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The present Overarching Policy Strategy flows from the commitments expressed in the Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management developed in the context of the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The future we want for the sound management of chemicals1.In paragraph 23 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, Governments identified the goal of “achiev[ing] by 2020, that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment” (see appendixA).That goal was further adopted as part of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management by the International Conference on

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) defines single use plastic products as “an umbrella term for different types of products that are typically used once before being thrown away or recycled” (UNEP 2018), which includes food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups, cutlery and shopping bags. It has been estimated that about 100-150 million tonnes of plastics are produced for single use products and about 8 million tonnes of plastics are dumped into the oceans every year (Plastics Oceans 2019)There is a need

On International Women’s Day, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury launched a video on how women are more negatively impacted by mercury and what needs to be done to better protect, support and promote gender equality. watch the videoThe Minamata Convention tackles mercury throughout its entire life cycle, fighting gender issues every step of the way. This includes supporting gender-specific trainings and helping implement National Action Plans with a gender perspective -- with special focus on the problem

The aim of the guidance is to advance broader agreement on a general approach and criteria for the selection of safer alternatives, with a focus on chemical substitution. It is intended to advance a consistent understanding of the minimum requirements needed to determine whether a chemical alternative is safer than the priority chemical, product, or technology for substitution, independent of the entity performing the assessment or the alternatives assessment framework being used.The guidance focuses on minimum assessment criteria and recommended

Better waste management offers great potential to help us meet the sustainability challenges ahead. Targeting decision-makers and many other inter-connected sectors, the Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO) was launched at the World Congress of The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) in Belgium on 7 September, 2015 . The publication also contains two summary documents, making the information concise and accessible.Developed by UNEP in collaboration with ISWA in response to the UNEP Governing Council request of February 2013, its goal was

The new version of SAICM texts exists in English only and includes the resolutions adopted by ICCM at its first, second and third sessions. The older other language versions include only resolutions adopted by ICCM at its first session.New activities included in the Global Plan of ActionAt ICCM3 (17-21 September 2012), SAICM stakeholders agreed to the inclusion of new activities relating to the environmentally sound management of nanotechnologies and manufactured nanomaterials and hazardous substances within the life-cycle of electrical and

Since the global phase-out of leaded petrol, reports have suggested that lead exposure remains substantial or is increasing in some low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, few studies have attempted to systematically assess blood lead levels over the full range of LMICs. This study is aimed to describe values for blood lead level in LMICs.In this systematic review, PubMed was searched for studies published between Jan 1, 2010, and Oct 31, 2019, that reported blood lead levels in the 137

Free online courses on the Multilateral Environmental Agreements in various topics: biological diversity, chemicals and waste, climate and atmosphere, environmental governance, marine and freshwater, land and agriculture.These courses are hosted by the United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (InforMEA)

Suite of online Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), developed by the UN Environment Programme and partners on different topics:Marine litterUrban metabolism for policy makersIntroduction to life cycle thinkingEnvironmental security and sustaining peaceDisasters and ecosystems: Resilience in a changing climateWheels of metals: Urban mining for a circular economyFood and our future: Sustainable Food Systems in Southeast AsiaGreening consumption and productionClose the Loop - SDG 12 Introduction to Sustainable Consumption and production in LACAll courses are available here