More than 2,000 representatives from around the globe gathered at the United Nations in Geneva to address the escalating crisis of chemical pollution, which poses grave risks to both human health and the environment.
The primary objective of the two-week conference was to strengthen regulations and limitations on dangerous substances, with a particular focus on "forever chemicals" that persist in the environment. Under the Stockholm Convention, countries engaged in discussions to expand the list of toxic substances to be banned or restricted. Simultaneously, efforts were made to enhance regulations for chemicals and pesticides within the framework of the Rotterdam Convention. Furthermore, technical guidelines were devised for the sound management of plastic and e-waste as part of the Basel Convention, which governs the transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a limited number of chemicals were responsible for an estimated two million deaths in 2019. These fatalities were attributed to various diseases, including respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, as well as different types of cancers. In addition to addressing chemical pollution, the conference's eleventh meeting also focused on developing compliance procedures and mechanisms. Delegates reviewed recommendations stemming from the second evaluation of the Stockholm Convention. This included evaluating the continued use of the insecticide DDT, which is still implemented in some countries for malaria control. The meeting also assessed progress towards the elimination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a toxic organic chemical group, and drafted a strategy to achieve the 2025 and 2028 goals outlined in the Stockholm Convention.
Another significant event, scheduled for later in the month in Paris, aimed to establish a new legally binding international treaty on plastics pollution. During the sixteenth meeting of the Basel Convention, attendees discussed the potential adoption of technical guidelines for the environmentally-sound management of plastic waste, as well as persistent organic pollutants. Additionally, the Implementation and Compliance Committee presented recommendations, including progress made in reaching national reporting targets. The COP also received updates on partner initiatives related to the Basel Convention, focusing on electronic and electrical waste, plastic waste, and household waste management. Moreover, efforts to prevent and combat illegal trafficking of hazardous and other wastes were highlighted.
The WHO highlighted the alarming trend of increasing global chemical production, projecting that sales would nearly double from 2017 to 2030. This serves as a stark reminder of the urgency to address chemical pollution comprehensively and implement stricter regulations and controls to safeguard human health and the environment.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
