Chemicals & Waste Management

UNEP guides policy development for SCP through its global frameworks, networks, programmes and partnerships, through knowledge-sharing and facilitating access to science, policy guidance, technical tools and best practices.

UNEP contributes to SDG 12.2, “achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources”, by strengthening and communicating the knowledge and scientific base for resource efficiency and SCP. This includes scientific information on natural resource use and “decoupling opportunities” as a basis for evidence-based policymaking.

Additionally, UNEP works on strengthening the sound management of chemicals and waste by supporting parties to the multilateral environmental agreements to meet their respective obligations. This work supports SDG 12.4 ‘achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.’ UNEP also hosts the secretariats for several waste and chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements and implements initiatives targeting various types of waste, including food waste and hazardous waste and chemicals.

As part of its actions towards SDG 12.6, “Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.”, UNEP collaborates with the private sector in partnerships promoting innovation, technological solutions and financing to tackle our most pressing global environmental challenges. UNEP fosters partnerships with business and industry to promote green investments and apply sustainable business practices across value chains. It also promotes and builds capacity in corporate sustainability reporting.

The BRS Secretariat reports on the indicator 12.4.1 using the following parameters to measure progress made by State Parties in achieving environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes: information that each Party, whatever its national circumstances, has the obligation to transmit to the Secretariat: designated country contacts under each Convention, national implementation plans under the Stockholm Convention, national reports under the Basel and Stockholm conventions and import responses under the Rotterdam Convention.

The phaseout of ozone depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol is an example of ‘environmentally sound management of chemicals’ (SDG 12.4) that has stimulated innovative redesign of products, processes and equipment to use greener chemicals and technologies.

Today, the Montreal Protocol continues to drive the shift towards ‘environmentally sound management of chemicals’ through its Kigali Amendment. Agreed in 2016, the Kigali Amendment introduced controls on high global warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)s.

The Montreal Protocol also supports the implementation of SDG 12.3.1.b, which aims to ‘halve per capita global food waste’, through the profound changes in refrigeration and air conditioning that have resulted from the phaseout of ozone depleting substances.

Additionally, the Protocol provides successful practices encouraging shifts to more sustainable practices in companies (SDG 12.6) and individual behaviours (SDG 12.8), and in strengthening science and technology relevant to more sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12.A) by supporting the latest generation of alternative technologies across sectors.

An important aspect of the Minamata Convention’s work on SDG 12.4.1 is the reduction of mercury pollution and mercury-containing wastes. It does so by promoting the introduction alternative products, processes and technologies that are mercury-free, cost-effective and in line with best available technology guidelines.

UNEP guides policy development for SCP through its global frameworks, networks, programmes and partnerships, through knowledge-sharing and facilitating access to science, policy guidance, technical tools and best practices.

UNEP contributes to SDG 12.2, “achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources”, by strengthening and communicating the knowledge and scientific base for resource efficiency and SCP. This includes scientific information on natural resource use and “decoupling opportunities” as a basis for evidence-based policymaking.

Additionally, UNEP works on strengthening the sound management of chemicals and waste by supporting parties to the multilateral environmental agreements to meet their respective obligations. This work supports SDG 12.4 ‘achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.’ UNEP also hosts the secretariats for several waste and chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements and implements initiatives targeting various types of waste, including food waste and hazardous waste and chemicals.

As part of its actions towards SDG 12.6, “Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.”, UNEP collaborates with the private sector in partnerships promoting innovation, technological solutions and financing to tackle our most pressing global environmental challenges. UNEP fosters partnerships with business and industry to promote green investments and apply sustainable business practices across value chains. It also promotes and builds capacity in corporate sustainability reporting.

Among other issues, UNSD works towards establishing strong systems for reporting on progress towards 12.4.2 and 12.5.1. It helps countries better understand how waste and hazardous chemicals are generated, collected and recycled, to guide them and other stakeholders in identifying ways to address key waste streams.

The official UN report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals is launched in advance of the HLPF deliberations. This report includes an overview of the global progress towards SDG 12 based on its different indicators, which include global, regional and sub regional aggregates. They are calculated from data from national statistical systems, compiled by international agencies, on the basis of their respective mandates and specialized expertise.

UNU is also heavily focused on its Solving the E-waste Problem initiative, which supports both Indicators 12.4.2 and 12.5.1. Electronic waste is one of the world’s largest and most problematic waste streams, accounting for 47 million metric tonnes of toxic garbage each year. This global initiative aims to dramatically reduce e-waste through policy change, product re-design, re-use, and recycling.

Additionally, UNU’s International Satoyama Initiative supports the implementation if SDG 12.3 by supporting the development of resilient agricultural systems that can respond to system shocks from climate change and that prioritize sustainable resource management.