April 2011: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) Chemicals Branch has released the first issue of “Mainstreaming Programme Newsletter.” The newsletter provides an overview of the mainstreaming programme and associated ongoing activities.

According to the newsletter, current mainstreaming activities include: development of a baseline assessment report on the cost of inaction on the sound management of chemicals; draft guidance on the development of legal and institutional infrastructures and sustainable financing opportunities for the sound management of chemicals; the development of a paper on the economic perspectives on mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining; and the development of a global chemicals outlook, which aims to present an understanding of changes in chemicals production, trade, use and disposal. [Publication: Mainstreaming Programme Newsletter]