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- Alpizar, Francisco, 1974, et al.
(författare)
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Global Chemicals Outlook II. From Legacies to Innovative Solutions: Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- 2019
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- 1. The size of the global chemical industry exceeded United States dollars 5 trillion in 2017. It is projected to double by 2030. Consumption and production are rapidly increasing in emerging economies. Global supply chains, and the trade of chemicals and products, are becoming increasingly complex. 2. Driven by global megatrends, growth in chemical-intensive industry sectors (e.g. construction, agriculture, electronics) creates risks, but also opportunities to advance sustainable consumption, production and product innovation. 3. Hazardous chemicals and other pollutants (e.g. plastic waste and pharmaceutical pollutants) continue to be released in large quantities. They are ubiquitous in humans and the environment and are accumulating in material stocks and products, highlighting the need to avoid future legacies through sustainable materials management and circular business models. 4. The benefits of action to minimize adverse impacts have been estimated in the high tens of billions of United States dollars annually. The World Health Organization estimated the burden of disease from selected chemicals at 1.6 million lives in 2016 (this is likely to be an underestimate). Chemical pollution also threatens a range of ecosystem services. 5. International treaties and voluntary instruments have reduced the risks of some chemicals and wastes, but progress has been uneven and implementation gaps remain. As of 2018, more than 120 countries had not implemented the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. 6. Addressing legislation and capacity gaps in developing countries and emerging economies remains a priority. Also, resources have not matched needs. There are opportunities for new and innovative financing (e.g. through cost recovery and engagement of the financial sector). 7. Significant resources can be saved by sharing knowledge on chemical management instruments more widely, and by enhancing mutual acceptance of approaches in areas ranging from chemical hazard assessment to alternatives assessment. 8. Frontrunner companies – from chemical producers to retailers – are introducing sustainable supply chain management, full material disclosure, risk reduction beyond compliance, and human rights-based policies. However, widespread implementation of these initiatives has not yet been achieved. 9. Consumer demand, as well as green and sustainable chemistry education and innovation (e.g. though start-ups), are among the important drivers of change. They can be scaled up through enabling policies, reaping the potential benefits of chemistry innovations for sustainable development. 10. Global knowledge gaps can be filled. This can be achieved, for example, by taking steps to harmonize research protocols, considering health or environmental impact information and harm caused to set and address priorities (e.g. emerging issues), and strengthening the science-policy interface through enhanced collaboration of scientists and decision-makers.
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| 4. |
- Harring, Niklas, et al.
(författare)
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Public opinion on carbon pricing and revenue uses in East Africa
- 2024
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Climate investments and environmental reforms run a high risk of failure if acceptance is low. As African countries develop their climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, it is therefore important that governments, donors and other stakeholders have a good understanding of public support for different climate policy instruments.There is very little knowledge about acceptance of green transition in low- and middle-income countries. This study contributes new knowledge about public support for carbon taxes and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies in the three East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, where widespread poverty and corruption contribute to low trust in political institutions.
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| 5. |
- Rudén, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Framtidens kemikaliekontroll - Hantering av kombinationseffekter och gruppvis bedömning av ämnen : SOU 2019:45
- 2019
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Det är mer än 50 år sedan den första kemikalielagstiftningen på EUnivå infördes; 1967 trädde direktivet om farliga ämnen i kraft. Direktivet fastlade regler för klassificering och märkning av kemikalier baserade på deras inneboende farlighet. Under de följande decennierna tillkom fler riskbaserade regler, som också blev föregångarna till REACH-förordningen. Införandet, tillämpningen och utvecklingen av dessa nya regelverk har över tid bidragit till att minska koncentrationerna av många klassiska gifter i människor och ekosystem i Europa, vilket måste ses som en betydande framgång, och som också bekräftar nyttan av att ha en adekvat kemikalielagstiftning för att långsiktigt skydda människors hälsa och ekosystemen. Men parallellt med lagstiftningens tillkomst och utveckling har även kemikalieindustrins och samhällets användande av kemikalier utvecklats och växt i snabb takt. Enligt Eurostat används i dag mer än 200 miljoner ton farliga kemikalier per år i Europa, och fler än 22 000 olika kemikalier är registrerade bara i REACH. Föga överraskande hittar miljöövervakningen fortfarande en blandning av kemikalier i så gott som alla prover som tas från människor eller miljön. Det beror på att det typiska exponeringsscenariot har ändrats under de senaste decennierna – från lokala punktkällor med utsläpp av höga koncentrationer av ett fåtal ämnen, till en diffus exponering för en mängd komplexa och variabla blandningar av olika miljögifter. Var och en ofta i relativt låga koncentrationer. I denna rapport presenteras elva rekommendationer om hur europeisk kemikaliekontroll kan utvecklas för att bättre hantera denna komplexitet. Förslagen fokuserar på två centrala områden: 1. Riskbedömning och hantering av kemiska blandningar, i syfte att göra kemisk riskbedömning och riskhantering mer relevant för målet att skydda människors hälsa och ekosystemen. 2. Gruppvis utvärdering av kemikalier, för att underlätta identifiering av problematiska ämnen och stödja processen att byta ut farliga kemikalier mot säkrare alternativ. Kapitel 1 sammanfattar utredningens uppdrag och hur vi arbetat. Kapitel 2 innehåller en bred överblick av frågeställningarna samt förklaringar till centrala begrepp och definitioner. I kapitel 3 sammanfattas relevanta delar av svensk och europeisk kemikalielagstiftning och internationella konventioner. Den vetenskapliga bakgrunden till våra förslag beskrivs därefter i kapitlen 4 och 5. Kapitel 6 innehåller våra elva rekommendationer. Varje rekommendation inleds med en introducerande problembeskrivning. Syftet med detta är att kapitlet ska kunna läsas separat. Kapitel 7 innehåller en konsekvensanalys, och i kapitel 8 ges en översikt över våra interaktioner med avnämare. Sist i rapporten finns referenser och först en lista som förklarar de akronymer och förkortningar som förekommer i texten. Sammanfattningsvis visar vår analys att det behövs betydande förändringar och förbättringar av det nuvarande systemet för kemikaliekontroll om det ska hålla jämna steg med innovationer i kemikalieanvändningen och utvecklingen inom vetenskapen. Att regelverket utvecklas parallellt med dessa är en förutsättning för att uppnå det övergripande målet med EU:s kemikalielagstiftning att säkerställa en hög skyddsnivå för hälsa och miljö, och det svenska miljömålet att den totala exponeringen för kemiska ämnen via alla exponeringskällor inte ska vara skadlig för människor eller biologisk mångfald.
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| 6. |
- Slunge, Daniel, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of safeguarding systems for the use of pesticides within Swedish financed programmes in Tanzania
- 2015
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Increasing the agricultural productivity among small-holder farmers is an important objective of several programmes in Asia and Africa supported by Swedish development cooperation. In several of these programmes, increasing farmers’ access to agricultural inputs, including pesticides, play an important role. This study departs from a concern that paraquat and other hazardous pesticides were used by farmers participating in Swedish supported programmes in Tanzania. Based on a desk review and interviews in Tanzania and Sweden, the purpose of the present study has been to review safeguard mechanisms for the use of pesticides in three Swedish supported programmes in Tanzania and to provide input to methodological development on how Sida can contribute to responsible use of pesticides in supported programmes.
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- Slunge, Daniel, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Can Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of REDD+ Improve Forest Governance?
- 2011
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility has recently proposed the application of strategic environmental social assessment (SESA) for incorporating environmental and social considerations in the preparation of REDD+ initiatives. This paper discusses the potential contribution of SESA to REDD+ initiatives drawing on experiences from earlier attempts to large scale forestry sector reforms and a recent World Bank pilot program on strategic environmental assessment. The paper suggests that SESA can be a useful approach for strengthening institutions and governance needed for managing diverse environmental and social impacts related to REDD+. More specifically, SESA can enhance policy making and governance through raising attention to environmental and social priorities, strengthening constituencies for policy change and improving social accountability. In order for SESA to contribute to these outcomes it needs to be assured that broad national “ownership” is achieved and that it becomes part of a long-term policy learning process with repeated and sustained stakeholder interaction. Through strengthening constituencies in policy reform SESA can potentially reduce the risk of regulatory capture of REDD+ by vested interests and make institutional checks and balances more effective. An analysis of Kenya‟s process of preparing a national REDD+ strategy is used to illustrate our case in the paper.
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| 9. |
- Slunge, Daniel, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Circular Economy – a Conceptual Review and Analysis of Implications for Swedish Development Cooperation
- 2021
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Circular economy is increasingly discussed in Swedish, European and international public policy making. This report provides a review of the circular economy concept and discusses its potential implications for Swedish development cooperation. There is no standard definition of a circular economy. While it was originally perceived as primarily a strategy for reducing waste, the use of the circular economy concept is considerably broader today. An indicative example is the European circular economy action plan from 2020, which is envisioned to make a “decisive contribution to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and decoupling economic growth from resource use, while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the EU and leaving no one behind”. The Swedish action plan on circular economy from 2021 also covers a broad agenda, including product design, sustainable consumption, non-toxic and circular flows, innovation and circular business models. Resource efficiency, recycling, changes in consumption patterns and other key circular economy issues have been discussed extensively for a long time. Rather than bringing attention to entirely new issues, the circular economy agenda connects the growing climate and environmental crisis with innovation, employment and economic growth. The booming literature on circular economy is largely technically and business oriented. Most of the surprisingly optimistic macro-economic prognoses on the growth and employment creation potential of the implementation of circular economy policies are based on consultancy studies. Larger studies on social, political and other contextual factors shaping the incentives and obstacles to a more circular economy are lacking. There are relatively few studies on the challenges and opportunities that a transition to a more circular economy may bring about for low and middle-income countries. But as most supply chains are highly international, the implementation of circularity policies in EU and other large economies will have global implications. Countries with low labour cost can have a competitive advantage in disassembly, repairs and remanufacturing on the growing international market for secondary goods and materials. In agriculture, housing and transports, recent studies indicate that there may be large potential benefits from more circular approaches in developing countries. However, there are no comprehensive studies of these potential benefits and estimates are often based on smaller case studies. These potential benefits risk being outweighed by the significant health and environmental impacts associated with recycling and waste management. Such activities are often performed by poor men and women in informal employment and networks without possibilities to protect themselves from hazardous substances in used electronics and other used products and waste categories. If not managed carefully, European circular economy policies can incentivize export of secondary materials and products, which can only be recycled at high environmental and social costs to countries with less stringent environmental standards and technological capacity. The large illegal shipping of e-waste and plastic waste containing hazardous substances are worrying examples. Another risk is that a proliferation of new product standards for durability, recyclability and traceability will become trade barriers for countries with a limited capacity to adapt. Consequently, the role of trade policy and the Basel Convention on transboundary movements of hazardous wastes in relation to circular economy policies is increasingly discussed. A key issue is the development of harmonised standards and procedures to verify the quality of secondary materials and what distinguishes such materials from being classified as waste. Without such standards and procedures, it will be difficult to scale up a legal international trade in secondary materials. Circular economy also plays an increasingly important role in development cooperation. Especially the focus on circular economy in the new EU development cooperation strategy for 2021-2027, and priorities in the new NDICI instrument, will be important for Sweden and other member states as a coordinated “Team Europe” approach is promoted. Policy dialogues on circular economy pursued by the Commission with the African Union, South Africa, China, India, Colombia and other countries can also be important for the development cooperation of EU member states. The increasing use of the circular economy concept by several UN organisations, OECD and the Multilateral Development Banks also indicate that circular economy will play an important role in development cooperation policy during the coming years. Circular economy and closely related concepts are included in several of the key policy documents for Swedish development cooperation. The policy framework concludes that Sweden should contribute to “…a transformation to a resource-efficient, non-toxic, circular and bio-based economy with low emissions of greenhouse gases”. A review of Sida’s guiding documents and contributions show that Swedish supported initiatives in this area have many names and forms. So far green economy, rather than circular or biobased economy, has been the broader term used by Sida in dialogues and contributions linking environment and economic issues. Through an analysis of the Swedish development cooperation portfolio, the study finds that few contributions have been explicitly labelled as circular economy initiatives, but that many existing Swedish contributions are highly relevant for addressing real “circular economy issues” and a broader green transition. Notably, Sweden is an important financier of several international organisations and networks influencing global policy discussion on green and circular economy. While the emerging circular economy agenda has the potential to engage a broad set of actors in a dialogue on sustainable economic development, introducing new concepts also involves costs for donors and partner countries for studies, trainings, the development of action plans etc. There is a risk that too much effort is devoted to discussing the visionary aspects of a circular economy at the expense of addressing the very real health and environmental problems caused by industrial pollution and improper waste management. A way to operationalise circular economy in Swedish development cooperation would be to identify a set of priority circular economy issues. Ideally, these should be issues where there is a solid experience and knowledge among the Swedish resource base and where there is a strong demand in partner countries for collaboration. Based on the review, the following issues are proposed: •Policy instruments for pollution prevention and resource efficiency. •Non-toxic material cycles through proactive chemical management. •Social inclusion and just transition to a circular economy. •Circular business models in specific value chains. •Policy coherence on circular economy, including environment, trade, and development cooperation policy. The proposed priority issues are not new to Swedish development cooperation as there are many interesting and relevant contributions in the existing portfolio. The idea is rather to outline potential priority issues where Swedish contributions can add value to, and benefit from, the circular economy agenda.
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