Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.
UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.
Monika Stankiewicz, the Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, explains the impact that a new, ambitious framework on chemicals and waste could have on different stakeholders in the chemicals industry.
In 2021, Algeria became the last country in the world to ban leaded fuel. The momentous announcement came after a two-decade-long campaign of scientific research, public education and policy work led by UNEP to rid the world of leaded fuel.
Leaded fuel is toxic and is linked to heart disease, cancer, stroke and developmental delays in children.
The global ban on leaded petrol remains one of the biggest environmental success stories and a huge milestone for global health and environment. It was also a testament to the power of cooperation among governments, civil society and the private sector.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen addressed delegates at ICCM5. She spoke of the harm caused by the unsound management of chemicals and encouraged negotiators to adopt a robust framework backed with the right finance for developing nations.
Andersen also called on governments and businesses in key sectors such as agriculture, construction and manufacturing to be informed by the principle of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and to dream up new policies and incentives to make it a reality.
Read her full speech here.
This session organized by UNEP and the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) will highlight the need for accelerated action on construction supply chains to improve design, the availability of material alternatives, pollution-free production, sustainable procurement and circularity in the industry.
The construction industry is responsible for a third of the world’s waste, as much as 40 per cent of global GHG emissions and often relies on hazardous chemicals. Meanwhile, over 60 million tonnes of electronic waste are discarded every year, with only 28 per cent collected, treated and recycled properly.
The absence of environmentally sound recycling infrastructure and e-waste legislation globally demands the world's attention.
High-level segment of the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management to start soon.
Highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) are those that have a disproportionately high negative impact on human health and/or the environment that may only become apparent after years of use.
Most pesticides (about 80 per cent) are used by farmers in crop production, with an estimated 13 per cent used in industry and by government authorities and about 8 per cent used in domestic environments.
Agricultural policies in many countries are moving towards more sustainable approaches to protect people and the planet from the negative impact of agricultural activities.
To learn more about HHPs, Check out UNEP’s recent Guidelines on Alternatives to Highly Hazardous Pesticides.
Several important side events are on the schedule for Day 4 of ICCM5. For more details about the side events below, visit the SAICM Secretariat website.
From strengthened policies to new laws and regulations, the new international chemicals framework expected to be adopted at ICCM5 will be a game changer across many industries.
The Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division, Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, explains how a new framework on chemicals and waste could make our daily lives better.
Despite great international efforts to curtail the toxic legacy of mercury such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the chemical element remains a threat human health.
Whether through the food we eat, the air we breathe or the cosmetics that we use, mercury is ubiquitous in our daily lives and large amounts of mercury can lead to serious health implications including tremors, insomnia, memory loss, headaches, muscle weakness, and—in extreme cases—death.
UNEP has been a leading voice in the efforts to limit the toxic trail left behind by mercury including its work on the Global Mercury Partnership, Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products and the Global mercury monitoring.
Every year, an estimated 900,000 people die from lead exposure. Lead exposure can also result in an increased risk of antisocial behaviour, cardiovascular disease and reduced fertility.
Despite legally binding controls in 87 countries, lead is still commonly used in paint, and experts warn that it’s time to stop brushing aside the hazardous chemical’s human and environmental health impacts.
UNEP is taking the lead in addressing this critical issue by pushing for stricter legislation and providing technical support. Alongside the Global Environment Facility, UNEP recently published Lead Paint Reformulation Technical Guidelines to help manufacturers phase out lead.
