Gender and Chemicals

While policymakers are beginning to understand the important role played by the sound management of chemicals in economic and social development, it is also important to recognize the significant linkages between gender and chemicals.

A number of factors justify the importance of adopting a gender-differentiated approach to the management of chemicals. The major factors include: differences in physiological susceptibility and the resulting health effects as well as the source of exposure to toxic chemicals (workplace vs. household). The UNDP paper “Chemicals and Gender”describes the important linkages between socio-economic development, gender, and chemicals management.

Topics in Chemicals and Waste Management

Chemicals and Waste Management Overview

In Focus

Integrating sound management of chemicals into national planning

In a piece for the new edition of Planet B Magazine, Senior Technical Advisor at the UNDP Montreal Protocol and Chemicals Unit, Klaus Tyrkko, explains how integrating sound management of chemicals into national planning is key to achieving an inclusive and sustainable future. Click here to read the piece and to access the full edition.

Governments agreed to a global, legally-binding treaty to prevent emissions and releases of mercury

The newly concluded Minamata Convention should also help estimated 10-15 million people in 55 countries are engaged in artisanal and gold mining activities, producing 20-30% of the world’s gold, with another 85-90 million people indirectly dependent on this activity. A large share of these miners are women and children; with women forming about 30% of the artisanal and gold mining workforce.