Chemicals management and climate change

posted on: Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

by: Per Bakken, Head, Chemicals Branch, DTIE, UNEP

Chemicals are an integral part of the daily life change may alter human chemical exposure,
with over 100,000 different substances in use. which should be taken into account within
There is hardly any industry where chemical adaptive climate change strategy.
substances are not implicated and there is no
The chemicals industry is a significant, albeit not
single economic sector where chemicals do not
the biggest, user of coal, petroleum products
play an important role. While chemicals are a
and natural gas, both as a source of energy and
major contributor to national economies, their
as feedstock’s for many of its products. In this
sound management throughout their lifecycle is
context, chemical industry’s products, processes
essential in order to avoid significant risks to
and research capabilities can contribute to
human health and ecosystems along with their
conserving energy, delivering energy more
associated economic costs. Sound management
efficiently, developing renewable resources and
of chemicals is also critical in order to optimize
reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For
the operation of chemical and related
example, significant improvements have been
industries, and to develop sustainable patterns
achieved in energy efficiency within chemicals
of production.
manufacturing and production process over the
As a major energy user as well as enabler of
past decades. While its production has
energy and emissions-saving solutions in all
increased by more than 50% since 1990, its GHG
sectors of society, the chemical industry has a
emissions have fallen by more than 20%, mainly
significant role to play in mitigating climate
by switching from coal to gas powered
change. Nevertheless, accelerating climate

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facilities and in investing in combined heat and toxic metals. Increased temperatures will cause
power (CHP) plants. melting of glaciers and snow close to the poles
Chemical products themselves can enable or at high altitudes and subsequently release
significant energy savings particularly within the semi-volatile chemicals, such as persistent
housing and transport sectors. Improved organic pollutants, from these sinks/reservoirs.
heating and cooling systems, better insulation As such snow caps may become sources of
materials made from chemicals can contribute release of even banned pesticides and old
to savings and GHG reductions that outweigh chemicals…
the energy needed to produce these products.
Similarly, as the world warms, chemical use
Moreover, the chemicals industry can play a
pattern will likely change in several sectors and
central role as an agent of change and
affect human exposure levels. Pesticides may
innovation in the technological and technical
degrade more rapidly or pests may thrive in
fields and in providing future energy solutions.
warmer temperatures leading to more frequent
For example in solving the safe, efficient
use and more human exposure. Increases in
separation storage and transport of hydrogen to
vector-borne diseases anticipated with climate
overcome obstacles facing the development of
change could result in more widespread use of
fuel cells, and in providing materials resistant to
a variety of pesticides to control mosquitoes
severest weather and inputs materials for the
and other disease vectors. The change to bio-
development of wind or solar renewable
fuels and use of waste as fuels could result in
energies.
increased or new sources of chemical
Nevertheless, accelerating climate change, contamination on a large scale.
through extreme precipitation, drought and
This set of examples of interaction between
increased temperature may affect the
climate changes mitigation and adaptation
transformation and breakdown of chemicals
strategies and management of chemicals
and alter human chemical exposure. For
highlights the interconnected nature of
example, extreme precipitations, storms and
environmental challenges and responses.
floods threaten water quality by increasing
However, GHGs being chemicals, there are also
urban and agricultural run-off of industrial
direct connections. Some chemicals are several
chemicals, chemical waste, pesticides and
magnitudes more potent than carbon dioxide
fertilizers. Drought threatens water quality by
and their releases and relative importance in
concentration of non-volatile chemicals and
climate change should be kept under scrutiny.
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Progress and achievements in complying with
climate change objectives should complement
efforts to prevent further dispersion of harmful
chemicals substances and overall should not
jeopardize compliance efforts within other
ecosystem related MEAs or human health-
related internationally agreed goals.

For example, in developing a legally binding

agreement on mercury, one of the challenges to
be faced by governments involves striking a
balance between a reduction in global mercury
emissions and any unintended negative
consequences such actions may have.
Interactions with complex issues, such as
climate change, will require careful
consideration. Burning of fossil fuels (mainly
coal) is the largest single source of mercury
emissions from human activities, with power
plants being the largest source for many
countries. In many cases measures to reduce
emissions of pollutants, including mercury may
be complementary to the reduction of GHG
emissions and energy efficiency measures.
Optimizing multi-pollutant control techniques
will in most cases reduce mercury emission.

C-O2 – Protecting life from climate change

www.c-o2.org
E-mail: c-o2@c-o2.org / Phone: 317 429 4524 / 313 222 3922