The mandate given to the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) in September 2023 also includes the task of developing indicators for the objectives and targets adopted by the conference. This task is now being addressed. GFC can rely on the results of our project on indicators for future global chemicals and waste management, which was commissioned by the German Environment Agency.
The improvement of the overall sustainability of the design, production, use, and disposal of chemicals is of paramount importance, as almost all human systems are affected by the positive but also the negative impacts of chemicals. The indicators developed in this project focus on the environmental, economic, social, health, agricultural, and other aspects of managing chemicals and waste, in order to foster sustainable development and circularity. In short: The indicators combine the concept of sustainable chemistry with the requirements of sound management of chemicals and waste. The list of 23 most important indicators from the project was recently put forward into the GFC by the German representative in the working group, Dr. Christopher Blum (German Environment Agency). We are pleased that the indicators developed in this project now serve as a basis for the responsible GFC working group. We want to continue to support this important approach of the GFC and are therefore planning a scientific publication in which the indicators developed in the project will be presented in the context of the global chemical policy discussion.
The project report can be found on the UBA website in German and English.
The mandate for the Global Framework on Chemicals and the resolutions of the ICCM5 can be found here.
Information from the working group on indicators can be found here.
