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.
Faced with increasing impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which together constitute the “triple planetary crisis”, no country can act alone. Like nature itself, these challenges know no borders, which makes international cooperation a crucial part of action to address them.
With this recognition, the role of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) – including those negotiated at UNECE – emerged as a key feature of discussions at the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment, the United Nations Environment Assembly, which held its sixth session (UNEA-6) on 26 February-1 March in Nairobi, Kenya.
"This report shows that the direct cost of waste management was US$252 billion in 2020, which rises to US$361 billion when externalities are included. These externalities include the costs of pollution, resulting in poor health and greenhouse gas emissions from waste. Unless we take urgent action, total annual costs could almost double as waste generation rises," said Inger Andersen at the launch of the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 report.
"However, we can’t keep coming at the waste problem by trying to manage what we throw away. Open burning of waste is a disaster. Dumpsites are a disaster. Recycling can’t cope with the sheer volume of waste. To realize the vision of a zero-waste society, we need to redefine what waste is. A lot of what we throw away is a valuable resource, so we must start rethinking the design and delivery of products and services to keep resources in the economy," Ms. Andersen added.
Pollution is widespread – and often fatal.
Dirty air alone is responsible for 6.7 million deaths globally every year, while conservative estimates suggest that in 2019, 5.5 million people died from heart disease linked to lead exposure.
To stem the pollution crisis, countries agreed in 2022 to establish a new body that would provide policymakers with robust, independent information on chemicals, waste and pollution.
Negotiators are finetuning the details of this new science-policy panel. Once operational, it will complete a trifecta of similar scientific bodies designed to counter the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
Delegates will gather for the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), the world’s top decision-making body on the environment from 26 February to 1 March 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The assembly brings together 193 Member States, intergovernmental organizations, the broader UN system, civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector to shape global environmental policy.
Delegates are expected to discuss how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
The UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste is seeking best practices, projects, and success stories related to zero waste.
UNEP Chief Inger Andersen authored a blog on plastics as part of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland. Read the blog.
Lead. This heavy metal is used in items like paint, car batteries, spices, ceramics, ammunition and barbells.
However, lead can damage ecosystems and cause serious health problems in humans, including neurological issues and kidney damage. Lead can also enter the food chain and accumulate in organisms.
Take the quiz to learn more about how to avoid falling victim to lead poisoning.
只有12％的城市，其空气质量符合世卫组织的标准。
