Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) – chemicals found in everyday consumer products, including plastics, certain pesticides, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, and construction materials, that can mimic our own hormones and interfere with the endocrine system of people and wildlife – play a role in a range of disorders: from birth defects, reproductive disorders to cancers. First formally conceptualized by Theo Colborn at the Wingspread conference in 1991, building upon environmental concerns raised since the 1960s, particularly by Rachel Carson, the body of knowledge regarding these effects has deepened significantly, revealing increasingly complex patterns of endocrine disruption.
With mounting evidence showing the threats posed by human and wildlife exposure to EDCs, global action on EDCs have also been increasing through various international instruments and processes.
🔹 Following international recommendations in 1997 by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety and the Environment Leaders of the Eight regarding the issue of EDCs, WHO, through the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), a joint programme of WHO, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), developed in 2002 a report entitled Global Assessment of the State-of-the-Science of Endocrine Disruptors. The report concluded that understanding of the effects of EDCs on wildlife and humans was incomplete and that strengthened international collaborative efforts in a number of areas were of high priority.
UNEP and WHO have been collaborating to provide State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupters in 2012.
🔹 EDCs have been identified as an issue of concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) since 2012 by the International Conference on Chemicals Management at its third session (ICCM3).
🔹 In 2015, ICCM4 invited UNEP and WHO to address the needs identified by developing countries and countries with economies in transition by generating and disseminating information on endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
🔹 In response to its commitment to the ICCM Resolutions on EDCs, in 2016, UNEP commissioned the International Panel on Chemical Pollution (IPCP) to develop a set of Three Overview Reports on EDCs in close collaboration with the UNEP Advisory Group on EDCs.
🔹 The report of the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights on the right to science, presented in 2021 to the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, provides the tools to confront the severe toxification of the planet and its people and to uphold the human rights of all people, including the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
🔹 At its resumed fifth session, in 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) through Resolution 5/7 requested the Executive Director of UNEP to, inter alia, subject to the availability of resources, and in cooperation with WHO, update the 2012 Report on State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Similarly, at its 76th session, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolution WHA76.17 requesting the Director-General to work jointly with UNEP to update the report.
🔹 The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) requires its Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment, including those that are considered to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
🔹 The recently adopted ‘Global Framework on Chemicals – For a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste’ – the multi-stakeholder agreement bringing in a variety of sectors to address the pollution crisis – presents a comprehensive plan with five strategic objectives and 28 targets to guide countries and stakeholders in jointly addressing the lifecycle of chemicals, including products and waste. At ICCM5, it was decided that all existing SAICM emerging policy issues and issues of concern, including EDCs, should transition on an interim basis to “issues of concern” as part of the Global Framework on Chemicals.
🔹 The newly established Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) will provide countries with independent, policy-relevant scientific advice on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention.
Leading experts across various fields joining the panel of this event will discuss how independent science, policy and research on EDCs can be translated to support and ground international governance to tackle exposure to EDCs, both globally and locally. Aimed at furthering global awareness and action on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, this event will also identify what measures can be taken to strengthen global governance of EDCs.
This event will be followed by a light reception.
More information: tiny.cc/GEN1Sep25
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