Governments, Intergovernmental Organizations, Industry
and Civil Society Join Forces for a Chemical-Safe World by
2020
Achieving sound management of chemicals could prevent over 1 million deaths per year
globally and massively contribute to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Geneva, 2 October 2015–Over 800 delegates, including ministers, CEOs, heads of intergovernmental
organizations and leaders of civil society, meeting at the 4th International Conference on Chemicals
Management (ICCM4), committed today to step up action to safeguard people and the environment
from the risk posed by inadequately managed chemicals.
Of the estimated 100,000+ chemicals on the market today, only a fraction has been thoroughly
evaluated to determine their effects on human health and the environment. The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that exposure to chemicals contributes to over 1 million deaths
annually.
The infant death rate from environmental causes overall is 12 times higher in developing than in
developed countries while childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600,000 new
cases of children with intellectual disabilities every year.
ICCM4 concluded with a commitment to invest in efforts to prevent these deaths and illnesses by
assuring sound chemicals management throughout their life cycle by 2020.
Achieving that goal would be a milestone toward realizing the historic 2030 Sustainable
Development Agenda adopted by 193 countries last week, and containing goals on human health
and well-being, food security, sustainable consumption and production, and water and sanitation –
all issues directly affected by chemicals.
Addressing delegates at the conference, Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), stressed the challenges and opportunities of sound chemicals
management, and the growing need for innovative partnerships and better information and
knowledge.
Mr. Steiner said: “Chemicals are a part of our lives that we cannot do without. That’s precisely why
we need to fundamentally rethink how chemicals are developed and managed for industrial and
commercial applications. Seeking out ad hoc alternatives to toxic chemicals is a Sisyphean effort. To
tackle the challenge of green or sustainable chemistry at its root, we will need a shift in mindset and
education so that the chemistry of tomorrow is sustainable from the start.”
Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources,
Kenya, and President of ICCM4 said:“Projections show an increase in chemical production and use
worldwide, with developing countries expected to produce and use by 2020 around 31 per cent and
33 per cent of global chemicals respectively.
"In building a chemical-safe future, we will address some of the most pressing issues that emerge as
part of the sustainable development challenge including the need for increased capacity to address,
prevent and manage aftermaths of chemical incidences. Strong capacity for governance, knowledge
and information-sharing, and risk reduction will also be needed,”
Representatives of the global chemical business at the conference included the International Council
of Chemical Associations (ICCA), which has led the “Responsible Care Global Charter”, promoting
responsible management of chemicals throughout their lifecycle. UNEP and ICCA agreed to
strengthen their partnership for a chemical-safe future.
Mr. Cal Dooley, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council and ICCA Council Secretary
said: “ICCA is committed to advancing SAICM implementation and promoting the sustainable and
effective management of chemicals globally. Through our strengthened partnership, ICCA and UNEP
will continue to work together to develop guidance for countries around the world so they can
enhance and improve their chemical management systems.”
Well-represented at the conference, civil society has an indispensable role to play in achieving
a chemical-safe world by gathering and sharing information, building capacity and empowering
those who work with, or are affected by, chemicals every day.
Dr.Olga Speranskaya, International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) Co-Chair said: “Goodwill alone
will not minimize adverse effects on the people most impacted by chemical exposure – women,
children, workers, impoverished communities. Increased financial resources and a sense of urgency
are needed if we are going to make progress - curb cancer and other diseases linked to unsound
chemical management practices. We call on everyone involved – governments, international
agencies, industry, and civil society – to make chemical safety a priority."
The conference concentrated on five priority policy issues requiring urgent action to protect human
health and lives - lead in paint, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, chemicals in products,
nanotechnology, and hazardous substances in the lifecycle of electronics and electrical products and went further, by adding environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants this week.
In addition, discussions on highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) which pose particular risks to children
and have caused health problems and fatalities in many parts of the world led to a decision to
promote ecological alternatives and strengthen national legislation regarding the use of HHPs.
ICCM4 closed by adopting a global plan of action for sound management of chemicals by 2020,
which proposes concrete interventions, promotes implementation of existing legal instruments and
addresses emerging policy issues.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About ICCM
ICCM is the governing body of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
(SAICM). SAICM - to which UNEP provides the Secretariat - is a policy framework to promote
chemical safety around the world. It is unique for bringing together multiple sectors and
stakeholders to address chemicals and waste issues that are not already within the scope of legally
binding agreements.
SAICM has as its overall objective the achievement of the sound management of chemicals
throughout their life cycle so that, by 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize
significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment. This “2020 goal” was adopted by
the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 as part of the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation. Objectives are grouped under five themes: risk reduction; knowledge and
information; governance; capacity-building and technical cooperation; and illegal international
traffic.
For more information, visit http://www.saicm.org/
For more information, please contact:
Isabelle Valentiny, Head of Communications, Regional Office for Europe, UNEP Geneva, +41 22 917
8404 or isabelle.valentiny@unep.org;
Lisa-maria.Hadeed@unep.org +41 79 372 1346