UNEP's Chemicals and Waste Portfolio has implemented more than 160 GEF-supported projects across over 140 countries, helping governments strengthen the sound management of chemicals and waste while protecting human health and the environment.
The Portfolio works with regional institutions, United Nations agencies and other partners to design and implement innovative global and regional programmes that address emerging chemicals and waste challenges.
UNEP provides technical leadership and oversight across the Portfolio, while implementation is carried out in partnership with national, regional and international organizations. This collaborative approach draws on the expertise and comparative advantages of each partner to maximise impact and deliver sustainable results.
Programmes
Programmes are a longer-term and strategic arrangement of individual yet interlinked projects that aim at achieving large-scale impacts on the global environment. The Portfolio is implementing three UNEP GEF programmes:
- The planetGOLD Programme contributes to the elimination of mercury in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining sector;
- The Med Programme aims to reduce levels of POPs and mercury in the Mediterranean Sea;
- The ISLANDS Programme goal is to prevent the build-up of POPs and mercury materials and to manage and dispose of existing harmful chemicals and wastes across global Small Islands Developing States in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions.
