First-ever Chemicals and Waste Youth Forum Met During ICCM5

Children and young people are hurt the most and often heard the least with respect to chemicals and waste management. They are “locked into a world of waste but locked out of political processes to address it.”

To address these challenges, the first-ever youth forum on chemicals and waste sought to engage youth in the design, implementation, monitoring, follow-up, and review of chemicals and waste policies at all levels. Several panel discussions and a moderated intergenerational dialogue with youth and key decision makers took place in the margins of the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5).

Panel discussions included ‘Children, Adolescents and Their Exposure to Toxic Chemicals: Environmental Health Case Studies and Priorities" and "‘The Right to a Toxic-Free Environment for Children and All Generations".

ISLANDS recognises youth as a key stakeholders and aims to engage with young people in SIDS region on toxic chemicals and waste through the Tide Turners initiative.

UNEP welcomes new Global Framework on Chemicals

During the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) the world has agreed the Global Framework on Chemicals.

The framework is based around 28 targets that aim to improve the sound management of chemicals and waste. Governments have committed to creating, by 2030, the regulatory environment to reduce chemical pollution and implement policies to promote safer alternatives. Whereas industry has committed to managing chemicals in a way that reduces chemical pollution and adverse impacts by 2030.

The framework calls for, by 2035, a phase out of highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture where the risks have not been managed and safer alternatives are available.

This is all very welcome at ISLANDS, were we support SIDS countries to reduce and manage chemicals pollution, including highly hazardous pesticides.

Hi there ISLANDS community,

Following up Clara Mottura 's podcast recommendation below, I'd like to share another fun episode for your weekly listen.

I'm sure majority of our SIDS-based audience are already aware of the amazing work of the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

In this episode of BBC's 'The Climate Question', Mia Mottley shares her ideation behind the 'Bridgetown Agenda', through which she aims to help re-structure the architecture of global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to better fund countries - especially small island nations - with their climate action.

Against the growing number of natural disasters and the amplified impacts of rising sea levels, financial institutions should vouch for greater level of 'flexibility' and 'elbow room' for these countries. Quickest way will be scaled up funding and debt forgiveness, says Mia Mottley. She is urging these institutions to simply release billions and trillions more to boost action.

As sustainable finance for small island countries begin to branch out into the realm of climate adaptation, it will remain an important space also for tackling pollution. What chemicals and waste projects in SIDS would you like to see greater funding for? How do you think initiatives like the 'Bridgetown Agenda' can evolve to support climate, nature and pollution actions altogether, as they are inherently intertwined?

Hi ISLANDS community,
do you like listening to podcast?

I personally love them, and I think they are a great way to learn interesting things in an engaging way. If you like them too, here's a good one!

The Climate Islands Podcast is produced by our UNDP colleagues in Papua New Guinea exploring how climate change is impacting coastal communities. This episode focuses on the remarkable journey of women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kimbe Bay's blue economy.

Hosted by Dawn Thomas, this episode navigates the challenges and triumphs of these enterprising women as they chart a course towards sustainable success. Discover how a pioneering initiative is reshaping their dreams, and explore the financial hurdles they face in a male-dominated landscape.

At ISLANDS, we work to empower women, especially in the waste and chemicals sector, fostering gender equality in SIDS.

Hi ISLANDS community!

Just found this interesting article on the importance of young people’s involvement in SDG processes. The article highlights three key elements for meaningful youth engagement namely representation, inclusivity and empowerment.

It also spotlights the relevance of creating and sharing learning opportunities - which is what ISLANDS is focusing on.

ISLANDS is engaged with youth through the Tide Turners - an UNEP initiative aiming at educating and empowering young people to take action on plastic pollution. In person activities are taking place in the Caribbean and in the Pacific, and in June we have launched a mobile App to allow more people to benefit from it.

Have you tried the app yet? if not, check it out at the link below and let us know what you think!

https://www.gefislands.org/TideTurners