Pollution

Hazardous chemicals and waste are polluting the planet. Some chemicals like mercury and persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, travel over large distances through air, water current and in migratory species. Some POPs can remain in the human body for more than 50 years, while mercury – an element – persists in the environment forever. Plastic pollution is a growing challenge that affects every country and every person on the planet.

When used improperly or disposed of unsafely, chemicals pose significant risks for both the environment and human health. Scientists estimate that just about every person on Earth carries in their body many chemical contaminants that have an unknown impact on their well-being, including chemicals passed between pregnant women and babies.

Due to the global impact on human health and the environment, some of these highly dangerous chemicals are controlled by international law. Among the most significant of those agreements are the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. But despite advances made under these agreements, the production, use, and disposal of chemicals are rapidly increasing in developing countries and countries in economic transition. The cost of human and environmental exposure to harmful chemicals is often unrecognized but can be substantial.

The GEF is committed to helping developing countries transform how hazardous chemicals and waste are used, managed and disposed of, recognizing the direct impact the pollution has on human health and ecosystem resilience. Our funding helps support innovative techniques and practices to minimize exposure from dangerous chemicals. 

In the first two years of the eighth funding cycle, GEF funding related to the Stockholm Convention supported activity in 35 countries, including nine Least Developed Countries. Initiatives approved in this period are expected to: 
- avoid more than 1 million metric tons of plastic waste
- prevent the emissions of 25,080 metric tons of POPs and 42 grams of toxic equivalent of unintended POPs
- reduce the use of 364 metric tons of mercury
- avert more than 17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide

More and more chemicals are being produced and put into everything people consume, from cell phones to food and drinking water. At the same time, however, industry itself is beginning to shift to more sustainable “green” supply chains and manufacturing. The GEF is a catalyst for both governments and the private sector as they seek to accelerate the shift and work to eliminate or reduce harmful chemicals and waste.

GEF’s programming strategy for chemicals and waste builds on its past work in policy and priority setting, piloting technologies and techniques to build best practices, and progressively working with the private sector to help foster sound management of chemicals and waste. To achieve transformational change, GEF projects seek closer integration with the private sector and global supply chains. 

The GEF can help to convene the relevant stakeholders and function as an honest broker in facilitating the work needed to help transform the chemicals industry and related products and materials streams.