Financing the Sound Management of Chemicals

Governments require substantial management capabilities and infrastruc- ture in order to effectively develop, implement and enforce laws, policies and regulations governing the sound management of chemicals and wastes. However, most countries presently lack sufficient national man- agement capacity and the financial resources needed to protect human health and the environment.

A very small tax could yield significantly more annual funding than has ever been allocated for sound chemicals and wastes management

Substantial new and additional funds will be needed if there is to be a sincere global effort to achieve the sound management of chemicals and wastes. Funding from donor governments and from current revenue streams will not be sufficient to establish and sustain the programs and infrastructures that will be required to effectively protect the public’s health and the environment from chemical exposures and accidents in all countries. Securing sufficient funds on a sustainable basis will require the internalization of costs within relevant producer industries.

To learn more about how such a tax or fee would work, read the full report, available in Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. (Arabic will be available soon.)

NOTE: The English version below contains several additional annexes that provide additional information.