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 am currently working as a research assistant in the Environmental Health Division in UCT's School of Public Health and Family Medicine. I work on a number of projects that aim at capacity building and knowledge management of sound chemical management, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. My main speciality within public health is environmental health and so our work focuses on improving health through addressing environmental exposures that may negatively impact the health of the communities we work with.
Since 2012, I have worked in a leading role with the secretariat of SAICM, including managing the secretariat efforts to design and now execute this multi-stakeholder SAICM GEF project.Upon joining UNEP in 2006, I worked to establish and manage the Global Mercury Partnership and in providing policy support to the negotiation process for the development of the Minamata Convention on mercury. Prior to UNEP, I worked at Environment and Climate Change Canada on air quality and chemical related issues.Much of my career has allowed me to work in a multi-stakeholder function on pollution and sustainability related issues, focusing on building
I am a consultant, supporting UNEP on topics related to the use of chemicals in various products and the potential impact these can have on human health and the environment.
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.
By contributing to the creation and enforcement of national and international legal framework on chemicals and hazardous wastes as well as the related guidelines for the main industry stakeholders and operators, dealing with chemicals or producing
Assisting national, state and international regulatory bodies in the development of effective and achievable chemical regulations, and also helping industry companies to understand and implement those requirements.