SETAC Endorses United Nations’ Resolution on Intergovernmental Science Policy Body on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution

Tamar Schlekat, SETAC

On 1 March in Nairobi, Kenya, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) approved a resolution to establish an intergovernmental science-policy body for chemicals, pollution and waste. The draft resolution to establish a “Science-Policy Panel to Support Action on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution” was submitted by Cost Rica, Ghana, Mali, Switzerland, the UK and Uruguay with subsequent support from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. Following negotiations, the countries and their representatives agreed to establish the panel by 2024. The principal functions of the panel for chemicals, waste and pollution, according to the resolution, will be to:

• Undertake horizon scanning to identify potential threats or issues of concern, and provide evidence-based solutions to address them
• Undertake authoritative and comprehensive assessments on the nature and scale of issues
• Provide up-to-date information, catalyze scientific research, ensure communication between scientists and policymakers, and translate and disseminated findings for different audiences

This proposal was adopted after much groundwork was laid by UNEP. SETAC is fully supportive of these efforts. As an organization of environmental professionals, our members share a concern about the global threat that poorly managed chemicals and waste pose to human and ecological health. While SETAC has both supported and contributed to existing international agreements made to advance this issue, such as the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions, we recognize that there are still substantial gaps in the international regulation of chemicals. This is especially concerning given that the global production of chemicals and waste continues to increase, and possible threats do not recognize national borders. As shown in the case of climate change and biodiversity loss, such complex problems can only be addressed through concerted efforts by each and all members of the international community, guided by up-to-date science.

The proposal had also received widespread support from scientists and practitioners, organized by the International Panel on Chemical Pollution (IPCP). The IPCP was established in 2008 as a non-profit association, under Swiss law, to provide a forum international network of academic scientists working on various aspects of chemical pollution. The goal of IPCP is to “provide leadership in identifying priority topics of concern and bridging the gap between science, policy and the public.”

Several scientists from IPCP, many of whom are also SETAC members, pushed hard for this much needed body. Zhanyun Wang, ETH Zürich; Miriam L. Diamond, University of Toronto; Martin Scheringer, ETH Zürich; and Anna Soehl, Executive Director of IPCP, published an article on 18 February 2021 in the journal Science, calling for an intergovernmental panel on chemical pollution. The paper explained how limited and fragmented science-policy interactions on chemicals and waste have contributed to widespread health and environmental problems. Following the publication of the paper, the scientists organized a sign-on campaign. The campaign gained tremendous momentum from more than 1,900 signatories from 85 countries, who signed to show their support for establishing such a global intergovernmental science-policy body. Many SETAC members were energized to sign the petition when the call was publicized in SETAC newsletters. We kept the momentum when we hosted a SETAC Science Café with one of the authors of the science paper, Miriam Diamond, in November 2021.

Most recently, the SETAC World Council voted to endorse the establishment of an intergovernmental panel on chemicals, pollution and waste. SETAC World Council sent a letter to the UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen to showcase our support and signal that we stand ready to support the panel on work that will surely develop from this initiative. Several other SETAC entities, including SETAC Europe, SETAC North America and SETAC UK Branch, sent letters to respective representatives urging them to vote to support such a panel. SETAC Europe President Michelle Bloor endorsed the formation of the body during the Burlington Consensus event, which was held to discuss the idea late this January. SETAC firmly believes that our mission and principles and our very nature make us especially suited to support UNEP in endeavors with the shared goals of better understanding and improving our environment.

Author’s contact information: [email protected]