Window of opportunity to deal with harmful chemicals closing, UN warns
Innovative solutions needed as report acknowledges governments and businesses won’t hit 2020 targets
Almost 20 years ago, governments from around the world agreed to minimise the harmful effects of chemicals and waste on health and the environment by 2020. But they are failing to meet this target and, with the chemical industry growing rapidly, a new UN report is calling for urgent action.
The UN’s second Global Chemicals Outlook was recently released as countries met to discuss global chemicals policies beyond 2020 under the auspices of the UN strategic approach to international chemicals management (SAICM). The report suggests that there is still a window of opportunity to develop a ‘global platform’ for the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.