1. Topics

Chemicals & Wastes

When used improperly or disposed of unsafely, chemicals pose significant risks for both the environment and human health. Toxic chemicals are found in all ecosystems on Earth, including Antarctica and the most remote seas, affecting biodiversity, agricultural production, water quality, and human health. Over 100 million man-made chemicals and chemical formulations are used in every sector of the industrial economy. Many chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury, travel over large distances through air, water currents, and in migratory species. Some POPs can remain in the human body for more than 50 years. Mercury, an element, is infinitely persistent. While chemicals and waste are major contributors to world economies, their sound management is essential to avoiding risks to human health and ecosystems and substantial costs to national economies.

Events and Articles

Filter by:

Showing 11 - 20 of 223 results

21st Meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC-21)

The Committee reviewed 35 notifications of final regulatory action related to 18 pesticides and three proposals for severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPFs). But they found that many of the notifications and all of the SHPF proposals did not meet the criteria set out in the Convention.
Event 23 September 2025 - 26 September 2025

6th Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific

Delegates from Asia Pacific showed “strong convergence” across some key environmental issues they intend to raise in December at the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly—the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
Event 26 August 2025 - 29 August 2025

1st Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) for the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC)

Governments and stakeholders took stock of the implementation of resolutions adopted by the 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management in 2023 and prepared for the first Global Forum on Chemicals International Conference in late 2026. Thursday’s Multi-Stakeholder Day considered cross-cutting issues and specific action for electronics, textiles, and health care.
Event 24 June 2025 - 27 June 2025

Resumed 3rd Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on a Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollution and Intergovernmental Meeting

Bolstering scientific knowledge on the impact of chemicals and waste pollution on ecosystems and human health is an urgent priority. Governments have now successfully established the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) to bridge the gap between science and policy.
Event 15 June 2025 - 20 June 2025

69th Meeting of the GEF Council

Through the “family” of GEF trust funds, Council Members approved over USD 250 million in funding for projects and programs targeting biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and shared marine and freshwater ecosystems issues. Talks occurred in the shadow of recently commenced negotiations for the GEF’s ninth replenishment period, which many expect will be challenging due to shifting geopolitics and donor priorities.
Event 2 June 2025 - 6 June 2025

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

The 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is an international treaty between 190 countries on the management, disposal, and transboundary movements of hazardous wastes produced worldwide. It is the oldest of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, which together tackle the life cycle of global chemicals and waste management. Brief by Pamela Chasek, PhD
Article

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is a global treaty that provides early warning to countries about a broad range of hazardous chemicals that are traded internationally to protect human health and the environment. The information shared under the Convention, including whether a hazardous chemical is banned or severely restricted in other countries, enables governments to assess the risks posed by these chemicals and to make informed decisions on their import.  Brief by Pamela Chasek, PhD
Article