Developing countries insist on global fund for chemicals framework

Latin American and Caribbean countries have said they will not accept a proposal for a post-2020 global chemicals framework, unless it includes a dedicated way to finance implementation. Diplomats, industry representatives and civil society organisations met in Bangkok last week to discuss whether the UN’s global voluntary programme, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (Saicm), should continue beyond its 2020 mandate, evolve or be replaced with an alternative framework. Saicm’s goal is to achieve sound chemicals management globally by 2020. "We learned the hard way that the 2020 goals were not achievable ... and we know we're not going to get anywhere if we don't have the means of implementation," said Argentina's Alejandra Acosta, speaking on behalf of the UN’s Latin American and Caribbean countries. "We won't commit again to something we already know we won't get to have." Speaking to Chemical Watch after the negotiations, Ms Acosta said Latin American countries believe Saicm failed to reach its goal because of a lack of political attention and the financial means of implementation, and that both need to be addressed in a post-2020 framework.