Six ways to transition to safer, more sustainable chemicals
The UN Global Framework on Chemicals provides a roadmap for investors on shifting away from harmful chemicals
Caroline Boden, Rachel Crossley and Alexandra McPherson
Chemicals play a critical role in modern life, but their pervasive use and mismanagement have led to a triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. The chemical sector is the third-largest source of industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Scientists, meanwhile, warn us that we’ve breached Earth’s thresholds for chemical pollution.
Toxic chemicals can also cause health problems from infertility to cancer to neurodevelopment disabilities in children, disproportionately impacting vulnerable and at-risk populations.
These impacts create systemic risks that threaten whole investment portfolios and the stability and health of the financial system at large.
To address these threats, governments last year created the UN Global Framework on Chemicals, also known as the GFC.