosure and transparency, and allocate resources for effective monitoring and enforcement. Strong policy measures are essential to drive positive change in chemical management practices.
Many developing nations face challenges in safely managing chemicals, often because they have limited resources, infrastructure and technical expertise. How can those roadblocks be addressed?
SAK: There are several things that can be done. Developed countries, along with international organizations, can provide technical assistance to developing countries. This includes sharing best practices, facilitating technology transfer and offering guidance on how to establish robust chemical management systems.
Furthermore, financial support is essential. Such support can, for instance, develop countries’ capacity to establish the right enabling policy and regulatory environment, including fiscal policies, to ensure the sound management of chemicals.
In the past, industries like textiles, electronics and agriculture have been criticized for not doing enough to prevent dangerous chemicals from escaping into the environment. Players from those sectors will be at ICCM5. Is that significant?
SAK: Yes. Their active involvement in this process is essential. These sectors have a significant pollution footprint and we need their commitment if we are going to more sustainably manage chemicals along the value chain of their products, and encourage the use of safer alternatives
What specifically can businesses do to limit the damaging effects of chemical pollution?
SAK: There are three main things. Firstly, they can avoid, or at least minimize, the hazardous substances that they use, transitioning to chemicals and chemical compounds that are not going to cause negative human health and environment impacts. In other words, they can transition to the use of green and safer chemicals. Secondly, those producing chemicals and those using chemicals in their products can ensure their manufacturing practices do not have a pollution footprint. Finally, they can ensure that their products are able to stay in use as long as possible, taken back for repair, resale or reuse, and are recycled, instead of being disposed of or dumped at end-of-life.
How do you envision the outcomes of ICCM5 contributing to the broader global push for sustainability?
SAK: An ambitious new framework could have a profound impact on many of the Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to human health and the environment, especially the safety of workers. Goals 3, 6, 12 and 16 include targets that are directly or indirectly related to safeguarding the environment and the public from harmful chemicals. It is my hope that any agreement that comes out of ICCM5 will contribute to ensuring that productivity and profit do not have to come with pollution.
How might any decisions at ICCM5 address other environmental challenges?
SAK: The interconnections between climate change, biodiversity loss and chemical pollution are profound. Chemical pollution can harm ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss, while certain chemicals also contribute to climate change. ICCM5 addresses these challenges by fostering discussions on sustainable alternatives, circular economy principles and responsible chemical management. By addressing these issues holistically, we can make strides toward a healthier planet.
What message would you like to convey to all stakeholders participating in ICCM5?
SAK: I want to emphasize the power of collaboration and the urgency of our mission. ICCM5 offers a unique platform: It is a time to make history – a time when productivity and profit can be realized without pollution.
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.
