Global Framework: A World without Harm from Chemicals

Nov 17, 2023 Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte

The Bonn Declaration on Sustainable Chemicals and Waste Management is sending a strong political signal. The international community has adopted a new global framework at the Fifth World Chemicals Conference, and high safety standards will now applied in the handling of waste and chemicals.

Back in 2002, the international community agreed on a global goal for chemicals. By 2020, the production and use of chemicals should be such that there is as little as possible risk of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. To achieve this goal, international chemicals management was established. However, there has been a lack of progress towards the 2020 target.

Under the chairmanship of Germany, the international community has now adopted a new Global Framework on Chemicals at the 5th World International Conference on Chemicals Management. Countries worldwide are committed to making the handling of chemicals safer and to phasing out the use of the most hazardous chemicals wherever possible. Business, governments, and civil society have again recognised their shared responsibility to reduce the negative impacts of the use of chemicals throughout their lifecycle and to establish a framework for the global management of chemicals.

Among other things, the framework provides for the support of around 100 countries in the introduction of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, or GHS for short. This will include providing workers and consumers with easy-to-understand danger symbols. The implementation of the framework also requires integration with other policy areas, such as occupational health and safety or agriculture. The transition to a circular economy should be actively promoted through the development of safe chemical and non-chemical alternatives and substitutes.

With the adoption of the Global Framework, the pollution crisis is now positioned as the third global crisis, alongside the climate crisis and the species extinction crisis. This is an important contribution to achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement and those of the Montreal Convention on Biological Diversity.

Press release of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (30 September 2023)