News Chemicals & pollution action

Spotlight on chemicals and pollution action

UNEP

Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.

UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste, while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity, and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.

Below are chemicals and pollution highlights from the United Nations System, from partners and from others helping to call attention to the fact that the future of humanity and our planet depends on action now. 

11 Sep 2024 14:27

Strengthening Scientists Engagement: Shaping the Future of Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention

Image of a person standing before an audience in a lecture room.

The online event Strengthening Scientists Engagement: Shaping the Future of Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention will take place on Thursday, 26 September 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST. 

This online event is part of the Road to OEWG 3.2 Event Series and organized in the framework of the Geneva Environment Network's 25th anniversary series of events aiming to explore and highlight frameworks and partnerships that strengthen environmental governance.

Register to attend.

More on the event.

Live stream link.

09 Sep 2024 18:27

Explore the Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx)

Blue card with text on it

In the lead-up to this year’s International Day of Clean Air and blue skies, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) developed and launched an Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx) designed to help air quality professionals everywhere tackle air pollution. The platform is a one-stop-shop that provides the latest air quality management guidance and tools proposed to meet WHO Air Quality Guidelines interim targets.

The platform was developed in response to a resolution passed at this year’s United Nations Environment Assembly, where countries called for increased global cooperation to tackle air pollution by sharing best practices, tools, data, and information. 

Explore AQMx.

07 Sep 2024 12:36

Inger Andersen's video message for International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2024

Although a human right, clean air is still denied to 99% of the world’s population. Ahead of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen calls for urgent global action to tackle air pollution, set strong standards, and invest in solutions for clean air.

29 Aug 2024 12:19

7 September is #WorldCleanAirDay

“Invest in #CleanAirNow” is the theme of this year’s International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, held annually on 7 September. The theme underscores the economic, environmental and health benefits of investing in clean air. 

Register your event and join the global celebration.

26 Aug 2024 22:13

The Value of the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund - G20 Side Event

When: 2 September 2024, 13h30-15h00 (BRT)

Where: Natal, Brazil, with possibility for virtual participation. 

Register to receive event joining link. 

The side-event organized by the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR (QJS) aims to showcase the cthe atalytic power and impact of the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund (AMR MPTF) through country examples of One Health response to AMR. Participants will gain insights into how the Fund is supporting and facilitating the implementation of multi-sectoral AMR National Action Plans. 

More information on the event.

A poster with text on it

14 Aug 2024 20:12

SEA of Solutions 2024: Delivering actions to end plastic pollution

Image of the sea

When: 18-20 September

Where: Bangkok, Thailand

SEA of Solutions (SoS) is a flagship partnerships event towards solving plastic pollution at source. The event aims to facilitate collaboration among solution seekers and providers to catalyze actions and innovations towards circularity in the plastic value chain. 

With the international community negotiating an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of this year, SoS 2024 offers a crucial platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge and build partnerships in the intersessional period ahead of INC-5.

Registration and more info.

09 Aug 2024 10:32

Engaging Youth, Shaping a Zero Waste Future: Launch of the GWMO 2024 Youth Summary

An image of bottles with a text overlay

The English version of the Youth Summary of the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 (GWMO) will be launched on 12 August 2024 in a virtual event from 2pm - 3:15pm (UTC). 

This event will provide a platform to showcase youth actions and leadership in waste management, raise awareness about the waste pollution crisis, and draw inspiration for actionable solutions. As part of the event, there will be a panel discussion titled “Youth Actions for Sustainable Solutions to Beat Waste Pollution”

The Youth Summary of the GWMO 2024 aims to build the capacity and understanding of young people by providing comprehensive insights into the waste pollution crisis, its potential solutions, and the dire scenarios if no action is taken.

More about the event.

Register for the event on Zoom.

01 Aug 2024 16:20

Earth Overshoot Day 2024 is on 1 August

Illustration of globes and plates
Image: Global Footprint Network

This year, 1 August is Earth Overshoot Day. Unfortunately, that means humanity’s demand for ecological resources this year has exceeded what Earth can regenerate.

Explore resources on sustainable consumption and production.

29 Jul 2024 14:18

Apply for the Global AMR Media Awards 2024

A golden shield with text
Image: GAMA

The Global AMR Media Awards - hosted by Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA) - seek to acknowledge and honour journalists and other media actors who have put the spotlight on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

The awards are open to journalists and media actors worldwide who are making outstanding contributions in raising awareness on AMR and promoting responsible journalism through their science- and evidence-based investigative reports, people-centred and rights-based news reports, feature stories, opinion pieces, blog posts, photo stories, or other forms of impactful communications.

Submissions published or broadcast between 15 May 2024 and 15 October 2024 are eligible.

See full eligibility, criteria, and application details.

23 Jul 2024 16:27

Latin America and the Caribbean launch first regional eco-labeling programme

A photo of fresh vegetables at a market
Photo: Pixabay

The Environmental Alliance of America hosts the first regional eco-labeling programme, backed by regulatory, standardization, and accreditation bodies. The initiative – supported by UNEP through funding from Germany - aims to drive sustainable trade and enable better-informed consumer choices for more than 450 million people. 

“This initiative is crucial for connecting with producers and consumers about the environmental impact of the products they buy through clear and reliable information. Our collective effort to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution heavily depends on changing production practices and consumer behaviors,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the Industry and Economy Division at UNEP. “The Alliance addresses a crucial gap, empowering consumers, businesses, and public procurement actors to make better-informed decisions across high-impact product categories, ranging from food to air conditioners and plastic products.”

More on this.