Understanding and Advancing the International Chemicals and Waste Governance

Chemicals are essential for our modern societies, with more than 95% of all manufactured goods relying on chemistry. With its production capacity almost doubled between 2000 and 2017 to reach some 2.3 billion tonnes, the global chemical industry itself has grown into one of the most influential industrial sectors with regard to resource consumption and pollution. It is expected that the global production of chemicals will further be doubled by 2030. Together with the many ongoing and forthcoming mega trends (e.g., rapidly growing population, aging, circular economy), it poses both challenges and opportunities for chemicals and waste governance on the global, regional, national and local levels. This series of projects aim to build up scientific evidence on various aspects in order to support the advancement of the international chemicals and waste governance.