Chemicals and Waste Issues of Concern: Tackling Future Priorities

Following the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution 5/7, UNEP is conducting a consultation process on issues of concern, posing risks to human health and the environment. This event, organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, aims to discuss priorities of further work, building on existing measures and initiatives, and further potential international action.

About the Event

At the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), Resolution 5/7 requested the Executive Director to seek views from Member States and other stakeholders on priorities for further work, building on existing measures and initiatives, and on potential further international action on the issues discussed in the Assessment Report on Issues of Concern. The resolution also requests for the preparation of a summary analysis, taking into account the views received.

The United Nations Environment Programme is conducting a consultation process on issues of concern, posing risks to human health and the environment. In this context, this event is convened to discuss priorities of further work and further potential international action.

There are 19 issues of concern that pose risks to human health and the environment, 11 of which are issues with emerging evidence of risks identified by the Global Chemicals Outlook II. The other 8 are emerging policy issues and other issues of concern identified under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.

Chemicals in products| Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC); Phthalates; Bisphenol A (BPA); Microplastics; Chemicals in products; Hazardous substances in the life cycle of electrical and electronic products (HSLEEP); Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs); Nanotechnology and Manufactured Nanomaterials and Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and the transition to safer alternative.
Metals & metalloids | Lead; Lead in paint; Cadmium; Arsenic; Organotins
Bio-active substances | Highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs); Glyphosate; Neonicotinoids; Triclosan and Environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (EPPPs).

Speakers

By order of intervention. Additional Member State Representatives to be confirmed.

Sheila AGGARWAL-KHAN

Director, Industry and Economy Division, UN Environment Programme

Felix WERTLI

Head, Global Affairs Section, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland

Jacqueline ALVAREZ

Head, Chemicals and Health Branch, UN Environment Programme

Bob DIDERICH

Head of Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Melissa WANG

Senior Scientist, Greenpeace International and Honorary University Fellow, University of Exeter

H.E. Amb. Romy Sonia TINCOPA

Deputy Permanent Representative of Peru to the international organizations in Geneva

Kei OHNO WOODALL

Senior Programme Management Officer, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat

Ahmad ANSARI

Partnerships Director, The ZDHC Foundation

John ROBERTS

Senior Consultant

Manal AZZI

Team Lead on Occupational Safety and Health, International Labour Organization | Moderator

Registration

The event is taking place in person at the International Environment House II, and online.

Agenda

Opening
Overview of Consultation Process | Chemicals and Waste Issues of Concern
Panel I – Prioritizing Issues of Concern: Which of these are critical to address now?
Panel II – Tackling Issues of Concern: Which of these are most actionable?
Closing