UNEP works to address the three planetary crises of climate change, pollution and waste and biodiversity and nature loss. The pollution and waste pillar is receiving more attention due to the increasing evidence base about the adverse effects of pollutants and waste on human health and ecosystems. Pollution is attributed as a significant driver of emissions of greenhouse gases, biodiversity and nature loss and has been estimated to result in up to 9 million deaths per year. Air pollution remains one of the most studied issues with the Asia Pacific Region having an estimated 4 million people dying prematurely because of air pollution exposure. South Asia and East Asia in particular have one the highest costs from mortality and morbidity associated with PM2.5 emissions. At the same time pollution from both regulated and unregulated discharges and emissions of other pollutants in water, air and soil are now receiving more attention. For example, the evidence base is growing globally on the impacts of pesticides and herbicides, for both new and legacy chemicals on the market and the ecological consequences of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments, to mention a few.
Multilateral environment agreements in relation to pollution exist for issues such as ozone depleting chemicals, persistent organics and waste and mercury. The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world and has been in place since 2006. The objective is to ensure the sound management of chemicals to reduce environmental exposures and impacts. However, pollution is still ever present with impacts being increasingly quantified. In recognition The United Nations Environment Assembly initiated an open ended working group to establish a science-policy panel on the sound management of chemicals and waste and pollution prevention at its meeting in 2022.
UNEPs approach to the pollution and waste pillar and associated science policy work will be outlined as well as some of the current needs particularly in relation to global open accessible data and knowledge