Environment

The world is facing a triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These interconnected challenges are undermining the foundations of human well-being – clean air, safe water, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate – and threaten progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Pollution, and in particular the growing use of hazardous chemicals, is a critical but often under-recognized part of this crisis. Recent research shows that the production and release of “novel entities,” including chemicals and plastics, have exceeded safe planetary boundaries, posing serious risks to the stability of the Earth system (Persson et al., 2022). As the global chemicals market is projected to nearly double by 2030, these challenges are expected to intensify (UNEP, 2019). This underscores the urgent need for a transition towards sustainable chemistry by reducing harmful substances, improving resource efficiency, and promoting safer alternatives for all.

Women play a crucial role in this transformation and are increasingly recognized as agents of change. In many regions, women have long been responsible for agriculture and natural resource management, giving them valuable knowledge of sustainable practices such as agroecology and non-chemical alternatives. Over recent decades, international policy has shifted from viewing women as passive beneficiaries to recognizing them as active contributors to sustainable development.

Today, empowering women and girls is seen as a central key for addressing environmental challenges, including chemical pollution. Programs and initiatives are increasingly supporting women’s leadership in chemicals management – for example, by reducing harmful chemical exposure in sectors such as artisanal and small-scale mining.
Including women’s perspectives and gender expertise not only promotes equality, but also leads to more effective, inclusive, and sustainable solutions, as women often play key roles in communities and act as important multipliers of environmental protection.