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Ical Risks Emerging Issues UNEP YEAR BOOK 2013 UNEP Rapid change in the Arctic The extent of Arctic sea ice was at a record low in September 2012. Rapid change in the Arctic resulting from EM global warming is threatening ecosystems and providing new development opportunities – including easier ER access to oil, gas and minerals. The UNEP Year Book 2013 shows that changes in the Arctic will have GI N consequences far beyond this fragile region and require an urgent international response. G ISS UE YEAR The volume of chemicals in the world continues to grow, with a shift in production from developed to developing countries. To meet the goal of producing and using chemicals in ways that minimize significant S I N impacts on health and the environment by 2020, we need to step up efforts to reduce the use of highly toxic OUR chemicals, promote safer alternatives and build capacity for sound chemicals management. Adequate GL information for minimizing chemical risks is essential to support these efforts. OBA The UNEP Year Book series examines emerging environmental issues and policy-relevant developments. It also L EN presents the latest trends using key environmental indicators. VI RON BOOK M EMERGING ISSUES EN T Minimizing chemical risks IN OUR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT 2013 www.unep.org United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi 00100, Kenya Tel: +254-(0)20-762 1234 Fax: +254-(0)20-762 3927 Email: [email protected] web: www.unep.org United Nations Environment Programme 978-92-807-3284-9 DEW/1565/NA © 2013 United Nations Environment Programme ISBN: 978-92-807-3284-9 UNEP/GC.27/INF/2 DEW/1565/NA Disclaimers The content and views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies, or carry the endorsement of the contributory organisations or the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Reference to a commercial company or product in this publication does not imply the endorsement of UNEP. © Maps, photos, and illustrations as specified. Photo credits for front and back covers: Orange Line Media/ Shutterstock (front top), Ari N/ Shutterstock (front middle), Chepko Danil Vitalevich/ Shutterstock (front bottom), Hal Brindley/ Shutterstock (back top left), Action Sports Photography/ Shutterstock (back top right), Lawrence Hislop (back bottom) Reproduction This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from UNEP. Applications for such permission, with a statement of purpose and intent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Division of Communications and Public Information (DCPI), UNEP, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi 00100, Kenya. The use of information from this publication concerning proprietary products for publicity or advertising is not permitted. Production UNEP Division of Early Warning and Assessment United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, 00100, Kenya Tel: (+254) 20 7621234 Fax: (+254) 20 7623927 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.unep.org UNEP Year Book 2013: Emerging issues in our global environment Published: February 2013 Website: http://www.unep.org/yearbook/2013 UNEP promotes Project coordinator/editor: Tessa Goverse/UNEP Design and layout: Jinita Shah/UNON environmentally sound practices Printing: Publishing Services Section, UNON, Nairobi, ISO 10041:2004 certification. globally and in its own activities. This Distribution: SMI (Distribution Services) Ltd., United Kingdom report is printed on paper from sustainable forests including recycled fibre. The paper is Your feedback is important. Please visit us at unep.org/yearbook/2013 The UNEP Year Book 2013 and previous editions of the Year Book can be to give us your thoughts and suggestions. ordered from http://www.earthprint.com chlorine free and the inks vegetable-based. Our distribution policy aims to reduce www UNEP’s carbon footprint. UNEP YEAR BOOK EMERGING ISSUES IN OUR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT 2013 United Nations Environment Programme Table of Contents Preface iii Acronyms and Abbreviations iv Executive Summary v Year in Review: Environmental events and developments 1 Working towards sustainable development 1 Sustaining a growing population 2 Environmental pressures in an urbanizing world 3 Meeting environmental goals 6 Climate change: time to act 7 Looking ahead 12 References 13 2012 At a glance 16 2013 Calendar of events 17 The View from the Top: Searching for responses to a rapidly changing Arctic 19 Accelerated summer meltdown 19 Changes in the Arctic biosphere 23 The rush for Arctic resources 26 Environmental governance 29 The way forward 31 References 33 Reaching for the 2020 Goal: The need for better information and sound management to minimize chemical risks 37 Chemicals and their risks 37 International chemicals governance 40 Ongoing and emerging challenges 44 References 50 Key Environmental Indicators: Tracking progress towards environmental sustainability 53 Climate change and energy 53 Depletion of the ozone layer 55 Chemicals and waste 56 Natural resource use 58 Environmental governance 61 Looking ahead 62 References 64 Indicator data table 2012 65 Acknowledgements 66 Issues examined in the Year Book series 68 ii UNEP YEAR BOOK 2013 Preface The UNEP Year Book 2013 is The Year Book also focuses on the challenge of chemicals. One the 10th edition of UNEP’s study shows that out of 95 000 industrial chemicals, only 5 per series that keeps track of cent have adequate data on acute aquatic toxicity, the extent to major environmental which they build up in the environment (bioconcentration), or developments and events, how long it takes for them to break down. as well as highlighting emerging issues in our global In 2002, global leaders agreed that by the year 2020 chemicals environment. should be produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment – with The Arctic may seem a remote less than eight years to go, action on sound chemicals place for many people in management needs to be urgently stepped up to reach this goal. places like Africa or Latin America, but the A further re-emerging challenge highlighted in the 40th environmental changes occurring at accelerating rates there anniversary year of the Convention on International Trade in have profound implications for everyone, not least in respect to Endangered Species (CITES) is the increase of poaching of climate change including rising sea levels. elephants and rhinos and the related illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn. A record 668 rhinos were poached in South Africa in In 2012, unprecedented change was observed in the Arctic. 2012 alone. Summer sea ice cover reached a record low of 3.4 million km2. This was 18 per cent below the previous recorded minimum in Not all trends are negative: The Year Book underlines that there is 2007 and 50 per cent below the average in the 1980s and growing awareness of environmental issues, along with growth 1990s. in renewable energy. Nevertheless it underlines the urgency of implementing existing agreements and the outcomes of Rio+20 Over the past five years, Arctic sea ice has melted more rapidly if the world is to deliver The Future We Want. than had been projected by models and, at one point in 2012, 97 per cent of the Greenland ice sheet surface was melting. In the short term, important benefits could be gained from action on short-lived climate pollutants under the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) for which UNEP hosts the secretariat. Achim Steiner The number of CCAC members has expanded from seven to 48 United Nations Under-Secretary-General and since February 2012. Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme iii Acronyms and Abbreviations BPA bisphenol A IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature BRIICS Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa MDG Millennium Development Goal BRS Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions MEA Multilateral Environmental Agreement CBD Convention on Biological Diversity MIKE Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants CBMP Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (United CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of States) Wild Fauna and Flora NSIDC National Snow and Ice Data Center (United States) CMS Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals ODP ozone depletion potential CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development COP Conference of the Parties OW open water CSD Commission on Sustainable Development PBDEs polybrominated diphenyl ethers DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane PBT persistent, bioaccumulating and toxic substances DO dissolved oxygen PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls EEA European Environment Agency PCE perchloroethylene EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone PEFC Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification ELA Experimental Lakes Area (Canada) PM2.5
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