The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs were adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2015. The SDGs aim to meet the dual challenge of overcoming poverty and protecting the planet. They highlight a comprehensive vision of sustainable development that embraces economic, social and environmental dimension.
The goal of this community of practice is to facilitate discussions with various stakeholders from different sectors on documents and other knowledge materials being developed around the linkages between chemical management and the achievement of the sustainable development goals, including gender (learn more about SDGs here).
Another key goal is how to bring in and engage with the youth in relation to chemicals and the sustainable development goals.
Past sessions
Online discussion: Innovation for achieving the Chemical related SDGs
Download the community of practice summary of discussions
I have been working on chemicals such as BPA, triclosan, Phthalates, POPs. We are doing primary and secondary research work and through our findings we are approaching government to bring the policy change. We are also involved in capacity building of stakeholders to educate them on the issue and take appropriate action.
I work for a government department that uses pesticides to combat invasive alien species (plants and animals) using community members as our workforce thus creating jobs and protecting South Africa's biodiversity.
Our works contribute to a better policy and regulations related to chemicals and waste issues, especially heavy metals and chemicals in products. We advocate cleaner productions, safer alternatives, and national standard, supported by new law or revised law. We also work with all stakeholders, ranging from producers/manufacturers, safer alternatives providers, workers union, academia, consumer groups, procurement group, law makers, and government officials. We conduct awareness raising to attract the general public about certain issues, collect samples, analyse it in qualified laboratories, and disseminate it to the public aimed to influence the policy change and regulations.
My activities envisaged the involvement in a sound management of chemicals at the national level. My professional interests are dedicated to health and environment.
Working with the Secretariat of the Bamako Convention at UNEP enables to support Parties in implementing their treaty obligations in prohibiting and controlling the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and chemicals in Africa.
Since 2018, I am working on the integration of gender equality in the sound management of chemicals and waste for the MSP Institute. I was involved in different networks on gender and sustainability as well as gender and climate change before.I believe without gender justice, the implementation of the global sustainability goals is not possible. Gender Mainstreaming helps to uncover the causes of problems, find alternative solutions and counteract injustices.This also applies to the sustainable use of chemicals and the goal of a healthy planet. There is a number of gender aspects relevant to chemicals and chemicals and waste management