California s s Green Chemistry Initiative

Transcription

1 California s s Green Chemistry Initiative RCC Workshop, Washington D.C. March 5-7, Stan Phillippe, Cal/EPA - DTSC

2 Green Chemistry Textbook definition: The design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Broader interpretation: Use regulatory and market drivers to: Facilitate the ability of key actors to move toward greener chemicals, products and processes Generate the required data, information, technology

3 Links public and environmental health With new business & investment opportunities.

4 Introduction to the Green Chemistry Initiative Develop a coordinated, comprehensive strategy to: Foster the development of information on the hazards posed by chemicals Reduce exposure to dangerous substances Encourage cleaner and less polluting industrial processes Encourage greater producer product responsibility - All governed by sound science. From Cal / EPA Secretary Linda Adams memorandum, April 20 th 2007

5 Opportunities Implement green chemistry principles Shift the paradigm for chemical regulation Collaborate across agencies (including international) Invigorate a green economy in California Improve education on green chemistry and chemicals policy for scientists and the general public

6 Timeline April 2007: Green Chemistry Initiative announced June 2007: Kick off for interagency workgroups June December 2007: Workshops, symposia, stakeholder meetings Comments collected via blog and mail Options distilled/synthesized by workgroups January 2008: Phase 1 report - menu of options prepared January June 2008: Options analysis phase; stakeholder meetings June 2008: Recommendations to the Governor

7 Blog Participation By November 16, 2007, we had received extensive comments via the web Visits (Web Hits) May 160 June 7,170 July 4,307 August 4,450 September 7,054 October 12,162 November 21,839 Total Hits 57,142

8 Phase 1 Results 816 emerging options were distilled from the over 400 pages and 600 commentors,, into four categories: Moving toward a cradle to cradle framework Stimulating green chemistry Addressing toxics in products by design Addressing toxics in products by accident

9 Example Options: Green Chemistry 2-17 Establish regulatory framework that drives green chemistry through prohibitions, cost structures, etc. (i.e. disincentives for using practices that are not in agreement with green chemistry principles) Partner with UC to create an institute for sustainable manufacturing and green chemistry research Support research, development, technical assistance, entrepreneurial activity, and education in green chemistry science and technology 2-71 Enable the public to drive green chemistry by providing them with information, such as through a database with green information 2-93 Companies and industry associations should be encouraged to share best practices in regards to green chemistry and sustainability including incentives and barriers. Large companies can mentor small companies Establish a Green Chemistry Coordination Council to collect and promote the sharing of information, highlight businesses with green practices, provide assistance to businesses lacking resources, and educate consumers.

10 Current Activities Meetings of: Green Chemistry Initiative Science Advisory Panel Green Chemistry Initiative Leadership Council Stakeholder meetings Analysis of selected options Additional opportunity for input New green chemistry bills likely in legislature

11 Green Chemistry Initiative Chair-John Warner, Ph.D., President and Chief Technology Officer, The Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry of Woburn, Massachusetts Vice Chair-John Balmes,, M.D., Director, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of California San Francisco and Berkeley About two dozen of the nation s top scientists and engineers have agreed to serve on the Green Chemistry Science Advisory Panel. Guide GCI on scientific matters and provide the technical basis for the new regulatory initiative.

12 Why Green Chemistry?

13 University of California, Berkeley Hexane-induced peripheral neuropathy in the California vehicle repair industry.

14 Worker exposures to hexane: unintended consequence of perchloroethylene phase-out in California.

15 Phase-out year Rationale 1970: Stoddard solvent Fire hazard 1978: CFCs Ozone depletion 1980: Methylene chloride Carcinogen 1985: 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Ozone depletion 1990: Perchloroethylene Dioxin emissions 2002: Hexane/acetone blends Neurotoxin Next: 1-Bromopropane Repro toxin University of California, Berkeley

16 University of California, Berkeley Meanwhile, over in the Legislature

17 35 chemically-related bills in California, AB 121 (Vargas) AB 263 (Chan) AB 289 (Chan) AB 319 (Chan) AB 342 (Baca) AB 597 (Montanez) AB 623 (Aanistad) AB 639 (Aghazarian) AB 752 (Karnette) AB 815 (Lieber) AB 816 (Lieber) AB 848 (Berg) AB 908 (Chu) AB 912 (Ridley-Thomas) AB 966 (Saldana) AB 985 (Dunn) AB 990 (Lieber) AB 1125 (Pavley) AB 1337 (Ruskin) AB 1342 (Assem ESTM) AB 1344 (Assem ESTM) AB 1354 (Baca) AB 1415 (Pavley) AB 1681 (Pavley) SB 419 (Simitian) SB 432 (Simitian) SB 484 (Migden) SB 490 (Lowenthal) SB 600 (Ortiz) SB 838 (Escutia) SB 849 (Escutia) SB 982 (Sen EQ comm) SB 989 (Sen EQ comm.) SB 1067 (Kehoe) SB 1070 (Kehoe) University of California, Berkeley

18 California s Expected Population Growth, Millions = 36 million The University of California, Berkeley Source: California Dept of Finance, CA pop. trends,

19 Environmental Policy in the European Union - Cosmetics: Waste in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE): Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS): Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH): 2007 University of California, Berkeley

20 2006: Legislature Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation. University of California, Berkeley 2008: Cal/EPA Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California 127 UC faculty signatories from seven campuses.

21 Total daily California sales of chemical products alone: 644 million pounds (2,700 tankers) Total daily U.S. chemical production and importation: 42 billion pounds (623,000 tankers) Source: TSCA IUR and CA Air Resources Board

22 Global chemical production: 3% growth per year Doubling every 25 years University of California, Berkeley

23 There are problems with product stewardship

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26 Two million plastic beverage bottles are discarded every five seconds in the U.S. -- about 3% are recycled.

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30 60,000 plastic bags used every 5 seconds in the U.S.

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34 426,000 cell phones retired each day in the U.S.

35 Global Transport of Hazards 75% of U.S. electronic waste goes to Asian countries. Lianjiang River, Guiyu Province, China Photos: Basel Action Network

36 Global transport of occupational hazards

37 University of California, Berkeley

38 University of California, Berkeley Global transport of child labor.

39 University of California, Berkeley Chemicals in people

40 Chemicals in Breast Milk Source: Schecter et al Transferred to nursing infants

41 287 synthetic chemicals & pollutants detected in umbilical cord blood

42 Costs of Children s Environmental Disease in California

43 Cost of Occupational Disease in California University of California, Berkeley

44 Effective Policy Interventions Source: California Energy Commission, 2007 University of California, Berkeley

45 Green Chemistry Initiative - PHASE 2 Outline for the July 2008 Report Problem Statement The Goal Background and Process Analysis of Feasible Alternatives (using the following criteria) Legal Technical Financial Economic Institutional Scientific Our Conclusions Recommendations The preferred solution with proposed budget and legislative changes for FY

46 Please Join the Help choose among potential options: Get the Options Report Attend Stakeholder meetings Sign up for the listserv A Conversation with California Tell us about your choices among options and WHY!

47 Public Meeting Dates to Watch February 20 - San Jose March 12 - Los Angeles April 16 and 23 - locations TBD May 14 - Sacramento July 1, 2008: Report to Secretary on recommendations for Statewide framework.