Chemicals and Waste Reports for UNEA 5

UNEP had been preparing several reports that were presented at the first and second meetings of the 5^th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5) in February 2021 and in February and March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.

These reports provide several facets of the analysis and needs for sound management of chemicals and waste, building on the wealth of knowledge, key findings and messages provided by the Global Chemicals Outlook II (GCO-II). They cover topics ranging from strengthening the science-policy interface, to assessing linkages with other clusters, and assessing current issues of global concern. Some reports bear a specific focus on the environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers, the environmental impacts of antimicrobial resistance. Whereas others, such as the manuals on green and sustainable chemistry, are setting the path for solutions.

These reports contribute to highlighting the importance of chemicals and waste, and address different avenues for placing its sound management at the heart of sustainable development.

Many of these reports are being developed following mandates from resolutions adopted at previous UNEA sessions. 

 

1.       Manuals on green and sustainable chemistry.

The Green and Sustainable Chemistry: Framework Manual (also available in French and Spanish) aims at unpacking various topics relevant for green and sustainable chemistry literature, facilitating a better understanding and providing guidance to countries and stakeholders relevant for advancing green and sustainable chemistry.

It addresses the questions of “Why” is green and sustainable chemistry needed and “What” does it aim to achieve, and in which specific innovation areas. Enabling tools and measures to advance green and sustainable chemistry are explored to show the “How”.

The Framework Manual was requested to be developed by the UNEA 4 in 2019, resolution  4/8 on the sound management of chemicals and waste. It builds on the 2019 UNEP report “Analysis of Stakeholder Submissions on Sustainable Chemistry Pursuant to UNEA Resolution 2/7”, and the GCO-II.

The Manual is accompanied by an Executive Summary (also available in French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese) and will be supplemented in future with specific manuals. 

A compilation of Illustrative examples received in the preparation phase of the manuals on green and sustainable chemistry are also currently available online.

For more information on the report and UNEP's activities on green and sustainable chemistry, click here>>

 

2.       An Assessment Report on Issues of Concern: Chemicals and Waste Issues Posing Risks to Human Health and the Environment

The report aims to inform the international community about the current situation of specific issues of concern, based on a review of published evidence, in order to support further discussion at UNEA5 and other international forums working towards sound management of chemicals and waste.

The report assesses the eight emerging policy issues and other issues of concern identified under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM): chemicals in products (CiP), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (EPPPs), hazardous substances in the life cycle of electrical and electronic products (HSLEEP), highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), lead in paint, nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials (Nanomaterials), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). It reviews how current regulatory and policy frameworks address them by specific instruments and actions, building on GCO-II findings and highlighting challenges and opportunities.

The report also addresses the 11 issues with emerging evidence of risks identified by GCO-II: arsenic, bisphenol A (BPA), cadmium, glyphosate, lead, microplastics, neonicotinoids, organotins, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and triclosan. It assesses current exposure as well as instruments and actions under current regulatory and policy frameworks, highlighting challenges and opportunities. Background information on environmental or human health effects of the issues are also provided based on existing assessments by national governments and intergovernmental institutions, to raise awareness among governments and stakeholders.

A “thought starter” on the identification of issues of concern is presented, including a review of existing approaches, a map of other current relevant initiatives, and considerations of potential areas in which future issues of concern might be identified and possible identification processes. This is followed by an overarching outlook for future international work on issues of concern.

The report is accompanied by an executive summary (also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) and by a set of annexes. A set of 19 two-page factsheets have also been prepared to summarize information provided on:

 

Heavy Metals: Lead in paint, arsenic, cadmium, lead and organotins 

Pharma/Antimicrobials: EPPPs and triclosan

Pesticides: HHPs, glyphosate and neonicotinoids

Endocrine disrupting chemicals: EDCs, BPA and phthalates 

Chemicals in products: CiP, HSLEEP and PAHs

Others (including plastics): PFASs, nanomaterials and microplastics.

 

In 2019, UNEA resolution 4/8 on the sound management of chemicals and waste, requested the development of this report.

 

3.       An assessment of options for strengthening the science-policy interface at the international level for the sound management of chemicals and waste.

The report seeks to facilitate and inform discussions on strengthening the science-policy interface for chemicals and waste management and thus support and promote science-based local, national, regional and global action on sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020. It also aims to provide elements for bringing agendas together, and how science-policy platforms need to interact and inform each other.

The report reviews a variety of existing SPI platforms and discusses lessons learned from the development of the GCO-II. It examines the impacts of- and outputs from a strengthened SPI platform, including how such platforms can inform different stages of the policy-making process. The report discusses the institutional design of SPI platforms and outlines options for strengthening the science-policy interface. Following a brief description, each option is assessed according to their potential strengths, potential weaknesses, and potential implications, including budgetary considerations.

The report is accompanied by an executive summary also available in Arabic; Chinese; French; Russian; Spanish.

The 2019 UNEA resolution 4/8 on the sound management of chemicals and waste, requested the development of this report.

 

4.       Synthesis report on the environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers and ways of minimizing them.

The synthesis report presents major concerns of the environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers and aims to improve the understanding of current practices and drivers of use of pesticides and fertilizers; and to identify key gaps in the knowledge about the major environmental and health risks.

It includes current management practices, legislation and policies and identifies opportunities for transformative actions and enabling policies to minimize the environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers, including both proven and innovative approaches.

UNEP was requested by UNEA 3 in 2017 to prepare this report under UNEA Resolution 3/4 on environment.

Detailed reviews on various topics and subject matters were undertaken in developing this report and put together into 12 comprehensive compilations of scientific information. The rationale and approach taken in developing the synthesis report and the chapters that make up the comprehensive compilations are provided in the document About the synthesis report and comprehensive compilation of scientific information on pesticides and fertilizers.

A summary for policy makers is currently available online along with translations into Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish. A version in Chinese will be made available online soon.

For more information on the synthesis report and its supplementary materials click here>>

 

5.       A report on the environmental impacts of antimicrobial resistance and the causes for the development and spread of resistance in the environment.

The report seeks to address the environmental impacts of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including the gaps in understanding those impacts and causes.

The natural environment is an important reservoir of AMR and anthropogenic activities are increasing its importance. This scientific and operational research work will support to strengthen the evidence base and increase the environmental dimension of AMR, which has received comparatively less focus than AMR in the context of human or animal health.

The report details the drivers, pathways and mechanisms by which antimicrobial resistance is developed and spread in the environment.

UNEP was requested by UNEA 3 in 2017 to prepare this report under UNEA Resolution 3/4 on environment and health.

A Summary for Policymakers was launched on the sidelines of UNEA 5.2, followed by a final report titled Bracing for Superbugs: Strengthening environmental action in the ‘One Health’ response to antimicrobial resistance in 2023.

For more information on AMR and the Superbugs report click here>>

 

6.       An assessment on linkages with other clusters related to chemicals and waste management and options to coordinate and cooperate on areas of common interest

The assessment paper seeks to build upon cooperation and coordination initiatives already in place between chemicals and waste management and seven related clusters: health, biodiversity, world of work, climate change, agriculture and food, human rights and sustainable consumption and production. It also aims to explore means to further scale up such efforts and provide elements for consideration by the intersessional process for SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.

The work takes stock of the linkages identified in the GCO-II and provides a number of options on “how” and on “what” topics opportunities exist to coordinate and cooperate between the chemicals and waste cluster and the other clusters. It serves as an initial step towards understanding the ongoing and potential future interconnectivity among clusters.

UNEP was invited to prepare this paper during the third meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group for SAICM in 2019.