Starting next week, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will host the 5th Meeting of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP (OECPR) and the second session of the 5th UN Environment Assembly, the highest political forum on environmental matters. While much of the buzz surrounding the meetings is about the push for a global plastics treaty, several other important topics will be on the agenda. Our team is closely following two draft resolutions proposed by Switzerland on the subject of chemicals. Here are the five topics we’re watching within those resolutions:
1) Financing Chemicals and Waste
Switzerland’s draft resolution on the sound management of chemicals and waste is known as the “omnibus” chemicals resolution, as it covers a wide variety of topics. The primary topic we’re focused on is financing of chemicals and waste, which is necessary for safe chemicals management. Many countries have identified inadequate funding as a major barrier to managing chemicals safely, and this gap must be addressed worldwide.
The resolution recognizes the importance of the integrated approach to financing, which comprises three components: integration with existing budgets and development plans, external financing, and, critically, industry involvement. The resolution also proposes extending the duration of the Special Programme that provides chemicals management funding support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
In CIEL’s analysis of the resolution, we recommend several critical improvements. One key change is acknowledging explicitly the discussions about financing that are already underway. These include 1) the Africa Group recommendation proposing that the chemical industry contribute 0.5% of its annual revenue to fund chemicals management and cleanup, and 2) the International Pollutants Elimination Network’s (IPEN) and CIEL’s proposal to impose a globally coordinated fee of 0.5% on the production value of a small number of basic chemicals to fund management of chemicals and waste.
In addition, CIEL recommends that the Member States extend the scope of who can present proposals for funding under the Special Programme. Currently, only developing countries can do so, but CIEL argues that civil society organizations from every region should also be eligible.
2) SAICM Beyond 2020
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework to promote chemical safety worldwide. The objective was to achieve “the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle so that by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.”
Since in-person meetings have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new framework for SAICM extending beyond 2020 has not yet been adopted. Switzerland’s omnibus resolution asks the UNEP Executive Director to continue and strengthen support for SAICM in preparing for the fifth session of the International Conference for Chemicals Management (ICCM5). CIEL is currently working with partners and Member States to develop the new SAICM Beyond 2020 framework. While discussions on the new instrument continue, it is critical to pair the momentum with work on the ground under the existing framework.
3) “Issues of Concern”
Under SAICM, the term “issues of concern” includes endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), nanomaterials (materials that are smaller than 100 nanometers), highly hazardous pesticides, lead in paint, and more. Switzerland’s omnibus draft resolution asks the UNEP Executive Director to “prepare a report identifying and assessing possible international actions to address the issues of concerns.” It also urges Member States, international organizations, and stakeholders to undertake fundamental changes and address the increasing adverse effects of pesticides. Given the gaps in existing policies, CIEL supports this aspect of the draft resolution and recommends that Member States increase their efforts to address the issues of concern under the current SAICM framework.
4) Toxics and Human Rights
In October 2021, the UN Human Rights Council made the historic decision to recognize the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Switzerland’s omnibus resolution builds on this decision, making a connection between chemicals and human rights by explicitly recognizing that “action on pollution from chemicals and waste is central to achieving” this right. This reference to human rights is rare in chemicals and toxics policy. Its inclusion in the resolution is both welcome and encouraging, as some Member States have historically opposed language around human rights, and it has previously been weakened or removed from draft resolutions presented at UNEA. CIEL applauds the draft resolution for emphasizing that chemicals and waste exposure is a human rights issue.
5) Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution
In addition to the omnibus resolution, Switzerland has brought forward a second draft resolution advocating for a science-policy panel to support action on chemicals, waste, and pollution. This resolution proposes establishing an ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) to prepare a proposal to establish a new panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution. The panel would be similar to existing panels like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
CIEL advocates for science-based policies to protect human rights and safely manage chemicals and waste. While we appreciate the intention behind the draft resolution calling for a science-policy panel, we have questions and concerns about its execution. The science is already clear on the dangers posed by the chemicals industry. What’s lacking is concrete action to address the impacts and the funding needed to do so. Until the chemical industry provides adequate funding, it is vital that any new efforts to manage chemicals are specifically targeted to have as much impact as possible using limited means.
As an IPEN member, CIEL supports and contributed to IPEN’s comprehensive views and recommendations on the resolution, namely: the need to focus on chemicals (rather than pollution), to consider the political dimension of the panel, to build on the precautionary principle, to avoid conflicts of interest, to tackle the source of the problem, and to address global scientific data inequities.
As we continue on the road to UNEA 5.2, CIEL and partners will monitor developments on these issues. During the meeting, CIEL experts will be on the ground in Nairobi, Kenya, to closely follow negotiations, track progress, and advocate for a toxic-free future.