February 2013: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released an update on its activities its environment related activities, in a publication titled “OECD Work on Environment.” The publication includes activities on: climate change; biodiversity; water; resource productivity and waste; safety of chemicals, pesticides, biotechnology and nanomaterials; and green growth.

On resource productivity and waste, the publication profiles OECD’s efforts to develop policies that incentivize and encourage waste prevention, minimization and recycling. It notes that OECD is developing practical guidance for policy makers on how to implement sustainable materials management policies, based on material- and products-specific case studies and with a focus on specific policy instruments.

On the safety of chemicals, pesticides, biotechnology and nanomaterials, the publication outlines the efforts of OECD members to share the regulatory burden for pesticides and industrial chemicals. It also highlights the collaborative efforts of OECD, non-OECD governments and industry, to pool expertise and funding to test the human health and environmental safety effects of 13 nanomaterials. [Publication: OECD Work on Environment]