Articles
News and opinion articles to inform on challenges, trends and achievements on the sound management of chemicals.
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April 14
Working Group on Chemical Issues of Concern Publishes Proposals for Beyond 2020
The final report of the virtual working group proposes text and provides a brief rationale for each proposal. The VWG said the process for addressing "issues of concern" should be: simple, inclusive and transparent; promote greater ownership; enhance implementation; and consider the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The group agreed the ICCM is the appropriate body to take decisions regarding the future of current emerging policy issues and other issues of concern.
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April 14
Experts Propose Targets, Process to Establish Indicators for Beyond 2020 Chemicals Framework
The report of the virtual working group details considerations and components of each target, to provide explanations and rationales to further inform the process, and to serve as a “guide” for the wording of targets. The Group generally agreed further work is required to develop draft targets before extensive work on indicators and milestones.
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March 31
Interactive Tool Illuminates Status of National Lead Paint Laws
The interactive map shows the status of national lead paint laws around the world as of February 2021. The map sorts countries with lead paint laws by income level among other types of information. Colombia and Vietnam are the most recent countries to establish lead paint laws.
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March 29
Drafting Group Considers Terminology for Chemicals and Waste Declaration
A number of participants supported specific reference to the precautionary principle in the declaration. Some called for reference to an independent global fund that would support implementation of the new instrument. The fifth meeting of the HLD informal drafting group will meet on 4 May 2021.
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March 24
Virtual Working Group Develops Options for Science-Policy Interface
The Virtual Working Group on Governance and Mechanisms to Support Implementation is one of four groups that recently completed their work ahead of IP4 and ICCM5. The group identified two options for establishing a science-policy interface: within the Beyond 2020 instrument, or an intergovernmental body comparable to the IPCC or IPBES. The VWG agreed that reports should be compiled and considered in a standardized, productive, and understandable manner, so the ICCM can use them to assess progress.
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March 18
UNEP Finds More than Half of All Countries Have Binding Lead Limits or Are Drafting Laws
Colombia, Lebanon and Viet Nam established new lead paint laws in 2020. As of 31 December 2020, 79 countries have legally binding controls in place to limit the production, import and sale of lead paints, while another 26 are in the early or final stages of drafting laws. Countries that have enacted laws have either established a single regulatory limit on total lead concentration in paint or established chemical-specific regulatory limits.
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March 18
Hazardous Substances Undermine Human Rights to Health, Life: OHCHR and UNEP
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Environmental Programme have issued a set of Key Messages to highlight human rights obligations and responsibilities for preventing and remedying the harmful effects of hazardous substances. Pollution is the largest source of premature deaths in developing countries. Human rights laws, norms, and standards must be applied to ensure those responsible for the harmful impacts of hazardous substances are held legally accountable, the authors stress.
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March 10
Working Group Proposes Process to Address Chemical Issues of Concern
A working group has proposed a process for addressing issues of concern related to the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020. Participants proposed establishing multi-stakeholder committees to guide efforts and implementation on individual issues of concern. A group of NGOs proposed a set of “trigger criteria” to review existing issues of concern when voluntary work is insufficient.
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March 3
Working Group Generates Ideas for Financing Chemicals Work Beyond 2020
A virtual working group advanced work on financing for the Beyond 2020 chemicals framework. Participants supported a proposal to establish a clearinghouse mechanism to track development aid, and said the eighth GEF replenishment should prioritize building on established areas of international concern. The ICCA proposed a capacity-building clearinghouse mechanism for capacity-building efforts.
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March 3
Harmful Chemicals Found in 25% of Children's Toys, UNEP Study Finds
Infants and young children are particularly sensitive to chemical exposure due to their rapid metabolic rate, high surface area to body weight ratio, and fast growing organs and tissues. Numerous regulations worldwide limit and control the application of harmful additives and potentially toxic chemicals in plastic toys. The study introduces a new metric to benchmark chemical contents in toy materials based on exposure and risk.
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March 1
Chemicals Working Group Recommends Targets for Beyond 2020 Framework
A virtual working group on targets, indicators and milestones for the Beyond 2020 chemicals framework has developed recommendations on indicators and milestones for a set of targets proposed in 2020. The recommendations will be discussed during the fourth meeting of the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 and the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management.
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February 25
Intersessional Work Advances Towards Beyond 2020 Chemicals Framework
The virtual intersessional work to advance the Beyond 2020 chemicals framework includes four working groups, which recently completed their work, as well as a technical briefing series and consultations on a high-level declaration for ICCM5. Upcoming technical briefings will address a new legal study on ILO chemical instruments, and the High Ambition Alliance on action on chemicals and waste at all levels in the context of the Beyond 2020 process. The outcomes of the intersessional work will be discussed during IP4 and ICCM5.
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February 24
PACE Releases Guidance for Circular Economy Transition in Five Sectors
The reports describe what a circular economy looks like for electronics, textiles, food, plastics, and capital equipment. They highlight the impact on people and the planet if those objectives were to be achieved, the barriers that stand to hinder implementation, and actions that can optimize the sector’s transition towards a more circular economy. The reports point to trade as a catalyst for the transition to circularity.
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February 22
Informal Group Reviews Draft High-level Declaration for ICCM5
The drafting group held its third virtual meeting on 9 February 2021 to discuss the text. Participants disagreed on the scope of the declaration, with some preferring a focus on the beyond 2020 instrument and others calling for a broader agenda on chemicals and waste and potentially linkages to biodiversity and climate. With the further postponement of ICCM5, an additional meeting of the informal drafting group will take place on 9 March 2021.
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February 15
Experts Call for New Ways to Identify and Address Chemical Issues of Concern
Technical briefings are a component of the intersessional process leading to ICCM 5. Stakeholders highlighted limitations of the current system and the need to elaborate a process for identifying issues of concern in the SAICM successor agreement. Some suggested that a science-policy interface could conduct assessments, inform policymakers and the public to raise awareness, and facilitate the identification of issues of concern.
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February 15
Minamata Convention Progress Report Highlights Actions on Mercury Management
Scientific and technical activities described in the report include a review of products and processes that use mercury, and the means by which parties to the Convention can distinguish mercury-added products via customs codes for internationally traded goods. A project is underway to develop an integrated management system for the management of seized mercury to promote traceability and reduce illegal trade of mercury. The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention, held once every two years, is scheduled to take place from 1-5 November 2021 in Bali, Indonesia.
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February 10
Technical Briefing Reviews Proposed International Tax on 35 Basic Chemicals
Chemical industry sales are expected to grow to approximately USD 11 trillion in 2030, up from USD 6 trillion in 2017. The proposal entails applying a 0.5% tax or fee on the production value of 35 basic chemicals, the proceeds of which would go to a global fund for chemical safety. The presentation highlighted the benefits of international cost recovery instruments as opposed to national ones.
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February 3
UNEP Manual Suggests Ways to Advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry
The concepts of green and sustainable chemistry have gained significant attention for their potential to innovate and advance chemistry to help achieve the SDGs and their targets. A draft manual from UNEP suggests that universities introduce green and sustainable chemistry into teaching curricula, and chemicals companies set targets for replacing chemicals of concern through innovation. The manual overviews the evolution of the field of green and sustainable chemistry, including scientific and social dimensions.
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January 27
UNEP Report Identifies Top Actions to Minimize Adverse Impacts of Pesticides, Fertilizers
Pesticides cause both acute and long-term health impacts, with an estimated 385 million cases of non-fatal unintentional pesticide poisonings every year and approximately 11,000 deaths. Expanded global demand, production, and use of pesticides and fertilizers has led to combined sales that are growing at about 4.1% per year and projected to reach USD 309 billion by 2025. This is one of multiple reports UNEP is preparing for UNEA-5.
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January 25
Stockholm Committee Reviews Three POPs for Screening, Listing
Participants discussed the ways in which the POPRC should address newer chemicals that have not been fully examined and when and whether to employ a precautionary approach. An intersessional working group was established to develop guidance on applying the long-range environmental transport criterion in the context of plastic pollution. The Committee deferred a decision on the draft risk profile for Dechlorane Plus until POPRC-17.
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January 20
IPEN, SAICM Report on Chemicals’ Disproportionate Impacts on Women
The report illustrates the impact chemicals have on women as a vulnerable group exposed to hazardous chemicals as well as gender inequalities related to decision-making around chemicals and waste management. Women can suffer impacts on reproductive and pregnancy outcomes long after exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Information is lacking on the impacts of women of pharmaceuticals in the environment and nanomaterials.
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January 13
Household Plastic Products Disrupt Endocrine System, Threaten Human Health
Many of the plastics used every day are exposing us to a “harmful cocktail” of EDCs. Plastic production is projected to increase by 30-36% over the next six years, which will exacerbate EDC exposure and increase endocrine disease rates. Biodegradable plastics, often promoted as more ecological than conventional plastics, contain similar chemical additives and have endocrine-disrupting effects.
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January 11
Virgin Plastic Production Must be Addressed in Pollution Treaty: Expert Brief
Among the global agreements to address plastic waste are targets under the 2030 Agenda, which have lent momentum but do not clearly or effectively discourage virgin plastic production. Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal took the first major legally binding action to control plastic waste. A UNEA expert group is expected to to present the results of its two-year discussion during UNEA-5, with the possible result of initiating an intergovernmental negotiating process toward a treaty on plastic pollution.
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December 18
Asia-Pacific Chemical Industry Discusses Updates to Strategic Framework
The Chemical Dialogue held a virtual meeting to discuss updating the APEC Chemical Dialogue Strategic Framework 2020-2023. The chemical industry plays a critical role in producing supplies to fight COVID-19, including masks, other personal protective equipment (PPE), and hand sanitizer. In the Asia Pacific region, the chemical industry represents more than 45% of global chemical manufacturing and over 69% of global jobs in the industry.
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December 18
GEF Council Approves Work Program, Endorses Private Sector Engagement Strategy
GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez called on the Council to: place green recovery strategies to respond to COVID-19 at the heart of the GEF’s new Work Program; set robust targets for the GEF-8 replenishment; and support the effectiveness of national-level programmes, including through the sharing of best practices. During the 29th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund Council, Council Members approved a USD 64 million LDCF Work Program, comprising nine projects, including three multi-trust fund projects that combine resources with the GEF.
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