Chemicals and Waste Reports for UNEA 5: An Assessment Report on Issues of Concern

UNEP has been preparing several reports to be presented at the 5^th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5) set to take place on 22-26 February 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya.

These reports provide several facets of the analysis and needs for sound management of chemicals and waste, building on the wealth of knowledge, key findings and messages provided by the Global Chemicals Outlook II (GCO-II).

An Assessment Report on Issues of Concern aims to inform the international community about the current situation of specific issues of concern, based on a review of published evidence, in order to support further discussion at UNEA5 and other international forums working towards sound management of chemicals and waste.

The report assesses the eight emerging policy issues and other issues of concern identified under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM): chemicals in products (CiP), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants (EPPPs), hazardous substances in the life cycle of electrical and electronic products (HSLEEP), highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), lead in paint, nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials (Nanomaterials), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). It reviews how current regulatory and policy frameworks address them by specific instruments and actions, building on GCO-II findings and highlighting challenges and opportunities.

The report also addresses the 11 issues with emerging evidence of risks identified by GCO-II: arsenic, bisphenol A, cadmium, glyphosate, lead, microplastics, neonicotinoids, organotins, phthalates, PAHs and triclosan. It assesses current exposure as well as instruments and actions under current regulatory and policy frameworks, highlighting challenges and opportunities. Background information on environmental or human health effects of the issues are also provided based on existing assessments by national governments and intergovernmental institutions, to raise awareness among governments and stakeholders.

A “thought starter” on the identification of issues of concern is presented, including a review of existing approaches, a map of other current relevant initiatives, and considerations of potential areas in which future issues of concern might be identified and possible identification processes. This is followed by an overarching outlook for future international work on issues of concern.

See also Assessment Report on Issues of Concern Annexes.