GDCh

High Level Panel Discussion at ECC-8 in LisbonA key resolution from the 5th UN Environment Assembly in March 2022 supports the establishment of a comprehensive and ambitious science policy panel (SPP) on the sound management of chemicals and waste and preventing pollution.1) The Royal Society of <link href="#nadc20224133019-fig-0001">Chemistry (RSC) accompanied and triggered this process over the last few years, supported by several chemical societies, with round table discussions, especially with a related policy paper and RSC declaration to the UN.2)<figure xml:id="nadc20224133019-fig-0001"><figure><img alt="image" src="https://media.graphassets.com/cbNyg5NTSi205lJrg6Ww"><figcaption><label>Abb.1: </label>Panel discussion with Carla Seidel, Angela Wilson, Javier Garcia-Martinez, Camilla Alexander-White, Floris Rutjes, Nineta Hrastelj, Tom Welton (from left). Photo: Portuguese Chemical Society</figcaption></figure></figure>At the 8th European Chemistry Congress end of August in Lisbon Floris Rutjes and Nineta Hrastelj from EuChemS, Javier Garcia-Martinez from IUPAC, Camilla Alexander-White and Tom Welton from RSC, Carla Seidel from the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and Angela Wilson from the American Chemical Society (ACS) discussed under the title “Chemists’ contributions to the global approach for tackling pollution” how a related new intergovernmental panel should be set up. Camilla Alexander-White elucidated the development and current status in her introduction and moderated the discussion. The panel agreed that the SPP should strive for a balanced approach that considers man-made chemicals not only as a global challenge towards the sound management for chemicals and waste, but also as a key solution provider regarding climate change and circular economy.GDCh Board member Carla Seidel (BASF) pointed out that scientists in industry are just as in demand here as researchers in basic and applied research at universities and non-university research institutions. She reminded that GDCh’s main topic for 2022/2023 „Re-thinking Chemistry“ fits perfectly well into the current discussion. The utilization of science in monitoring progress, priority-setting, and policy-making throughout the life cycle of chemicals and waste should be strengthened. A science policy panel for chemicals and waste is highly supported but should meet the following criteria:Clear and distinct mandate: The mandate for any new SPP should be clear, including how a platform would complement existing science policy bodies including a future Science Policy Interface under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and other science bodies. Existing science policy bodies should be utilized where appropriate, and any new body should not duplicate existing bodies and work streams.Operate in an advisory capacity: An SPP body should not replace the decision-making authority granted to existing bodies, such as Conferences of Parties and the International Conference on Chemicals Management. For example, an SPP should not have the sole authority to determine issues of concern or action on issues of concern.Multi-stakeholder and geographically balanced representation: Any new SPP should be diverse and recognize the importance in engaging a wide range of scientists, industry experts, and policymakers. Participation on the panel needs to be open to all regions globally as well as to all sectors with established expertise.Open to stakeholder engagement: A new SPP should be open for stakeholder engagement and its work should be transparent to facilitate input from key sectors and stakeholders to better inform assessments and work.Protection of proprietary knowledge and confidential business information (CBI): SPP bodies need to have concrete strategies in place for managing confidential information and CBI. Inclusion of industry experts should not require private sector actors to share proprietary knowledge. There should be opportunities to consider research that is not published, as appropriate, but CBI provisions must be created.Panelists focused further on the importance of how the global chemical community communicates chemistry. A not wanted correlation between chemistry and waste/pollution should be avoided, instead the full potential of re-using material in a future circular economy will be in the spotlight. The group agreed that the chemical societies offering to play an active role and based on 100 years of IUPAC’s global activities excellent preconditions for setting up the new panel are given, time to act is now.Hans-Georg Weinig, Frankfurt<ul class="references" xml:id="nadc20224133019-bibl-0001" style="numbered" cited="no"><li xml:id="nadc20224133019-bib-0001">1 1) <url href="http://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-environment-assembly-concludes-14-resolutions-curb-pollution"><a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-environment-assembly-concludes-14-resolutions-curb-pollution" target="_blank">www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-environment-assembly-concludes-14-resolutions-curb-pollution</a></url></li><li xml:id="nadc20224133019-bib-0002">2 2) <url href="http://www.rsc.org/new-perspectives/sustainability/sustainable-chemicals-strategy/global-science-panel-for-chemical-pollution/"><a href="https://www.rsc.org/new-perspectives/sustainability/sustainable-chemicals-strategy/global-science-panel-for-chemical-pollution/" target="_blank">www.rsc.org/new-perspectives/sustainability/sustainable-chemicals-strategy/global-science-panel-for-chemical-pollution/</a></url></li></ul>

Meldung

Towards a UN science policy panel on chemicals and waste management

High Level Panel Discussion at ECC-8 in LisbonA key resolution from the 5th UN Environment Assembly in March 2022 supports the establishment of a comprehensive and ambitious science policy panel (SPP) on the sound management of chemicals and waste and preventing pollution.1) The Royal Society of...

Am 19. Oktober 2022 luden die im Bündnis „Wissenschaft verbindet“ zusammengeschlossenen Gesellschaften aus Physik (DPG), Geowissenschaften (DVGeo), Mathematik (DMV), Chemie (GDCh) und Biologie (VBIO) zu einem gemeinsamen Parlamentarischen Abend nach Berlin ein. Mehr als 30 Abgeordnete und Referent:innen informierten sich über die in Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften vorhandene Expertise und über aktuelle Lösungsansätze zu den derzeitigen Herausforderungen.Im Mittelpunkt standen individuelle Gespräch an <link href="#nadc20224133094-fig-0001">Thementischen aus den Bereichen „Materialien und Rohstoffe“, „Energiespeicherung und -verteilung“, „Energieerzeugung“, „Klima-Modellierung“, „Treibhausgasreduktion“ sowie „Resilienz und Nachhaltigkeit“. Viele Abgeordnete nutzten die Gelegenheit, sich aus erster Quelle zu informieren und gezielt nachzufragen. Der Gesprächseinstieg fiel nicht schwer, denn die Expertinnen und Experten stellten ihre Arbeitsbereiche anhand kreativer Exponate vor:etwa mit einer Kuh, einem Crispr-Cas-Sofakissen, kleinen Häuschen oder roten und blauen Wärmflaschen.<figure xml:id="nadc20224133094-fig-0001"><figure><img alt="image" src="https://media.graphassets.com/SG4OVzvyQTmsSYR29mTz"><figcaption><label>Abb.1: </label>GDCh-Experte Jürgen Janek, links, im Gespräch mit Joachim Ullrich, Präsident der DPG, Mitte, und dem Bundestagsabgeordneten Holger Becker, SPD. Foto: DPG/Böttcher</figcaption></figure></figure>Da an den Tischen Expertinnen und Experten aus unterschiedlichen Disziplinen vertreten waren, ergaben sich rasch spannende interdisziplinäre Dialoge. Und selbstverständlich wurden in dem einen oder anderen Gespräch auch Handlungsnotwendigkeiten für die Politik aufgezeigt: Etwa, wenn es darum geht, die Gesetzgebung in der Gentechnik an den Stand der Wissenschaft anzupassen.Die Expertinnen und Experten aus Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften zeigten Lösungsoptionen für die Herausforderungen von Klimawandel, -anpassung und Energiesicherung auf. Deutlich wurde dabei, dass es dazu interdisziplinärer Denk- und Forschungsansätze bedarf. Dies erkannten auch die Abgeordneten, die das gemeinsame Auftreten der mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Disziplinen bei einem Parlamentarischen Abend positiv bewerteten.Die GDCh wurde bei der Veranstaltung vertreten durch Claudia Felser (MPI für chemische Physik fester Stoffe, Thema Materialien und Rohstoffe) Jürgen Janek (Univ. Gießen, Thema Energiespeicherung und -verteilung), Marco Bosch (BASF, Thema Treibhausgasreduktion) und ihren Präsidenten Karsten Danielmeier (Covestro, Thema Materialien und Rohstoffe).Kerstin Elbing (VBio), Karin J. Schmitz (GDCh)

Meldung

Towards a UN science policy panel on chemicals and waste management

Überprüfung Ihres Anmeldestatus ...