Towards a Pollution Free Planet Presentation for the EMG
Growth and the pollution paradox Pollution today is pervasive and persistent Overall, the world has achieved impressive economic growth but the overall improved well-being is accompanied by increased pollution. If consumption and production patterns continue as they are, the linear economic model of take-make-dispose will seriously burden an already polluted planet Pollution is not a new phenomenon it is largely controllable and often avoidable, but considerably neglected. Pollution can have disproportionate impacts on women and men, and particularly on the poor and the vulnerable such as the elderly, children and the disabled, affecting their rights to health, water, food, life, housing and development. Responses by governments, business and citizens to pollution exist, but they remain limited in scope and scale
Major forms of pollution and key sectoral sources identified Environmental Media AIR FRESHWATER MARINE LAND ALL Particulate Matter Black carbon Nitrogen oxides Sulphur dioxide Ozone Heavy metals Pollution Sources Waste Transport Energy Service Industry Urban Nitrates Nutrients (phosphates) Hazardous chemicals Endocrine disrupting chemicals Heavy metals Pharmaceuticals Nitrates Toxic waste (including oil, plastics) Nitrates Heavy metals Pharmaceuticals Polychlorinated biphenyls Persistent organic pollutants Perchloroethylene Tetrachloroethylene Radioactive waste E-waste, food waste; wastewater; municipal solid waste; open-burning; plastics; hazardous; construction and demolition Fuel use and supply; engine emissions; road: tyres, surface; shipping; aviation Combustion plants; fossil fuels; biomass Tourism; hospitals; water; retail Chemicals; Pharmaceuticals; Extractives; Agriculture; Forestry; Fisheries Buildings; households; mobility
MEAs and Pollution actions The Multilateral and Regional environment agreements provide a framework for time bound actions, and some include compliance related actions, monitoring and reporting. They provide for the exchange of resources and information, for the sharing of technologies and best practices, for international trade, and for promoting international partnerships on addressing pollution, including among non-state actors. Success stories exist. The Montreal Protocol being among the most successful Learning from what has worked well suggests the following: Need to strengthen the science policy- society- interface Complement multilateral and regional agreements with more voluntary initiatives Engagement of diverse actors and stakeholders early on Engagement of business and industry in solutions Integrated innovations for transitions and social safety nets, job The problem of pollution, however, is more complex than what can be resolved solely through improved and more coherent environmental governance
Gaps and challenges to addressing pollution Implementation gaps: due to lack of resources, inadequate administrative, financial, institutional and technical capacity, absence of inter-ministerial coordination and political will; Knowledge gaps: and inadequate awareness of information on the sources of pollution, the pathways of exposure, impacts and solutions; new research findings on impacts to health and ecosystems and emerging issues need to be taken into account; there is insufficient information disclosure, and a limited understanding of pollution s social and gender dimensions Infrastructure gaps: exist, for instance to monitor pollution; collect, treat and dispose of waste, wastewater and mine tailings; facilitate recycling; and improve food storage Limited leadership by financial institutions and industry, especially on pollution information disclosure, due diligence, internalization of pollution costs, pollution prevention, and green financing. Mispricing, the invisibility of ecosystem values and the externalization of pollution costs result in wastage and over-use of resources, the treatment of ecosystems as dumps and sinks for waste, and choices made without full awareness of the environmental consequences. Insufficient recognition by different actors that consumer choices have pollution
Action on Pollution can contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals
Towards a pollution-free planet is about encouraging a synergetic mix of actions and a whole system, multibeneficial policy making approach that builds directly on existing internationally agreed environmental goals, including those relating to climate change, disaster and risk reduction and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its numerous pollution-reducing targets. 5 overarching messages to achieve this goal A global compact on pollution is urgently required to make pollution prevention a priority for all and to integrate it into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and national accounts Environmental governance needs to be strengthened at all levels - with targeted actions on 'hard-hitting' pollutants through risk assessments and enhanced implementation of environmental legislation (including multilateral environmental agreements) and other environmental measures Sustainable consumption and production, through systemic approaches based on resource efficiency and lifestyle changes, has to be embraced by all and waste reduction and management must be prioritized Investment in cleaner production and consumption is required along with increased funding for pollution monitoring, infrastructure, management and control Multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations are vital for the innovation, knowledge-sharing and transdisciplinary research needed to develop technological and ecosystems- based solutions
A Framework of Actions is proposed Has both a preventive and curative slant, based on opportunity and innovations. Requires political leadership and high level champions and commitments, but with action at the local level in cities, villages, beaches, slums. Requires interminsterial coordination Needs to engage governors, mayors, civil society organizations, business leaders and the citizen at large The proposed framework for actions on pollution is centred on a dual track of action: I Targeted interventions, based on risk assessments and scientific evidence of impacts, to address: i. hard-hitting pollutants; ii. Areas of pollution (air, water, marine and coastal, land/soil) including cross-cutting categories (e.g. chemicals, waste) II System-wide transformations at the economy level toward greater resource efficiency and equity, circularity and sustainable consumption and production, and improved ecosystem resilience to support cleaner and more sustainable development The dual track of actions is guided and underpinned by the two other elements of the framework: Principles : universality, sustainability, integration, precaution and inclusiveness Enablers, or broader supporting actions, that aim to shift incentives, correct market and policy failures and address some of the gaps and issues that make pollution so pervasive and persistent. I
I. Targeted interventions: i. At hard hitting pollutants
. Targeted interventions: ii. In areas of pollution 50 Possible near term interventions on areas of pollution are suggested
II System wide Transformative Actions for change in the medium and long term TRANSFORMATIVE ACTIONS (TO SHIFT THE ECONOMY ) Finance and Investments Innovations and Technology Production and Supply chains Sectoral integration to tackle pollution at the city level Sustainable Consumption practices
Enablers (TO CORRECT MARKET & POLICY FAILURES AND FACILITATE CHANGE) Evidence-Based Decision-Making Enhanced Governance Economic Instruments Education for Change Cooperation and partnerships
Possible Next steps for the EMG to consider Clusters of actions for UN Agencies, Regional offices and other actors Strengthening and creating synergies and building new partnerships on: Behavioral change: Communication and education strategies Normative support and testing of innovative solutions: Financing and other Evidence based policy advice: regulatory and economic instruments Strengthening institutions dealing with pollution-related issues; data collection and analysis, capacity & technical assistance Promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns and associated lifestyle changes; Measuring progress and sharing knowledge.
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