As a regional leader in the development and implementation of multilateral environmental agreements on chemicals and waste, Argentina aspires to replicate the situation locally. Under current institutional arrangements, efficient coordination to manage chemicals and waste falls short of the government’s expectations. Argentina is a Party to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm conventions, in addition to the Minamata Convention. However, the provisions of each convention are managed independently, resulting in an overall lack of systematic and comprehensive mechanisms to establish cooperation, coordination and information exchange.
With funding from UN Environment’s Special Programme on Institutional Strengthening for Chemicals and Waste Management, a new directorate was created in 2017 to ensure that there is adequate personnel and infrastructure to implement the legal and technical commitments arising from the relevant conventions related to chemicals and waste management to which Argentina is a Party. The Directorate of Chemicals and Waste is tasked with promoting cooperation and coordination between the stakeholders, as well as developing a training plan, evaluating Argentina’s participation in the multilateral environmental agreements and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), and designing strategies to combat new and emerging challenges. With a newly consolidated structure, Argentina will be able to build its capacity to manage chemicals and waste in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
In addition to the Special Programme, the project is also supported by the United Nations Development Programme Country Office, the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for South America, and Argentina’s General Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship.
October 2018 project update
During its first months, the project achieved several positive results. The Directorate of Substances and Chemical Products was successfully established in March 2018 and has so far been working in with two main action lines: fulfilling international commitments by identifying weaknesses for achieving operativity for Basel, Stockholm, Rotterdam and Minamata Conventions; fostering involvement of other Ministries with clear roles and responsibilities; and designing and systematizing processes. Through this work, the Directorate achieved a sound management of chemicals by strengthening national capacities, developing relevant legislation and public policies aiming towards a correct and comprehensive management of hazardous substances and special waste.
In addition, the Special Programme project funded by UN Environment also earned the support of several governmental and non-governmental actors such as industrial associations, civil society organizations, scientific-academic organizations as well as the Ministries of Production, International Affairs, Work and Health, amongst others.
The Directorate identified the following challenges: limited access to information related to chemicals production, stock and commerce amongst private and public actors, lack of motivation for certain stakeholders to participate in national and international goals, a weak image of chemicals in the public agenda and general public interest.
With this in mind, the Special Programme has set up its work agenda for the next steps. It has designed actions to generate new mechanisms to systematize information and develop new, cost-effective and efficient mechanisms to further streamline interdisciplinary and interjurisdictional cooperation of all relevant partners and stakeholders. Furthermore, it has established the framework necessary to gain access to financial and other resources for the implementation of instruments available to the Conventions parties.
For further information please contact the Special Programme Secretariat at unepchemicalsspecialprogramme@un.org
