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United Nations Environment Programme
  • Overview
  • Road map
  • UNEP’s Objectives
  • Initiate
  • Set a Vision
  • Make an Action Plan
  • Implementation

Overview – Practical Guidance for Strategic Action to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry

In 2022 Member States adopted UNEA Resolution 5/7 which welcomes UNEP’s Green and Sustainable Chemistry: Framework Manual, and encourages its use as appropriate. In response to this call, UNEP is working to operationalize the information and recommendations in the Framework Manual into action. The final chapter of the Manual on “Green and Sustainable Chemistry Road Maps by Stakeholders” encourages leading stakeholders to “build with relevant stakeholders a coherent plan for action” as a means to enhance and scale-up global action to advance green and sustainable chemistry.

The information and materials on this webpage aim to provide stakeholders with practical guidance to carry out the planning and implementation of strategic action to advance green and sustainable chemistry. Along with the Framework Manual, the guidance draws upon the shared experiences of stakeholders who have built strategic initiatives that are relevant to green and sustainable chemistry.

Using the practical guidance

Actors across all stakeholder groups can refer to the guidance on this webpage to carry out the below strategic action planning process. The process has 4 phases, with each phase consisting of a number of steps. The phases are briefly introduced on this webpage. Links to infographics can be found under the introduction for each phase. They provide detailed practical guidance to help stakeholders successfully carry out activities and achieve the outcomes for the different phases.

Four phases of the strategic action to implement GSC

The practical guidance includes the following visual cue elements. The visual cue elements are placed according to the step of the strategic action process to which they are most relevant.

exampleExamples that draw upon consultation with stakeholders that have helped to build green and sustainable chemistry programs

 

exampleIn-depth real-world examples that illustrate the execution of the steps of the strategic action planning process

 

exampleFactors for Success and Key Insights from stakeholders with direct experience carrying out relevant strategic action processes

 

exampleLinks to resources, hypothetical case-studies to illustrate key steps, and examples of road mapping activities and templates

 

exampleKey entry points to use UNEP’s Green and Sustainable Chemistry: Framework Manual

 

 

Road map for Green and Sustainable Chemistry

A road map is a helpful tool to guide the planning  and implementation of strategic action. Chapter 8 of the Framework Manual encourages all actors and decision makers to consider the analysis and guidance provided in the Manual to develop their own Green and Sustainable Chemistry Roadmap.

The below chart is based on traditional innovation road map charts and has been modified for the purposes of this guidance. The chart will be referenced and filled out in the practical guidance, visually representing to users the outputs of each phase. Users of the practical guidance are encouraged to develop a similar chart adapted to their own purpose. It can be a common point of reference for all of those involved in implementing and planning the strategic action.

Chart
Road map chart adapted for planning the strategic action

The above chart aligns with the structure of the Framework Manual. The top section corresponds with chapter 2 and shows “why” the strategic action is being taken. The middle row shows “what” the strategic action will aim to achieve, as is described in chapters 3 and 4. The bottom of the chart will show “how” the strategic action plans to achieve its goals, it is linked to chapters 5,6 and 7

GSC Framework chapters
Structure of the Framework Manual

Additional road map chart templates that can be adapted to support the planning and implementation of strategic action to advance green and sustainable chemistry are available via the University of Cambridge.

 

Using UNEP’s 10 Objectives and Guiding Considerations for Green and Sustainable Chemistry during the Strategic Action Process

As stated in the Framework Manual “the Objectives seek to promote innovation to unveil the full potential of chemistry such that it is compatible with and supports the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda”. Advancing and implementing the Objectives will require fundamental shifts in raising awareness, creating new knowledge, and innovation practices. This practical guidance aims to help stakeholders in achieving these fundamental shifts.

Stakeholders have often highlighted the Objectives as a helpful tool to plan ambitious strategic action that goes beyond traditional chemical management. The linked infographic below contains examples which draw upon recommendations made by stakeholders on the specific ways in which UNEP’s Objectives can be used to guide strategic action to advance green and sustainable chemistry. Further ideas and details for using the Objectives are provided in the infographics for each phase.

Infographic – Using UNEP’s 10 Objectives and Guiding Considerations for Green and Sustainable Chemistry during the Strategic Action Process

 

 

 

Phase I - Initiate the Strategic Action

Phase I

Stakeholders have highlighted the potential which one dedicated agent-of-change has to catalyze strategic action to advance green and sustainable chemistry. Phase 1 of the practical guidance may be started by one such dedicated agent-of-change.

This first phase begins by setting the scope or “boundaries” of the strategic action, and then assembling a core “steering committee” that will help lead the planning of the strategic action.  The practical guidance for this phase helps to answer the question Where are we now?

It directs users to assess the current situation and identify the motivating factors or “drivers” for advancing green and sustainable chemistry within the selected boundaries.

Since this practical guidance draws heavily upon the Framework Manual, and seeks to lead stakeholders towards its operationalization, it is recommended that users are familiar with the Manual itself. Reading the executive summary may be a good place to begin.

Below is the link to the infographic for Phase I of the practical guidance. The green banner at the top of each page indicates the current step.

UNEP Practical Guidance for Strategic Action to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry – Phase I “Initiate the Strategic Action” Infographic

Phase II – Set a Vision

Phase 2

With the boundaries defined, and a dedicated steering committee formed, work can begin to form the vision for the strategic action. Phase II of the practical guidance will help to answer the question where are we going?

It will also guide users to approach and engage additional stakeholders to support the continued planning the strategic action, and eventually play a role in its implementation. The high-level goals set in this phase will respond to the unique needs represented by stakeholders within the strategic action boundaries, as described in the drivers from the previous phase. Nonetheless, setting ambitious visions that reach beyond the defined boundaries is encouraged.

The Framework Manual states that;

“The vision of green and sustainable chemistry can be achieved through new designs and innovations in chemistry that provide desirable functions and services of chemicals, materials, products, and production processes without causing harm to human health and the environment, while meeting broader development objectives”.

The combined impact of strategic action initiatives around the globe would help to achieve the vision outlined in the Framework Manual.  

The figure below draws upon the Framework Manual to show the potential of green and sustainable chemistry innovation to address key areas of sustainable development. Strategic action will be critical to reach this potential.

The Potential of Green and Sustainable Chemistry

UNEP Practical Guidance for Strategic Action to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry – Phase II “Set a Vision” Infographic

Phase III - Make and Action Plan

Phase 3

In phase III, the steering committee and recently recruited “implementing” stakeholders will collaborate to develop an action plan.

The action plan will be designed to achieve the high-level goals from phase II. The concrete outcomes, timelines and stakeholder responsibilities that make up the action plan will define the “routes” to the strategic action’s “destination”- answering the question How do we get there?

This section of the practical guidance aims to help stakeholders understand the concrete outcomes which can result from strategic action to advance green and sustainable chemistry. It also contains advice on how to determine and organize these concrete outcomes. Example timelines and milestones to deliver the identified outcomes are provided.

The last step of phase III is to delegate responsibilities to the implementing stakeholders for carrying out the action plan. Stakeholders have consistently emphasized the importance of this step to the eventual success of the strategic action.

UNEP Practical Guidance for Strategic Action to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry – Phase III “Make an Action Plan” Infographic

 

Phase IV - Prepare for Implementation

Phase 4

The final phase of the planning process will seek to ensure that the strategic action can adapt to changing circumstances and includes ways to measure progress and impact. Outreach activities in this phase will bring in a new group of “impacted stakeholders” who may have a key role in implementing certain outputs of the strategic action.

By carrying out these last steps, the action plan will be reinforced, further helping to answer the question How do we get there?

This section of the practical guidance includes examples of monitoring schemes for other strategic action initiatives, advice and resources to define metrics and approaches for bringing in “impacted stakeholders.

UNEP Practical Guidance for Strategic Action to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry – Phase IV “Prepare for Implementation” Infographic

 

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