The Synthesis Report on “Global Chemical Outlook – II From legacies to Innovative solutions” is released

The global goal to minimize adverse impacts of chemicals and waste will not be achieved by 2020

• The Second Global Chemicals Report released recently emphasizing that unless sound management of chemicals and waste is achieved worldwide, the estimated growth in chemical production and resulting consumption will result in adverse impacts.
• 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.
• The UN’s Environmental Committee reported in its synthesis report that ―”Countries will not meet the internationally agreed goal to minimize the adverse impacts of chemicals and waste by 2020, meaning that urgent action is required to reduce further damage to human health and economies”.

10 Key findings of Synthesis report of UN Environment Committee

The United Nations’ Environment Assembly, commenced in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 11, 2019 with a wakeup call — the world will miss the globally agreed target of minimizing adverse impacts of chemicals and waste by 2020. The GCO II summary – which sets out 10 key findings – finds that despite “significant progress” made, major implementation gaps remain.

• The size of the global chemical industry exceeded $5 trillion in 2017. It is projected to double by 2030. Consumption and production are rapidly increasing in emerging economies. Global supply chains, and the trade of chemicals and products, are becoming increasingly complex.
• Driven by global megatrends, growth in chemical-intensive industry sectors (for example construction, agriculture, electronics) creates risks, but also opportunities to advance sustainable consumption, production and product innovation.
• Hazardous chemicals and other pollutants (such as plastic waste and pharmaceutical pollutants) continue to be released in large quantities. They are ubiquitous in humans and the environment and are accumulating in material stocks and products, highlighting the need to avoid future legacies through sustainable materials management and circular business models.
• The benefits of action to minimize adverse impacts have been estimated in the high tens of billions of US dollars annually. The WHO estimated the burden of disease from selected chemicals at 1.6 million lives in 2016 (this is likely to be an underestimate). Chemical pollution also threatens a range of ecosystem services.
• International treaties and voluntary instruments have reduced the risks of some chemicals and wastes, but progress has been uneven and implementation gaps remain. As of 2018, more than 120 countries had not implemented the Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals.
• Addressing legislation and capacity gaps in developing countries and emerging economies remains a priority. Also, resources have not matched needs. There are opportunities for new and innovative financing, such as through cost recovery and engagement of the financial sector.
• Significant resources can be saved by sharing knowledge on chemical management instruments more widely, and by enhancing mutual acceptance of approaches in areas ranging from chemical hazard assessment to alternatives assessment.
• Frontrunner companies – from chemical producers to retailers – are introducing sustainable supply chain management, full material disclosure, risk reduction beyond compliance, and human rights-based policies. However, widespread implementation of these initiatives has not yet been achieved.
• Consumer demand, as well as green and sustainable chemistry education and innovation (for example through start-ups), are among the important drivers of change. They can be scaled up through enabling policies, reaping the potential benefits of chemistry innovations for sustainable development.
• Global knowledge gaps can be filled. This can be achieved, for example, by taking steps to harmonize research protocols, considering health or environmental impact information and
  harm caused to set and address priorities (for example emerging issues), and strengthening the science-policy interface through enhanced collaboration of scientists and decision-makers.

What is UN’s Environment Committee?

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, and civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world.

What is Global Chemicals Outlook II?

GCO II was mandated by United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in 2015, with a particular emphasis on areas where data were found to be lacking or inadequate, and to assess progress towards the UN’s goal of sound chemicals management globally by 2020. The first report, published in 2013, examined trends in worldwide chemicals production, use, disposal, and provided policy options. Through this page we will provide Chemical Watch articles relevant to the overarching themes of GCO II, under its four key headings.
Part I – Global context, trends and developments: In this initial section of the report, a focus will be on the changing global context of chemicals, including their production, use and consumption. It will look into trends in chemicals emissions and releases and hazardous waste, and their concentrations in the environment and human beings. In addition, the environmental, health and social effects and their costs will be examined, as will emerge policy issues and other issues with emerging evidence of risk.
Part II – Chemicals management topics running up to, and beyond, 2020: The second part will delve into how chemicals are being managed and analyzed. Testing, classification and hazard communication, risk assessment, risk management and reduction, identification and assessment of alternatives will all be focuses. Other topics will look into the preparation of, and response to, chemical related accidents, as well as global value chains, trade and life-cycle management and the interface of chemicals and waste in a circular economy.
Part III – Policies and governance and clearing a path forward: Section three will take a bird eye view of the opportunities and solutions that are available and how they can be mainstreamed. Here, the report will look at research and development trends, innovative business models, technological advances, mainstreaming green and sustainable chemistry at the university level, macro-economic and fiscal incentives, institutions, available information, and social and financial innovations.
Part IV – Activities for achieving SDGs: The final part of the report will review the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, which focus on, or require, chemicals and waste management. It will also evaluate available options that enable the sound management of chemicals and waste, such as financing and access to information.
The Global Chemicals Outlook II has been prepared over the past three years through a process involving more than 400 scientists and experts around the world under the guidance of the Steering Committee of the Global Chemicals Outlook II with participation from all regions and a wide range of stakeholders. The report has been developed in response to Governing Council decision 27/12, adopted in 2013, and United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/7, adopted in 2016.

Pic courtesy:EfD – Initiative