Geneva addressing Hazardous Substances

Chemicals are an integral part of everyday life and they are a major contributor to world economies. Yet many of these substances can also harm human health and the environment. Their sound management is essential to avoiding risks to human health and ecosystems and substantial costs to national economies. Home of several international organizations and multilateral environmental agreements on the topic, Geneva is a major global hub of the governance of hazardous substances.

Chemicals Around Us

An estimated 350,000 chemicals and mixtures of chemicals are registered on the global market, most of which where developed in the past few decades. Many of these substances remain unidentified as they are classified as confidential business information or are poorly described. A large numbers of these chemicals are known to threaten human health and the environment. Exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, plastic additives, radioactive waste, and other toxic substances and leakage of these substances into the environment is causing severe harm to people’s health and infringing on their human rights.

Chemicals in your home

The special briefs Invisible news give an overview of the hidden hazards in everyday objects, and also the safer alternatives which exist for safeguarding your household, your health, and the environment. These papers were jointly produced by the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), the Minamata Convention, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Chemicals and Health Branch ahead of the 4th UN Environment Assembly.

Most of the daily products we use contain chemicals which serve to achieve a wide variety of properties. Cosmetics, toys, clothes, electronic appliances and home goods, are only a few areas where chemicals of concern have been found in everyday products. Chemical additives in plastic products have also appeared as an important point in the debate around plastic pollution and its impacts on people and nature.

Chemicals in Products (CiP) | SAICM
Toxic Tours | Break Free From Plastics
Information Repository on the Safe and Secure Management of Hazardous Chemicals to Prevent and Mitigate Industrial Accidents Worldwide | UNECE
Ending the toxic trail of small-scale gold mining | UNEP | 16 August 2023
Stories of Global Chemical Pollution: Will We Ever Understand Environmental Persistence? | Martin Scheringer, Jana H. Johansson, et al. | Environmental Science & Technology | 2 December 2022
Breakthrough over potentially harmful chemicals found in most homes | BBC | 22 August 2022
Addressing the Issue of Chemicals of Concern in Electronics: Challenges and recommendations for labelling initiatives | SAICM | January 2022
Understanding Chemicals in Products – Policy Brief | SAICM | November 2019
The Next Frontier of Environmental Unknowns: Substances of Unknown or Variable Composition, Complex Reaction Products, or Biological Materials (UVCBs) | Lai, et al. | 9 May 2022
Explained: the toxic threat in everyday products, from toys to plastic | The Guardian | 22 May 2019
Dangerous chemicals hiding in everyday products | CNN | 1 July 2016
What is “toxic free” products and why do we need it? | WECF | 2 October 2019

Pollution, Hazardous Substances, and Human Rights

Though integral to almost all sectors of society, the lack of environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste can have long-lasting negative impacts on human health, society, and on the environment. Such negative impacts violate our human right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Stakeholders, particularly States and businesses, must ensure that this right is upheld when conducting activities and operations on the ground.

Advancing the Right to Live in a Non-toxic Environment and the Role of Geneva

Highlighting the role stakeholders from International Geneva as a global hub for the governance of hazardous substances, learn how they are actively working to reduce the environmental and health risks from chemicals, including their human rights implications.

More on human rights, hazardous wastes, and the role of Geneva

Chemicals in Plastic

As global attention toward the impacts of plastic pollution is growing, the presence and impacts of the chemical additives contained in plastic has also been received increasing scrutiny. While most of these chemical components remain unknown or understudied, those for which scientific information is available have often been found to be toxic. In particular, a growing body of evidence points to the health risks posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) added to plastics.

In the context of the 2023 Meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, delegates advanced works on chemicals in plastics. The Stockholm Convention eliminated the production and use of two chemicals (with limited exemptions): UV-328, a UV filter used in plastics and Dechlorane Plus, a flame retardant.

More resources on plastics, chemicals and health

More resources

Addressing Chemicals of Concern in Plastics through Multilateral Environmental Agreements | Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions | November 2024
Chemicals in Plastics: A Technical Report | UNEP | 3 May 2023

Issues of Concern

In 2020, the UN Environment Programme published an assessment report on the issues of concern, which reviews the latest scientific evidence on the health and environmental effects of these key challenges. This report aims to inform and support decision making at UNEA and other international forums working towards sound chemicals and waste management. The issues of concern were identified by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), and are as follow:

Chemicals in products
Endocrine disrupting chemicals
Environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants
Hazardous substances in the life cycle of electrical and electronic products
Highly hazardous pesticides
Lead in paint
Nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials (nanomaterials)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

The resumed session of UNEA 5, in February 2022, recognized the need to take further action to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with the chemicals and waste issues discussed in the report. UNEP was requested through resolution 5/7 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 the preparation of a summary analysis, taking into account the views received. In response to this request, UNEP conducted a Consultation on priorities for further work and potential further international action on Issues of concern in July 2023.

A summary analysis, taking into account the views expressed, was prepared and made available in an advance version to UNEA-6 (Nairobi, 26 February to 1 March 2024). The formatted version of the “Chemicals and Waste Issues of Concern: A Summary Analysis of Stakeholders’ Views on Priorities for Further Work and Potential Further International Action” was launched during an event co-organized by the Geneva Environment Network, featuring an introduction by the authors of the report and offered a platform to discuss its main findings as well as the role of existing instruments and new mechanisms under negotiation in addressing these issues of concern.

Assessment Report on Issues of Concern

September 2020

Assessment Report on Issues of Concern Factsheets

December 2022

Guidelines on Alternatives to Highly Hazardous Pesticides

July 2023

Chemical and Waste Issues of Concern: A Summary Analysis of Stakeholders' Views

October 2024

International Collaboration for a Toxic-free Planet

Providing a non-toxic environment for all has been a core priority of environmental governance since its foundations. The first Principles of both the 1972 Stockholm and 1992 Rio Declarations focus on the human right to a safe and clean environment. The Stockholm Declaration describes “the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality…”, while the Rio Declaration states that humans “are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals reiterated the importance of taking action to prevent and reduce pollution in order to protect human health and the environment.

Over the past decades, multilateral cooperation on the issue of chemicals has been increasing, notably through the adoption of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) on the matter. Many relevant organizations in this regard are based in Geneva (see section below).

Global Framework on Chemicals: For a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste

The Global Framework on Chemicals for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste and a High-Level Declaration (Bonn Declaration) that provides political impetus to drive the deal’s implementation, were adopted as the closing plenary of the Fifth Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) that took place from 25 to 29 September 2023 in Bonn, Germany.

The framework is based on 28 targets that aim to improve the sound management of chemicals and waste. Governments have committed to creating, by 2030, the regulatory environment to reduce chemical pollution and implement policies to promote safer alternatives. Industry has committed to managing chemicals in a way that reduces chemical pollution and adverse impacts by 2030. The framework calls for, by 2035, a phase-out of highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture where the risks have not been managed and safer alternatives are available. There is a target on strengthening links between the new instrument and the climate, biodiversity, human rights and health agendas.

Crucially, an integrated approach to financing was agreed, with private-sector financing lining up with the targets of the agreement. The GFC Fund supports implementation activities in developing countries and countries with economies in transition by financing projects and programmes that promote transformative change to prevent and minimize harm from chemicals and waste to protect the environment and human health.

Further resources and news on the GFC:

Second round of applications for the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund is open | 30 September 2025
New fund to support chemicals and waste management in developing economies | UNEP | 1 October 2024
Paving the Way to a Toxic-Free Planet: The New Global Framework on Chemicals – for a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste | Giulia Carlini | CIEL | 31 January 2024
SAICM/ICCM.5/4 Report of the International Conference on Chemicals Management on the work of its fifth session (advance) | 24 January 2024

Learn more about the Global Framework on Chemicals

Global Framework on Chemicals UNEP Website

Developing a Global Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention

At the resumed session of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), delegates adopted a resolution on the establishment of a science policy panel to support action on chemicals, waste and pollution (UNEP/EA.5/Res.8). An ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG), mandated to prepare proposals for the Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollution (SPP-CWP), began its work in 2022, with the ambition of completing it by the end of 2024. While substantive advances were achieved at its third session in June 2024 in Geneva, the SPP OEWG resumed its third session in June 2025 in Punta del Este, Uruguay and established the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) on 20 June 2025.

The science-policy panel will help strengthen the scientific basis of policies related to chemicals and waste management and contribute to more effective and sustainable approaches to preventing pollution and protecting human health and the environment.

The panel will provide scientific expertise and guidance to policymakers on the identification, assessment, and management of hazardous chemicals and waste, as well as on the development of strategies to prevent pollution. It can also help policymakers identify and prioritize areas for research and development, and facilitate the translation of scientific findings into policy recommendations. This can help ensure that policies related to chemicals and waste management are based on sound science and take into account the diverse perspectives and interests of stakeholders.

Such a panel can also support countries in their efforts to take action, including to implement multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant international instruments, promote the sound management of chemicals and waste, and address pollution by providing policy-relevant scientific advice on issues. It can also further support relevant multilateral agreements, other international instruments and intergovernmental bodies, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders in their work.

Together with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the world now has three bodies to respond to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Developing a Global Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention

Road to the First ISP-CWP Plenary Session Series

In the run-up to the first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, taking place in Geneva from 2 to 6 February 2026, the ISP-CWP Secretariat, in collaboration with the Geneva Environment Network, is organizing a series of events to prepare Member States, stakeholders and other interested parties for the session.

Road to OEWG 3.2

In the lead-up to the establishment of a science-policy panel (SPP) to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution, this series of webinars and events is organized by the ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) Secretariat and the Geneva Environment Network to build bridges and promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between and among stakeholders, and to raise public awareness about the OEWG preparing proposals for the establishment of the panel. The « Road to OEWG 3.2 Series » is organized in the lead up to the resumed third session of the Ad hoc Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG 3.2), to be held in early 2025.

Road to OEWG 3.1

In preparation for the third session, the Road to OEWG 3 | Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollution webinar and event series, co-organized by the OEWG Secretariat and Geneva Environment Network aims to build bridges between and among stakeholders, and promote collaboration and knowledge sharing in preparation for OEWG 3, taking place in Geneva, in June 2024.

Road to OEWG 2

The first and second parts of the first session of the ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution took place respectively on 6 October 2022 in Nairobi in a hybrid format (OEWG-1.1) and from 30 January to 3 February 2023 in Bangkok (OEWG-1.2). In preparation for the second session (OEWG 2), the OEWG Secretariat and Geneva Environment Network co-organized the Road to OEWG 2 | Science-Policy Panel to Contribute Further to the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste and to Prevent Pollution webinar and event series, aiming to build bridges between and among stakeholders, and promote collaboration and knowledge sharing in preparation for OEWG 2 in December 2023.

United Nations Environment Assembly

Further action on chemicals and pollution management has been mandated by various UNEA resolutions.

UNEA Resolution 1/5 on Chemicals and Waste was adopted at the first UN Environment Assembly in 2014.
UNEA Resolution 2/7 « Sound management of chemicals and waste » (UNEP/EA.2/Res.7) was adopted by UNEA in 2016.
UNEA-3, held in 2017 adopted various resolutions on chemicals and pollution:
- Resolution 3/7 « Marine litter and microplastics » (UNEP/EA.3/Res.7)
- Resolution 3/9 « Eliminating exposure to lead paint and promoting environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries » (UNEP/EA.3/Res.9)
UNEA-4, held in 2019, adopted various resolutions on chemicals and pollution:
- Resolution 4/6. « Marine plastic litter and microplastics » (UNEP/EA.4/Res.6)
- Resolution 4/7. « Environmentally sound management of waste » (UNEP/EA.4/Res.7)
- Resolution 4/8. « Sound management of chemicals and waste » (UNEP/EA.4/Res.8)
- Resolution 4/9. « Addressing single-use plastic products pollution » (UNEP/EA.4/Res.9)
- Resolution 4/21. « Implementation plan “Towards a pollution-free planet” (UNEP/EA.4/Res.21)
UNEA-5, which took place in two resumed session in 2021 and 2022, adopted various resolution on chemical and pollutions:
- Resolution 5/7 « Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste » (UNEP/EA.5/Res.7)
- Resolution 5/8 « Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution » (UNEP/EA.5/Res.8)
- Resolution 5/14 « End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument » (UNEP/EA.5/Res.14)
UNEA 6, held in 2024 adopted:
- Resolution 6/9 « Sound management of chemicals and waste » (UNEP/EA.6/Res.9)
- Resolution 6/11 « Highly hazardous pesticides » (UNEP/EA.6/Res.11)

Role of Geneva

Geneva is a global hub for the governance of hazardous substances, and thus is actively working to reduce the environmental and health risks from chemicals.

News and events about chemicals and waste in International Geneva

Organizations are listed by alphabetical order.

Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions | BRS Conventions

The BRS Conventions promote the sound management of chemicals and waste to prevent and minimize significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. They address respectively transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes (Basel), persistent organic pollutants (Stockholm) and international trade of certain hazardous chemicals (Rotterdam).

Center for International Environmental Law | CIEL

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) works to achieve a toxic-free future through our work negotiating new international treaties; changing public policy and private practices; advocating for precaution and increased attention on new forms of chemicals; and, along the way, building strong and diverse coalitions.

Earthjustice

Earthjustice is a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization that wields the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. Their work aims to ensure that all people have safe workplaces and neighborhoods, have access to safe drinking water and food, and live in homes that are free of hazardous chemicals.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Liaison Office in Geneva | FAO Geneva

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, FAO leads efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in all their forms. FAO is committed to ensuring that productivity gains in crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry do not come at the cost of human health and the environment, embracing a « More with Less » approach of producing more food while using fewer resources and chemicals. Jointly with UNEP, FAO hosts the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade enables Parties to take informed decisions on future imports of chemicals and pesticides listed under the Convention.

Global Alliance on Health and Pollution | GAHP

The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) is a collaborative body made up of more than 60 members and dozens of observers that advocates for resources and solutions to pollution problems.

Global Framework on Chemicals

The Global Framework on Chemicals, adopted by the 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management in Bonn in 2023, provides a vision for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, for a safe, healthy and sustainable future – where industry and private sectors are strategic actors to foster innovation, move towards sustainable business models and drive change. The framework instrument replaced the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

International Labour Organization | ILO

ILO aims to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards, including in the area of chemical exposure and health risks in the workplace.

Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals | IOMC

IOMC is a cooperative agreement among FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UNITAR, WHO, World Bank and OECD. Its objective is to strengthen international cooperation in the field of chemicals and to increase the effectiveness of the organisations’ international chemicals programmes.

International Trade Union Confederation Geneva Office | ITUC

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) advocates for the protection of workers from the exposure to chemicals and toxic substances and for the recognition of health and safety at work as a fundamental right.

Minamata Convention on Mercury

The Minamata Convention on Mercury regulates anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds, with the aim of protecting human health and the environment.

UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction | UNDRR

UNDRR, alongside the International Science Council, has published the Sendai Hazard Definition and Classification Review Technical Report that provides a common set of hazard definitions for monitoring and reviewing implementation which calls for “a data revolution, rigorous accountability mechanisms and renewed global partnerships”. The list includes the hazards that come from chemicals.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe | UNECE

UNECE addresses environmental challenges in the region in a holistic manner and deals with various issues related to hazardous chemicals, air pollution, water and sanitation, among others.

The UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (or Industrial Accidents Convention) aims to protect, in the interest of present and future generations, human beings and the environment against the effects of industrial accidents. The Convention’s three main pillars are the prevention of, preparedness for and response to industrial accidents capable of having transboundary effects, including effects of such accidents caused by natural disasters. Provisions within the Convention provide measures for countries to prevent accidents from occurring and, if they occur, to reduce their frequency and severity and mitigate their effects. This includes, among other obligations, Parties identifying and taking actions against hazardous activities within their jurisdiction that could have effects across borders. Parties are also required to take appropriate measures to establish and maintain adequate emergency preparedness to respond to industrial accidents. → Learn more

The Kyiv Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, entered into force in 2009, is the only legally binding international instrument on pollutant release and transfer registers. Its objective is to enhance public access to information through the establishment of coherent, nationwide pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs). Although regulating information on pollution, rather than pollution directly, the Protocol is expected to exert a significant downward pressure on levels of pollution, as no company will want to be identified as among the biggest polluters.

UN Environment Management Group | UN EMG

The UN EMG is a system-wide coordination body on environment and human settlements. It identifies issues on the international environmental agenda that warrant cooperation and finds ways of engaging its collective capacity in coherent management responses to those issues.

In support of the global Implementation Plan “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet” welcomed at the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly, the EMG has established a consultative process to prepare a UN system common approach on pollution to provide a framework that can guide and mobilize UN entities in their work to ensure pollution is prevented and reduced to levels that are not harmful to people and the planet, including through the sound management of chemicals and waste.

UN Environment Programme Chemicals and Health Branch

The Chemicals and Health Branch of UNEP works closely with governments, industry, and civil society organizations around the world to develop mainstream solutions for the sound management of chemicals and waste.

UN Institute for Training and Research | UNITAR

UNITAR Chemicals and Waste Management Programme supports governments and stakeholders to strengthen their institutional, technical, and legal infrastructure and capacity for sound chemicals management. UNITAR is part of IOMC.

UN Office of Disarmament Affairs in Geneva | UNODA

The UNODA assists Member States in supporting their disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation efforts aimed at achieving the goal of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. This includes the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the production and use of an entire category of weapons. All the meetings related to this instrument are currently being held in UNOG, and are serviced by the BWC Implementation Support Unit in the Geneva Branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs.

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights | OHCHR

OHCHR aims to promote a human rights-based approach to addressing the impacts of hazardous substances on human rights including the rights to health and life. UN Human Rights works with rights holders and duty bearers to create a better understanding of the relationship between toxics and human rights and facilitates actions to improve the level of respect for the related rights.

UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights

The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights is an independent expert mandated by the Human Rights Council to help States, businesses and other stakeholders adopt solutions to human rights issues related to exposure to harmful substances. The current mandate holder is Marcos A. Orellana, appointed Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights in August 2020.

World Business Council on Sustainable Development | WBCSD

The Chemical Sector, as a solution provider, is an enabler of sustainability across value chains. As part of its Circular Transition Indicators v4.0, WBCSD has produced various reports aimed at harmonizing practices in the Chemical Industry and disseminating best practices to allow businesses that rely on chemicals to catalyze their transformation through circular strategies.

World Economic Forum | WEF

The World Economic Forum convenes the Chemical and Advanced Materials Industry Community, which plays an essential role in advancing the energy transition across all other sectors. By convening top executives from the industry, the community is the hub for transformational industry dialogue among peers, facilitating the exchange of ideas, best practices, and cutting-edge insights. Members of the Chemical and Advanced Materials Industry community actively work together to shape the future of the sector, foster innovation and new business practices, and inform new policymaking. The industry community pursues the strategic priorities of creating a more resilient, responsible and productive chemical industry.

World Health Organization | WHO

Through the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), WHO works to establish the scientific basis for the sound management of chemicals, and to strengthen national capabilities and capacities for chemical safety.

At the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly (WHA76) that took place in Geneva from 21 to 30 May 2023, a resolution on the impact of chemicals, waste, and pollution on human health initially tabled by Peru, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Monaco, Switzerland, Uruguay, and the European Union and its Member States was adopted.