17 July 2018: On Tuesday, 17 July 2018, on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) organized a side event which provided a platform for participants to exchange perspectives on chemicals and waste, including challenges and opportunities for sound management, in the context of SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).

During the event titled, ‘Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Pollution beyond 2020: Working Together for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet,’ Karolina Skog, Minister of Environment, Sweden, outlined an international alliance on chemicals and waste, launched at the HLPF, which aims to mobilize public interest on chemicals and waste beyond 2020. She underscored the need to reform the chemicals management system, including through, inter alia, trade and e-commerce regulations, and development of natural chemicals.

Asbestos kills more than 100,000 people each year, and up to 22 million people are at risk from lead-acid car battery recycling.

Speakers underscored addressing chemicals as a key enabler for achieving SDG 12, the benefits of addressing chemicals to realize the SDGs nationally and globally, and international cooperation to share experiences and mobilize support. They highlighted that asbestos kills more than 100,000 people each year, and that up to 22 million people are at risk from lead-acid car battery recycling.

Participants also stressed, inter alia, the need to: exchange information among countries; identify consumption patterns on chemical products in procurement during use and disposal; ensure the availability of information about safe or toxic chemicals for consumers; prevent the use of toxic chemicals in recycling products; and engage with the health industry.

Martin Kayser, BASF SE, described his company’s development of a responsible care management system, including workshops to build capacity in safe transportation, storage and handling of chemicals.

Gertrud Sahler, President, Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM), Germany, noted the likelihood of falling short of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) mandate, which ends in 2020, and cited a ICCM-4 decision to implement an intersessional process on chemicals and waste management beyond 2020. She also emphasized the need for, inter alia, more recognition of the issue in other UN bodies, such the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). [IISD RS Coverage of the Side Event on Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Pollution beyond 2020] [SAICM Website]