Washington, D.C. 18 April 2015 - The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, co-led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), announced the goal of eliminating lead paint around the world by 2020, at the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day organized by the Global Poverty Project and the Earth Day Network.
UNEP's Goodwill Ambassador, Don Cheadle, joined by UNEP's Regional Director for North America, Patricia J. Beneke, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Walker Smith, and members of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, announced the goal in front of a crowd of hundreds of thousands people, gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the First Earth Day.
Paint that contains high-levels of lead additives poses a great risk of lead poisoning, especially for children and pregnant women. When lead paint is used in homes, schools and playgrounds, young people are directly and constantly exposed to high levels of lead from paint chips and in dust or soil. Lead poisoning can have lifelong health impacts on children, including: reduced IQs, learning disabilities, hypertension and seizures.
While substitutes for lead paint are cost effective and easily accessible, the use of lead for decorating homes, schools and children's toys is still permitted in numerous countries. The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint Alliance is working to phase-out the manufacture and sale of paints containing lead to eliminate the risks that such paints pose.
"More than 90 years after the League of Nations called for a ban on lead in paint, and despite the existence of many safe alternatives, young children and pregnant mothers in the developing world are still exposed to high levels of the dangerous toxin through unsafe paints," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP.
"Each year childhood lead exposure contributes to an estimated 600,000 new cases of intellectual disabilities, according to the World Health Organization. This can and should be prevented. UNEP is working with the WHO and other partners in the Alliance supporting national efforts to establish a regulatory framework to control the manufacture, trade and use of lead paints, informing the public about the hazards of lead exposure, and encouraging manufacturers to eliminate lead compounds from their paint formulations," he added.
"We are pleased that UNEP's Goodwill Ambassador Don Cheadle, who has consistently demonstrated his deep commitment to amplifying the need to move towards a more inclusive and greener sustainable development path, has lent his voice to the issue. The campaign calls on all stakeholders to commit to significant action to eliminate lead in paint for the benefit of the health of people and the planet," concluded Mr. Steiner.
"Lead poisoning still remains a significant environmental health concern for children globally, and lead paint is one of the major contributors to this health threat. But shockingly, over half of the countries in the world still allow lead in household paint," emphasized Don Cheadle. "So let's work together to keep poison off our walls, out of our homes, out of our schools and out of our kids".
"The EPA is proud to be the Chair of this important global initiative working with the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Health Organization, national governments, the paint industry, and citizen groups and organizations around the world to eliminate lead from paint by 2020," stated Walker Smith.
In its work towards reaching that goal, the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint can draw on the success of phasing-out lead in fuels. Global action to this end, catalyzed by the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles, has reached a point where only three countries in the world still use leaded gasoline.
The goal to eradicate lead in paints was among other commitments made at the celebration, which featured UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, among other high-level officials and prominent artists, who voiced their commitment to resolving the pressing issues of our time relating to climate change and the elimination of poverty.
Prior to the announcement, Don Cheadle joined the Earth Day founder, Denis Hayes, NASA astronaut, Piers Sellers, and other officials for a high level round-table session on climate change communication strategies. The discussion focused on identifying new engagement methods and the means of measuring impact to advance climate solutions.
The momentum created by the Global Citizen Earth Day celebrations, and the build-up to the United Nations World Environment Day on June 5th is expected to continue throughout the year, as the world leaders convene to decide on a new Post-2015 Development Agenda and move to adopt a new climate change agreement.
Notes to Editors:
Paints and pigments still represent 10 - 12% of total lead use, representing as much as a million tons of lead each year.The United States federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint in 1978.Lead exposure is estimated to account for 143, 000 deaths per year with the highest burden in developing regions.Ninety-nine percent of children affected by high exposure to lead live in low- and middle-income countries.Childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600, 000 new cases of children developing intellectual disabilities every year.Health issues directly related to childhood exposure to lead in paint translate to over $975 billion in economic losses in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
About the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint
The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint is a voluntary partnership established to help achieve international goals to prevent children's exposure to lead paint and to minimize occupational exposures to lead paint. Working together through the Alliance, governments, industry and NGOS strive to protect people around the world from exposure to lead through paint.
About UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. World Environment Day (WED), celebrated every year on June 5th, is the principal vehicle through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment, and encourages political attention and action. The 2015 global WED theme is "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care." www.unep.org/WED
