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United Nations Environment Programme
News Chemicals & pollution action

Spotlight on chemicals and pollution action

UNEP

Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.

UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste, while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity, and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.

Below are chemicals and pollution highlights from the United Nations System, from partners and from others helping to call attention to the fact that the future of humanity and our planet depends on action now. 

12 Apr 2024 16:13

It's time to #beatplasticpollution

In this video, we explain why plastic has become so ubiquitous, used in everything from children’s toys and medical equipment to beauty products and airplanes. And while plastic was once hailed as a miracle product, we now know the damage plastic pollution does to ecosystems, the climate, human health and the economy.

Central to ending plastic pollution is the elimination of unnecessary plastic, the redesign of products – including packaging – so they can be more easily reused, repaired and recycled, and switching to non-plastic substitutes that help protect the environment, human health, and our economy. 

It's time to #beatplasticpollution

Last updated at 12 April 2024, 4.13pm EAT
02 Apr 2024 20:31

Global efforts needed to combat waste trafficking to Southeast Asia, new research by UNODC and UNEP reveals

Illegal trade in waste (or waste trafficking) is a type crime that affects the environment and is a growing problem across the world. Once it reaches destination countries, illegal waste often ends up in illegal landfills and illegal storage sites or is burnt in the open, causing harm to the environment and human health, undermining the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the transition toward a circular economy.

A first-ever mapping of waste trafficking trends from Europe to Southeast Asia has been published today. Produced by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UNEP, the new research sheds light on how criminal actors exploit legal trade and regulatory and enforcement loopholes for financial gain. It also explores the negative impact this crime has on the global circular economy.

Last updated at 02 April 2024, 8.31pm EAT
02 Apr 2024 18:08

Revised draft text of international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution now available in all six UN languages

A single-use plastic water bottle in the ocean
Photo: Unsplash/Brian Yurasits

The revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, is now available on the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-4) webpage in all six UN official languages. To access the documents, please visit the official documents tab.

For further information, contact unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org. 

Last updated at 02 April 2024, 6.25pm EAT
30 Mar 2024 11:43

#BeatWastePollution this #ZeroWasteDay

 

Last updated at 30 March 2024, 11.43am EAT
28 Mar 2024 19:33

Eight ways to overcome the waste pollution crisis

An aerial shot of waste pollution next to vegetation.
Photo: UNEP/Ollivier Girard

Humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste a year.  

When improperly managed, much of that refuse—from food and plastics to electronics and textiles—emits greenhouse gases or poisonous chemicals. This damages ecosystems, inflicts disease and threatens economic prosperity, disproportionately harming women and youth.

“Overconsumption is killing us. Humanity needs an intervention,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “On this Zero Waste Day, let’s pledge to end the destructive cycle of waste, once and for all.” 

Explore eight ways to embrace a zero waste approach.

Last updated at 28 March 2024, 7.33pm EAT
20 Mar 2024 19:51

5 things you should know about ‘clean energy’ minerals and the dirty process of mining them

A copper mine in Tabriz, Iran
Photo: Unsplash/Omid Roshan

If the world is to move away from fossil fuels, we will need to extract far more rare minerals, to power renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar plants. However, energy experts point out that mining these minerals can be a dirty process, ravaging the environment, and leading to human rights abuses. 

Mining can devastate the environment if done unsustainably, leading to deforestation, water pollution and what is known as dewatering. Just to take one example, it takes two million litres of water to extract a single tonne of lithium. But some 50 per cent of global copper and lithium production are concentrated in areas with water scarcity.

A UN-wide effort is under way to ensure energy transition minerals are fairly and sustainably managed. The push was launched in 2023, with the aim of building trust, reliability and sustainability into the supply chains of these minerals. 

Here are 5 things you should know about ‘clean energy’ minerals and the dirty process of mining them.

Last updated at 20 March 2024, 7.51pm EAT
08 Mar 2024 11:34

Tide Turners and partners mark the end of UNEA-6

 

Last updated at 08 March 2024, 11.34am EAT
05 Mar 2024 18:23

UNEA-6 highlights rising global role of UNECE Multilateral Environmental Agreements to address triple planetary crisis

People sitting at a panel
Photo: UNEP/Natalia Mroz

Faced with increasing impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which together constitute the “triple planetary crisis”, no country can act alone. Like nature itself, these challenges know no borders, which makes international cooperation a crucial part of action to address them.  

With this recognition, the role of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) – including those negotiated at UNECE – emerged as a key feature of discussions at the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment, the United Nations Environment Assembly, which held its sixth session (UNEA-6) on 26 February-1 March in Nairobi, Kenya.  

Last updated at 05 March 2024, 6.23pm EAT
28 Feb 2024 15:11

Making rubbish a resource to end wasteful culture

Photo of people on sitting at a panel
Photo: UNEP

"This report shows that the direct cost of waste management was US$252 billion in 2020, which rises to US$361 billion when externalities are included. These externalities include the costs of pollution, resulting in poor health and greenhouse gas emissions from waste. Unless we take urgent action, total annual costs could almost double as waste generation rises," said Inger Andersen at the launch of the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 report.

"However, we can’t keep coming at the waste problem by trying to manage what we throw away. Open burning of waste is a disaster. Dumpsites are a disaster. Recycling can’t cope with the sheer volume of waste. To realize the vision of a zero-waste society, we need to redefine what waste is. A lot of what we throw away is a valuable resource, so we must start rethinking the design and delivery of products and services to keep resources in the economy," Ms. Andersen added.

Last updated at 28 February 2024, 3.11pm EAT
15 Feb 2024 14:57

New body aims to limit pollution’s deadly toll

Smoke rising towards the sky from the chimneys of a paper mill
Photo: Unsplash/Daniel Moqvist

Pollution is widespread – and often fatal.  

Dirty air alone is responsible for 6.7 million deaths globally every year, while conservative estimates suggest that in 2019, 5.5 million people died from heart disease linked to lead exposure.  

To stem the pollution crisis, countries agreed in 2022 to establish a new body that would provide policymakers with robust, independent information on chemicals, waste and pollution.  

Negotiators are finetuning the details of this new science-policy panel. Once operational, it will complete a trifecta of similar scientific bodies designed to counter the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. 

Find out about the new science-policy panel.

Last updated at 15 February 2024, 2.57pm EAT
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Related Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 3

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
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Goal 11

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Goal 15

Goal 15: Life on Land
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