Instruments and Approaches for the Sound Management of Chemicals

Transcription

1 REVIEW and PLANS Task Force III Preliminary Global Outlook for Chemicals Instruments and Approaches for the Sound Management of Chemicals Ken Geiser, with Ingela Andersson, Arthur Fong, Monika Luxem-Fritsch, Abiola Olanipekun, Lena Perenius June 16, 2011

2 Sound Management of Chemicals The Sound Management of Chemicals, first articulated in Agenda 21 of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, places significant responsibilities on governments and industries To carry out these responsibilities there exist today a broad range of legal, professional and program instruments and approaches These tools may be regulatory, economic, technical or voluntary

3 Limits of Current Instruments and Approaches Many countries have yet to adopt full sets of appropriate instruments and approaches Capacity to implement Instruments and approaches is unevenly developed across countries Instruments and approaches are not internationally coordinated and harmonized Appropriate instruments and approaches are not integrated into national economic development planning and international development funding Developing countries are not taking advantage of the most recent instruments and approaches

4 I. Seven Types of Policy Instruments for Managing Chemicals Goal of instrument Timeframe 1. Controlling Chemical Pollution Remediating Contaminated Sites and Managing Waste Chemicals Preventing Chemical Pollution Managing Chemical Information Managing Chemicals in Products Promoting Safer Alternatives Generating Safer Chemicals 2000+

5 1. Instruments for Controlling Chemical Pollution Regulatory Chemical Use and Import Regulations Chemical Release Restrictions Chemical Bans and Phase Outs Economic Chemical Waste Fees Environmental Liability Requirements 2. Instruments for Remediating Contaminated Sites and Managing Wasted Chemicals Technical Emergency Response and Spill Management Programs Site Clean Up Programs Post Clean up Management Legacy Chemical Storage Management and Treatment

6 3. Instruments for Preventing Chemical Pollution Technical Pollution Prevention Planning Chemical Accident Prevention Cleaner Production Assessments Economic Chemical Use Fees and Taxes Chemical Leasing 4. Instruments for Managing Chemical Information Regulatory and Technical Pollutant Release and Transfer Registries Product Ingredient Registries Chemical Hazard Characterization and Labeling Chemical Manufacturing and Use Inventories Voluntary Chemical Disclosure in the Supply Chain

7 5. Instruments for Managing Chemicals in Products Regulatory, Voluntary and Technical Product Design Product Labeling Product Declarations Eco-Labeling Product Standards and Certification Product Management Preferred Product Procurement Policies (EPP) Product Stewardship and Take Back (EPR)

8 6. Instruments for Promoting Safer Chemical Alternatives Technical Chemical Screening Chemical Characterization and Priority Setting Alternatives Assessment Life Cycle Assessment 7. Instruments for Generating Safer Chemicals Technical Green Chemistry Green Engineering Economic Research Investments

9 Comprehensive Chemicals Policies Comprehensive Chemicals Policies are needed that systemically integrate chemical safety and sustainable development. Such policies need to: focus on all chemicals, promote chemical characterization and classification focus on inherent hazards provide public information, encourage the substitution of chemicals of high concern with safer alternatives support safer chemical research and innovation

10 II. Tailoring Chemical Policies to Enhance Economic Development Chemicals are critical to economic development However, instruments and approaches for chemical management should be appropriate to the specifics of a nation s economic development, because chemical uses vary by type of development governments vary in terms of chemical management capacity global markets push polluters to countries with weaker policies

11 Instruments and Approaches Appropriate for Types of Economic Development

12 III. Capacity Building to Achieve the Sound Management of Chemicals Improving instruments and approaches to the sound management of chemicals in developing countries and countries in transition requires: improving access to information on chemicals and chemical management programs chemicals management capacity building must be a priority in social and economic development strategies adoption and appropriate use of chemical management programs already established in other countries promoting awareness among donors and multilateral organizations of the role of sound chemical management in poverty reduction and economic development

13 Inter-Organization Program for the Sound Management of Chemicals Strategy for Capacity Building 1. Strengthen capacities for engagement proactively 2. Increase capacities to generate, access and use information and knowledge 3. Enhance capacities for policy and legislation development 4. Strengthen capacity for program development 5. Strengthen capacities for management and implementation of chemical management policies and regulations 6. Increase capacities to monitor programs and evaluate achievements 7. Improve capacities to mobilize resources

14 IV. Financing the Sound Management of Chemicals The Need for Financing Expenses frequently outrun revenues Concerns over financing often inhibit government adoption of sound chemicals management instruments and approaches Integration of Chemical Management and Development Strategies Development assistance programs could include financing for chemicals management Developing countries and countries in transition need to ask for chemical management financing Internalizing Chemical Management Costs Shifting chemical management responsibilities to chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors and product manufacturers Governments could assess taxes, registration fees, user fees or waste management fees

15 Next Steps

16 Tasks Phase 1 Address Preliminary Report gaps and weaknesses Build and refine argument Identify appropriate best practice examples and illustrations. Draft financing section Summer Summer Summer Phase 2. Integrate with Pillar I and II Prepare Draft Report Review Sept Oct Phase 3 Prepare Report Nov

17 Pillar III Outline Introduction drafted General Instruments and Approaches Corporate and Industrial Responses National Reponses International Reponses drafted to do to do in process Recommendations to do

18 Potential Themes Coordinate and tailor the diverse array of legal, economic and technical instruments and approaches Mainstream chemicals management capacity building into economic development programs and development assistance Develop new comprehensive chemical policies that link chemical safety, environmental protection and sustainable development Strengthen government and business capacity in developing countries and countries in transition

19 Potential Argument The synthetic chemical economy is now global Chemical production, use and disposal is expanding into the BRICs and the developing and transitional economies, resulting in increasing chemical intensity. National chemical programs vary in approaches and effectiveness. Many countries with developing and transitional economies lack sufficient legal, institutional and/or resource capacities Sound Management of Chemicals requires a global framework (SAICM, conventions..) The most effective approaches are comprehensive, broad spectrum and integrally integrated into economic development missions However, the most effective mix of instruments must be tailored to the individual needs of each country and economy Program effectiveness is dependent on good policy design, adequate resources and sufficient infrastructure and human capacity

20 Steering Committee Tasks Consider and comment on argument Identify examples and illustrations of best practices in approaches and instruments Identify references to other appropriate reports and documentation

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22 Recommendations for Action Encourage national and industry roadmaps for implementing SAICM Promote the adoption of chemical management instruments and approaches that are appropriate to economic conditions Maintain a central focal point for international communication and information sharing Promote development and adoption of new chemical management instruments and approaches Assist in development of new risk reduction programs for cleaning up chemical wastes and managing obsolete chemicals Convene international dialogues on chemical substances of high concern in developing regions (heavy metals, pesticides..) Promote non-chemical and low-chemical alternatives (particularly in agriculture and the informal sector)

23 Recommendations for Research Developing a Menu of Instruments and Approaches for Developing Countries guidance manuals and curriculum Linking Innovation to Chemical Risk Reduction developing case studies of chemical policies promoting new chemicals and technologies Cost Internalization documenting how fees, taxes and regulations improve chemical management Green Chemistry identifying alternative chemical synthesis and processes for priority chemicals (e.g. agricultural chemicals, disinfection chemicals, heavy metals, etc.) Safer Alternatives developing screening and analytical comparison methods for identifying safer alternatives to chemicals of high concern Supply Chain Information Management identifying barriers and opportunities for improving two-way communication in supply chains