March 3, 2022
NAIROBI (KE) — The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) welcomed the incremental steps taken by States and stakeholders to establish a new framework to promote global chemical safety at United Nations negotiations this past week. The resumed fourth meeting of the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 (IP4.2) took place from February 27th to March 3rd in Kenya with the goal of developing a new framework under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), work originally intended to conclude in 2020 but that is now ongoing.
Currently, SAICM is the only overarching framework that covers the chemicals industry— one of the most profitable (with production and sales projected to double by 2030) and energy-intensive industries in the world. Hazardous chemicals can be found everywhere from the food we eat to the air we breathe, from highly toxic pesticides to heavy metals, from plastics to personal care products, and even in children’s toys. The proliferation of toxic chemicals in our lives and in the environment is a pervasive threat driving the three planetary crises we face: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These crises cannot be solved without a strong and ambitious instrument that regulates chemicals and waste.
We are disappointed to see the essential SAICM process moving too slowly to match the urgency of these crises. Parties at IP4.2 recognized the challenge that lies ahead in reaching a final agreement in Bonn, Germany, in September 2023. But in order to create a toxic-free future, Parties must rise to that challenge and develop a robust and comprehensive instrument to safely manage chemicals and waste worldwide.
At the end of this week’s negotiations, members of the CIEL delegation issued the following reactions:
David Azoulay, Director of CIEL’s Environmental Health Program:
“We have no chance to guarantee chemical safety worldwide without a strong financial mechanism that will power the implementation of the new overarching chemicals and waste framework in the years to come. Everything that has been discussed this week — and that will be discussed in future negotiations — is toothless without that. Industry and producing countries are still strongly resisting the idea to implement the polluter pays principle.
Upholding the polluter pays principle as a key pillar for the success of a global framework could set a precedent for other international instruments currently being negotiated — including the plastics treaty. Those who reap immense profits from these toxic products should bear the costs of managing their impacts on human rights and on human and environmental health.”
Giulia Carlini, Senior Attorney:
“The current framework for the sound management of chemicals and waste allowed States and stakeholders to identify “issues of concern” and emerging policy issues in urgent need of regulation — such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), highly hazardous pesticides, and “forever chemicals” PFAS. Now the new framework must holistically address them.
Protecting people from hazardous substances is a key component of protecting and upholding human rights, and in particular the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. It is crucial that the new framework on chemicals and waste is people-centered and human rights-based. The health of our planet and of present and future generations depend on it.”
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Press contact: Niccolo Sarno | press@ciel.org