Noticias Chemicals & pollution action

Spotlight on chemicals and pollution action

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.

13 Dec 2024 10:38

New initiative aims to reduce environmental impact of fashion, construction industries in eight countries

Shirts hanging closely together
Imapge: Pexels

Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago have united to drive the transformation and eliminate the environmental impact of fashion and construction.

The fashion and construction sectors are among the world’s most chemical-intensive industry sectors. The building and construction sector is the largest end-market for chemicals, and producing 1 kg of textiles requires 0.58 kg of various chemicals on average. Both sectors connect producers, retailers, and consumers from across the world and are characterised by complex, fragmented, global supply chains with globally significant impacts.

The $340 million initiative will transform resource-intensive processes and materials with sustainable alternatives and fostering circular, collaborative value chains.

More on this initiative.

06 Dec 2024 10:13

Join the Global Leaders Group on AMR

04 Dec 2024 09:56

Wastewater as a Solution for Climate Mitigation and Methane Reduction

Image of a waste treatment plant

Happening on 4 December from 3:00pm - 4:30pm EAT, Wastewater as a Solution for Climate Mitigation and Methane Reduction is a webinar that aims to showcase the untapped potential of wastewater to tackle the challenges of climate change, water and food security. 

This webinar will also emphasise the need to include sustainable wastewater management, including resource recovery, in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for countries to accelerate action towards climate adaptation and mitigation. 

Register on MS Teams.

02 Dec 2024 15:25

UNEP Head: We must keep promises to ensure a plastics treaty

01 Dec 2024 22:24

INC-5 made progress towards a critical #PlasticsTreaty, but work remains

People at a panel
Credit: UNEP/Duncan Moore


Countries negotiating an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, adjourned their fifth session with agreement on a ‘Chair’s Text’ that will serve as the starting point for negotiations at a resumed session in 2025. Read press release.
 

01 Dec 2024 13:47

Watch INC-5 closing plenary live

After a long week of negotiations in Busan, the closing plenary conference is taking place on Sunday evening. Watch the INC live webcasts. 
Check the INC-5 live daily schedule for updates.  

28 Nov 2024 19:00

ILO in Busan calls for a treaty that puts workers first

The UN System is coming together to push for a strong agreement to end plastic pollution at INC-5. Here's an example from the International Labour Organization (ILO): 

28 Nov 2024 16:58

UNEP Head meets waste pickers on the sidelines of INC-5

28 Nov 2024 09:21

Curious about what happens inside the #INC5 negotiations for a #PlasticsTreaty?

26 Nov 2024 12:00

Want to know how to beat plastic pollution?

People Carrying Black Trash Bag while Walking on the Shore of a Beach
Pexels/ Inna Rabotyagina

Tackling plastic pollution takes everyone working together: business, governments, cities, civil society and individuals. So what can you do to help?  
Discover UNEP’s Beat Plastic Pollution page