Environment     

World urged to prioritize chemicals management

Xinhua, September 18, 2012

• The Rio+ 20 Summit was held in Brazil in June, 2012. [File photo]

  Countries should accelerate investments in sound chemicals management to minimize their growing threat to human and environmental health, said delegates attending an international conference on chemicals in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Monday.
  
  

  Chemical waste poses threat to health of populations and natural habitat, said government officials, civil society, industry representatives and researchers who are attending the five-day third session of the international conference on chemicals management to explore sustainable options to reduce the burden of chemical waste.

  "It is apt that the first session to be held in Africa will specifically discuss chemicals and define additional measures for reducing risks and hazards that chemicals pose to human health and the environment," Kenya's Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources Chirau Ali Mwakwere said.

  Mwakwere told delegates that the Kenyan government attaches great importance to sound management of chemicals in line with international treaties and declarations.

  "The Rio+ 20 Summit recognized sound chemicals management as critical to attainment of sustainable development, protection of human health and environment," Mwakwere remarked.

  He added the June Rio+20 Summit stressed the need for countries to initiate robust, coherent and effective regimes to anchor sound management of chemicals across all value chains.

  African countries are grappling with a rising toll of chemical waste despite having a nascent chemical manufacturing sector.

  "As you are aware, Africa does not produce the bulk of toxic chemicals and most of them are imported and transported across borders with no comprehensive control mechanism," said the minister.

   

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