Thematic Discussion On Chemicals

May 4-5, 2010

Business and industry talking points (2-3 minutes intervention)

  • The Business and Industry Major Group is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve sustainable development outcomes for chemicals.  The private sector fully endorses and supports the WSSD 2020 goal for promoting safer chemicals management worldwide.  We participate actively in the SAICM process, and believe that SAICM, as a multi-stakeholder framework, is the best equipped forum for reaching the 2020 goal.
  • SAICM has already made important progress towards the 2020 goal, although we recognize that significant work remains to be done.  SAICM embeds the lifecycle approach to chemicals management, and its core policy objectives – risk reduction, knowledge and information, governance, capacity building, and illegal traffic – have directly shaped sustainability efforts in the private sector.
  • To give some concrete examples from the chemical industry (which I am representing here today): since 2006, the industry has as part of its flagship Responsible Care and Global Product Strategy initiatives:
► Defined best practices for a base set of hazard and exposure information adequate for conducting chemical safety assessments.
► Developed a set of global product stewardship guidelines for use by member associations and companies to accelerate the implementation of their chemical management programs.
► Provided capacity building projects in a number of developing countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and in countries with economies in transition. 
► Extended the Responsible Care network to include Russia, and other countries in Eastern Europe; established a pilot project with Chinese national companies; and is exploring an initiative in the Persian Gulf region.
  • Other industry sectors are equally committed to achieving the 2020 goal.  At ICCM-2 in 2009, the International Council on Mining and Metals launched the action plan Minerals and Metals Management 2020, which charts ICMM’s implementation of SAICM.  CropLife International also supports SAICM and the FAO/WHO Code of Conduct.  As part of its effort, the industry has proactively invested in responsible use training and promoted sound chemicals management through its stewardship approach to the full lifecycle of crop protection products.
  •  The private sector has a unique role to play in promoting sustainable development.  Its products and technologies will have a major role in preserving our resources for future generations through reducing emissions, conserving energy, and developing sustainable materials, technologies, and business practices.  Business and Industry is a major contributor to green jobs and the green economy.
  • To give an example, an International Council of Chemical Associations life-cycle analysis study released in 2009 (based on independent analytical work by the consulting firm McKinsey and Associates, and validated by the Öko Institute) reveals that GHG emission savings enabled by the chemical industry are more than double the industry’s emissions, i.e. products of the chemical industry enabled GHG savings 2-3 times greater than their emissions.
  • In summary, the Business and Industry Major Group supports and is a major contributor towards the goal of promoting sustainable development in the chemicals sector.  We fully endorse the WSSD 2020 goal for safe chemicals management, and support the further strengthening of SAICM, including through adequate resourcing, to enable it to effectively monitor progress and encourage national efforts towards reaching the 2020 goal.  Our hope is that consideration of chemicals during this CSD cycle will focus on supporting SAICM in this regard.