Philippine groups back efforts for a planet free of harm from chemicals, waste – EnviroNews

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As various sectors and stakeholders converge for the First International Conference (IC1) of the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (GFC) in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 16 to 20, public interest groups in the Philippines have signed a Common Statement expressing their commitment to building a toxics-free future.

The Common Statement, endorsed by diverse groups across the globe, was developed by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), Pesticide Action Network International (PAN), and Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF), to emphasize the importance of multisectoral, collaborative actions to achieve the objectives and targets of the GFC aimed at addressing the lifecycle of chemicals, including products and waste.

While not legally binding, the GFC serves as an overarching framework that unites governments, industry, civil society, and academia to jointly address the wide range of chemical and waste threats to public health and the environment.  It aligns with other UN forums involved in shaping global chemical policies.

“GFC’s IC1 is an important opportunity for countries to move from global commitments to concrete, measurable, and implementable actions. Addressing the harmful impacts of toxic chemicals requires a comprehensive life-cycle approach, from chemical production and use to their presence in products, human and environmental exposure, and waste,” said Chinkie Peliño-Golle, IPEN Regional Coordinator for Southeast and East Asia.

“As discussions at IC1 focus on tracking progress, accelerating action, and investing for impact, governments must prioritize prevention, strengthen regulatory measures, and ensure transparency and accountability to protect human health and the environment. We cannot afford to focus only on managing pollution after the harm has already been done,” she pointed out.

Among the groups that signed the Common Statement from the Philippines were IPEN Participating Organizations (POs) Arugaan, Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), BAN Toxics, EcoWaste Coalition, Environmental Legal Action Center (ELAC), and the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS).

Other signatories include the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH Philippines),  Bagong Silang Resource Collectors Association (BaSiRCA), Bueta Law and Consulting, Buklod Tao, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP-NCRR), Community Engagement and Sustainable Development Office, Earth Island Institute, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), Kabulig sa Kinaiyahan Resource Collectors Association (KKiRCA),  Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC), Sanlakas-Cebu, and the Young Bataeños for Environmental Advocacy Network (YBEAN).

The Common Statement highlighted the need to focus on prevention as the hallmark of all activities aimed at eliminating or reducing risks from chemicals and waste, noting the importance of regulatory action based on the precautionary principle to reverse the burden of proof and require chemical producers to demonstrate their products are not harmful throughout their lifecycles before they can be brought to market.

The Common Statement further called for collaborative action to:

• Eliminate exposures to harmful chemicals and swiftly phase out the most hazardous ones to protect human health, particularly the health of women and children, with special attention to early childhood.
• Promote human rights and implementation of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for the benefit of present and future generations, founded on access to justice.
• Ensure inclusive and meaningful participation to enable multisectoral and multistakeholder collaborations through participatory decision-making processes, public awareness, transparency on chemicals throughout their life cycle, and environmental information – all fundamental to the protection of human health and the environment.
• Protect and ensure the rights of groups in vulnerable situations, including Indigenous Peoples, fence-line and frontline communities, and others who are disproportionately affected by chemicals and waste, and support toxics-free alternatives, recognizing the vital role of traditional knowledge.
• Promote women’s leadership and the human rights of women in all their diversity, aiming for gender-just solutions in addressing chemicals and waste.

According to Peliño-Golle: “Achieving the objectives and targets of the GFC requires strong political commitment from governments, backed by adequate resources and effective national implementation. Equally important is their commitment to work meaningfully with all relevant stakeholders, particularly civil society organizations, health professionals, workers and trade unions, and communities directly affected by hazardous chemicals.”

“The participation of every stakeholder must go beyond consultation and provide genuine opportunities to influence policy development and decisions, contribute to implementation, and monitor progress. The transition towards a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste must be a collective effort grounded in prevention, protection of the environment and human rights, and accountability,” she concluded.