On January 30, 2019, the news provider Chemical Watch published an article discussing the recently released second Global Chemicals Outlook (GCO-II) report summary for policy makers by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). A key message in the summary is that “the global goal to minimize adverse impacts of chemicals and waste will not be achieved by 2020. Solutions exist, but more ambitious worldwide action by all stakeholders is urgently required.” It goes on to note that “business as usual is not an option” and to stress the importance of making use of circular material flows: “Hazardous chemicals and other pollutants (e.g. plastic waste and pharmaceutical pollutants) continue to be released in large quantities.” This, the summary says, highlights “the need to avoid future legacies through sustainable materials management and circular business models.”

The summary presents ten actions needed to achieve the sound management of chemicals globally, including the use of lifecycle approaches as well as assessing and managing hazards and risks.

The first GCO report was published in 2013, and a longer summary of the GCO-II report as well as the full version are set to be published in “due course via the UNEP website and the website of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.”

Read more

Leigh Stringer (January 30, 2019). “Global trends are major cause for concern, says UN chemicals report.Chemical Watch

ChemSec (May 9, 2019). “Didn’t have time to read Global Chemicals Outlook II? Here are 6 things that caught our attention.

Maria Burke (May 2019). “Window of opportunity to deal with harmful chemicals closing, UN warns.Chemistry World

Ninja Reineke (May 23, 2019). “Regulating substances as groups: Creating more rapid and effective risk management of hazardous chemicals.CHEM Trust

Reference

UNEP (January 21, 2019). “Global Chemicals Outlook II: Summary for policymakers.” (doc file)

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