The role of NGOs in promoting The role of NGOs in promoting sustainable consumption and sustainable consumption and productionproduction

Dr. Nadia Haiama-Neurohr

Senior policy officer“2nd international expert meeting on 10-year

framework of programmes for SCP”

San Jose, Costa Rica - 05 September 2005

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Greenpeace Priority AreasGreenpeace Priority Areas

International ENGO with offices in 4 countries and 2.8 million individual supporters– Climate change and renewable energy–Marine protection– Ancient forests and illegal logging– Genetically modified organisms– Toxic chemicals and products

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Greenpeace vision and political Greenpeace vision and political objectivesobjectives Toxics-free future – clean production substitution

re persistent, toxic technologies, products, materials, and wastes.

Precautionary Principle Ban industrial waste dumping and incineration at

sea Ban hazardous waste exports to developing

countries Commitments to “eliminate”, not control releases Global treaty for phasing out organohalogens

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Some AchievementsSome Achievements

Globalised Precautionary Principle (London Convention, Helsinki Convention, UNCED)

Commitments to “eliminate” (not control), (Bamako Convention, OSPAR ’92, Stockholm Convention)

Ocean dumping/incineration bans (Bamako, Waigani treaty)

Hazardous waste trade bans (Bamako, Barcelona Convention, Basel Convention, Central American agreement, and national bans)

Global chemical phase out treaty (Stockholm Convention and its key provisions)

What’s more dangerous?What’s more dangerous?

or

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EU Chemicals RegulationsEU Chemicals Regulations

EU: largest chemical producer– Large data gaps

Continued use of dangerous chemicals

Penalises innovation

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Chemicals & Toxicity DataChemicals & Toxicity Data

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Health & Environmental FateHealth & Environmental Fate

‘The widespread presence of small amounts of many chemicals… is causing increasing concern, because ... they may contribute to cancer, allergies, impacts on reproduction and the immune response system, and neurotoxic effects’. European Environment Agency

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REACH in a NutshellREACH in a Nutshell

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals

Systematic approach to deal with chemicals– Manufacturers/importers should register

chemicals– Member States should evaluate them– Commission should authorise the use of

substances of ‘very high concern’

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REACH Main FeaturesREACH Main Features

Reverse burden of proofExtend responsibility for chemicals

along the entire manufacturing chainCreate a knowledge base for

chemicalsTarget the most hazardous chemicalsDrive innovation

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Potential REACH Benefits Potential REACH Benefits

Clean up costs of PCB in EU25: €15 billion (1971-2018)

Health benefits from reducing only 0.1% in the burden of disease: €50 billion (30 years)

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Retailers and chemicalsRetailers and chemicals

“Bear a large financial burden” in trying to find out what’s in the preparations they use in their products.

“Without a trusted regulatory system, retailers have had to ‘self-regulate’ their use of chemicals.”

“the most cost-effective and the only adequate control measure should be substitution” H&M

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Water companies and chemicalsWater companies and chemicals

Water companies warn that their waste water treatment facilities are not designed to deal with a broad range of substances, many of which occur in low concentrations. Removing these is “often very difficult and, even if possible, can be a very expensive and energy-consuming option.”

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SCP OpportunitiesSCP Opportunities

Set up clear objectives, priorities, targets, timelines and monitoring systems

Improve communication and exchange of information about up-coming policies

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SCP OpportunitiesSCP Opportunities

Stimulate progressive companies to advocate for effective legislation

Increase transparency and right-to-know provisions

Get full involvement of public interest groups in decision-making

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Nadia HAIAMA-NEUROHRNadia HAIAMA-NEUROHRSenior policy officer

Tel: +32 (0)2 274 1913

Fax: +32 (0)2 274 1910

nadia.haiama@diala.greenpeace org

http://eu.greenpeace.org

http://www.greenpeace.org