Major Group: Science & Technology
With reference to Chemicals, the Scientific and Technological Community considers that the
development and use of safe, environmentally benign substances -in replacement of more
hazardous ones- should be enhanced. Governments and industry should encourage this "green
chemistry" through increased research, education and incentives.
There is a great need to increase international cooperation in the development and transfer of
technology for safe chemical substitutes, and in capacity building for their production. We have
already detailed practical measures to be taken at the international level in our intervention of
yesterday. At the national level, priority areas for action should address aspects like:
· strengthening national legislation, with international cooperation and training, on
enforcement and compliance;
· integrating chemical management into national development priorities and budgets, and
· establishing mechanisms for inter-sectoral cooperation with other countries.
Regarding Waste Management, stakeholders should enhance significantly their efforts in
maximizing the ?3Rs? of waste management, having -as an ultimate goal- a zero waste economy
of closed material and nutrient cycles. Policies and measures must include:
· the setting up and operation by national and city governments of ?integrated sustainable
waste management systems?;
· the extension of responsibility and accountability to waste producers, and
· the application of special care to the management of hazardous wastes.
Poorly designed and maintained landfills represent an ongoing challenge, even in developed
countries. Seepage of effluent, sometimes into water courses, and the escape of greenhouse gases
-such as methane - are surmountable technical problems that can be addressed with known and
available technologies.
development and use of safe, environmentally benign substances -in replacement of more
hazardous ones- should be enhanced. Governments and industry should encourage this "green
chemistry" through increased research, education and incentives.
There is a great need to increase international cooperation in the development and transfer of
technology for safe chemical substitutes, and in capacity building for their production. We have
already detailed practical measures to be taken at the international level in our intervention of
yesterday. At the national level, priority areas for action should address aspects like:
· strengthening national legislation, with international cooperation and training, on
enforcement and compliance;
· integrating chemical management into national development priorities and budgets, and
· establishing mechanisms for inter-sectoral cooperation with other countries.
Regarding Waste Management, stakeholders should enhance significantly their efforts in
maximizing the ?3Rs? of waste management, having -as an ultimate goal- a zero waste economy
of closed material and nutrient cycles. Policies and measures must include:
· the setting up and operation by national and city governments of ?integrated sustainable
waste management systems?;
· the extension of responsibility and accountability to waste producers, and
· the application of special care to the management of hazardous wastes.
Poorly designed and maintained landfills represent an ongoing challenge, even in developed
countries. Seepage of effluent, sometimes into water courses, and the escape of greenhouse gases
-such as methane - are surmountable technical problems that can be addressed with known and
available technologies.