Chemicals and Waste

One of the biggest challenges, particularly in developing countries, is the lack of adequate scientific data to assess chemical risks and the shortage of financial and technical resources needed for effective monitoring. This makes it difficult to evaluate and control the harmful impacts of chemicals already in circulation. Agenda 21 therefore identified six critical programme areas, including international chemical risk assessments, standardized labeling systems, improved information-sharing, establishment of risk reduction programs, building national capacities for chemical management, and preventing the illegal trade of dangerous substances.

Over the years, several global commitments have strengthened this agenda. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (2002) emphasized the need to manage chemicals throughout their entire life cycle to minimize adverse effects. This commitment was reaffirmed with the adoption of the Dubai Declaration in 2006, which launched the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). Later, at the Rio+20 Summit (2012), governments again pledged to achieve sound chemical management by 2020, in line with the precautionary principle. Under the 2030 Agenda, this effort connects to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 3 (reducing illnesses from pollution), SDG 6 (improving water quality), and especially SDG 12 (ensuring sustainable production and consumption by minimizing chemical impacts).

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste represents one of the most pressing environmental threats due to its toxic, flammable, or corrosive nature. Chapter 20 of Agenda 21 underlined that proper control of hazardous waste—from its generation to its disposal—is vital for environmental protection, human health, and sustainable development. Poorly managed hazardous waste contaminates soil, groundwater, and air, leading to long-term ecological damage and severe public health risks.

The goals set in Agenda 21 include minimizing hazardous waste generation, controlling transboundary movements, and promoting international treaties such as the Basel Convention (1989) and the Bamako Convention (1991). These agreements aim to regulate or ban hazardous waste exports to vulnerable countries and ensure that wastes are treated as close to their source as possible. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and subsequent international meetings have further called for preventive measures, such as reducing waste at the source, encouraging reuse and recycling, and rehabilitating contaminated sites.

By 2004, the Ministerial Statement on Partnerships for Meeting the Global Waste Challenge urged countries to shift from reactive clean-up strategies to proactive prevention. This approach emphasizes resource efficiency, green technologies, and partnerships to tackle the global waste problem. Under SDG 12, hazardous waste management is seen as a critical pathway to reducing environmental pollution and promoting sustainable industrial practices.

Solid Waste

Solid waste, addressed in Chapter 21 of Agenda 21, covers domestic refuse, institutional and commercial waste, construction debris, and in some cases untreated sewage. Unlike hazardous waste, solid waste is generated by nearly every human activity, making its management a universal challenge. A major issue is the mixing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, which complicates disposal and increases environmental risks.

Effective solid waste management requires prioritizing waste prevention, recycling, reuse, and environmentally sound disposal technologies. For example, converting waste into energy through modern facilities can help reduce landfill dependence while providing renewable energy sources. Governments at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development recognized the urgency of addressing solid waste and called for significant improvements in municipal waste systems.

The 2030 Agenda strongly integrates solid waste management into global development goals. Under SDG 11, cities are expected to reduce their environmental impact by managing municipal waste effectively. SDG 12 includes ambitious targets such as halving per capita global food waste by 2030, reducing post-harvest losses, and substantially cutting waste generation through prevention and recycling. These targets emphasize that sustainable waste management is not only an environmental necessity but also a social and economic opportunity.

Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste is one of the most dangerous forms of waste due to its long-lasting radiological effects. Chapter 22 of Agenda 21 stresses that radioactive waste management must ensure safety at every stage, including generation, transport, storage, and disposal. The risks vary depending on the type of waste—low-level waste may pose limited risks, while high-level waste, including spent nuclear fuel, requires highly secure and long-term containment. Each year, nuclear power production adds thousands of cubic meters of radioactive waste globally, a volume that continues to increase as nuclear energy expands.

International discussions have repeatedly highlighted the need for strict regulations on the transboundary movement of radioactive waste. The World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 reinforced the importance of liability measures and international agreements to ensure that radioactive materials are handled responsibly. Safe radioactive waste management is not only about preventing accidents but also about maintaining trust in nuclear energy as a potential cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

Connecting to SDG 12, the safe and sustainable handling of radioactive waste supports responsible production and energy use, ensuring that present energy needs are met without jeopardizing the health and environment of future generations.

Chemicals and Waste under SDG 12

All four key areas—chemicals, hazardous waste, solid waste, and radioactive waste—are directly tied to Sustainable Development Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. This goal emphasizes the need to minimize waste, manage chemicals safely, recycle resources, and adopt sustainable practices across industries and cities. By focusing on prevention rather than cure, and by integrating science-based risk management, the global community can reduce pollution, protect ecosystems, and safeguard human health.

Chemicals and waste are central to today’s sustainability challenges. Proper management not only prevents harm but also encourages innovation in cleaner technologies, circular economies, and green industries. Achieving SDG 12 requires global cooperation, investment in capacity building, and strong enforcement of environmental agreements, ensuring that economic growth is achieved alongside environmental protection