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Have you ever noticed how many chemicals shape people’s daily lives? They keep homes sparkling clean, boost food production, and are included in virtually all manufactured goods surrounding you right now. Chemicals drive the economy but as we produce more than ever before, they have to deliver their benefits without damaging our health and environment.Toxic lead paint for example is still used in many regions of the world and Highly hazardous pesticides continue to poison agricultural workers and contaminate the

The Global Chemicals Outlook II – From Legacies to Innovative Solutions: Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, mandated by the UN Environment Assembly in 2016, seeks to alert policymakers and other stakeholders to the critical role of the sound management of chemicals and waste in sustainable development. It takes stock of global trends as well as progress made and gaps in achieving the global goal to minimize the adverse impacts from chemicals and waste by 2020. The Global Chemicals

We live in a chemical world. Almost everything we touch contains chemicals.

Chemicals in ProductsChemicals in Products from UN Environment on Vimeo.

Although chemicals are important components in many products, they may be released at any stage of the product life cycle, resulting in potential exposures of humans and the environment. The second 2021 Gold Awardee addressing Chemicals in Products is Sweden, Region Stockholm: Phase-Out Lists for Chemicals Hazardous to the Environment and Human Health (2012-2016, revised for 2017-2021).The World Future Council focuses on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation

The Special Award Highly Hazardous Pesticides is one of the most ambitious and impactful solutions that minimizes the adverse effects of pesticides, which cause disproportionate harm to the environment and human health. Pesticides can cause severe environmental hazards, high acute, chronic toxicity and are also a very common suicide agent. Particularly, in Sri Lanka, two thirds of suicides were due to self-poisoning with pesticides. The Special Award Highly Hazardous Pesticides was awarded to Sri Lanka’s Control of Pesticides Act No

Lead is a cumulative toxic element particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women. Lead can be present at high levels in paint and is a major health concern specially in low and middle income countries. Philippines legislation towards lead-safe paint has provided safer alternatives to protect human health and the environment, actively involving all stakeholders. The Special Award Lead in Paint was awarded to Philippines’ Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds (CCO, 2013-24).The World Future Council focuses

Despite the fact that pharmaceuticals are indispensable for human and animal health, they may cause undesired adverse effects. Specifically, environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (EPPPs) are slowly degradable or nondegradable, presenting a special risk when they enter, persist or disseminate in the environment. Colombia’s Resolution 371, addressing EPPPs, was awarded for regulating waste management from hazardous products.The World Future Council focuses on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation worldwide

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals is a non-binding internationally agreed-upon system managed by the UN which defines and classifies the hazards of chemical products. Kyrgyzstan’s Resolution No. 43 on Approval of the Chemical Hazard Classification System and Hazard Information Requirements (2015) has legally bound GHS.The World Future Council focuses on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just solutions for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation worldwide. The Future Policy Award 2021 highlights exemplary