
by Nancy Marangu – Policy & Strategy Specialist,
Chemichemi Foundation (Kenya),
Co-Chair of G&CPs Working Group on International Policy Processes
The governance of chemicals and waste beyond 2020, highlights that developing countries and economies in transition as contributors to the global expansion of chemical production and use. These nations are not only becoming key sites of chemical manufacturing but also experiencing rapidly expanding domestic consumer markets. Accordingly, the United Nations Environment Programme, (2019), Global Chemicals Outlook II projects the growth of global bio-based chemical industry, whereby the market for bio-based chemicals is estimated to increase from two per cent of the total chemical market to 22 per cent by 2025.
The increased generation of hazardous waste products which contain chemicals are harmful to both human and environmental health. Thus, the urgency for developing countries to fortify their chemicals and hazardous materials regulatory frameworks.
Environmental pollution caused by poorly managed chemicals and waste is a major contributor to illness and death, particularly among women. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2016 the unsound management of chemicals is responsible for an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually, representing 2.3% of total global deaths. It is worth noting, the exposure to harmful chemicals affects both developing and developed nations; particularly chemicals found in food and consumer products. Alarmingly, vulnerable groups, such as children and pregnant women, face heightened risks, and challenges persist in aligning chemical management with circular economy principles.
In many local communities, especially in developing countries, chemicals used in agriculture and industry are often inadequately regulated, safely used, or properly disposed of. As a result, populations face serious toxic risks from the pollution of air, water, soil, and food. Beyond the health and environmental impacts, chemical pollution also has significant economic repercussions, including losses to agriculture, degraded drinking water quality, and increased public health costs on one hand. On the other hand, the opportunity to bridge the technical skill deficit among countries, counties and communities creates the sustainable jobs on sustainable hazardous and chemical management.
Significantly, globally, circularity within the hazardous and chemical management is shifting from final disposal alternatives to paradigms centered on reuse, recycling, and recovery embodied in frameworks like the “circular economy” and “cradle-to-cradle” design (World Economic Forum, 2018). However, eliminating the health and environmental problems caused by hazardous chemicals and waste, particularly in unsound recycling industries, remains critical. Therefore, sustainable and inclusive global recycling networks can significantly mitigate public health and environmental issues, especially in local communities of developing countries. Furthermore, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presents an opportunity for collaborative action among diverse actors at all levels to minimize the adverse impacts hazardous chemicals and waste. Under SDG 3, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”, Target 3.9 calls for substantially reducing the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination by 2030 (UNEP, 2022).
Essentially, for sound management and reduction of chemicals to be effective, international policy processes ought to be programmatically implemented and underpinned by gender-disaggregated data. Besides, robust, localized data from developing countries and their communities. Additionally, international policies should be simplified to ensure accessibility and comprehension to all stakeholders, particularly in affected communities.
Only through informed, inclusive, and actionable policies can the global community effectively address the pressing challenges of chemical pollution and hazardous waste management.