(30 November 2022)
Toxic chemicals, waste, and pollutants pose serious environmental and health consequences to all people. But due to different exposure routes and biophysical characteristics, women, men and children are impacted differently. Women often have fewer opportunities to engage and lead on relevant aspects of chemicals and waste, and gender issues are not considered during chemicals and waste planning, decision-making and research.
The webinar aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange by showcasing women-led and gender-just solutions in SIDS’ chemicals and waste management from grassroots to national and international levels in policy, practice and entrepreneurship; raise awareness and understanding on the existing knowledge and gaps in gender and chemicals and waste. The event launched the Gender Community of Practice on the Green Forum – a new collaborative space for stakeholders in the green economy.
Watch the webinar recording here.
Discussion moderated by Margaux Granat, Gender Expert, ISLANDS
Melanie Ashton, CCKM Project Manager, ISLANDS opened the webinar by underlining the ISLANDS focus on gender mainstreaming across SIDS chemicals and waste management, supported by the Programme’s gender-responsive approaches to overcome inequalities. She shared a recent experience from the Pacific region, where a testimonial was made on the everyday struggles in overcoming gender norms and stereotypes, and how small measures – like introducing a childcare to informal communities in landfill sites and extending long-term employment to women in the mining sector – can go a long way to addressing gender disparity.
Margaux Granat reiterated that gender is the key cross-cutting priority and prerequisite for meeting SDGs including chemicals and waste management, and without achieving it, none of the achievements are sustainable.
Anna Holthaus, MSP Institute, outlined why gender matters in chemicals management from three dimensions: biological, social and the potential for societal transformation. From the biological perspective, the bodily difference between men and women – e.g., reproductive systems, unique phases of life such as pregnancy and menopause – lead to varying impacts of chemicals exposure, which are not researched sufficiently. From the social perspective, the gendered roles of society and the traditional division of labor often lead to the discrepancy in men experiencing more direct and acute exposure to harmful chemicals, whereas women, indirect and gradual. Finally, Holthaus mentioned how there lies potential to generate societal transformation from integrating the gender dimension into chemicals management, as it helps us to identify challenges to ensuring public safety – such as price and lack of risk assessment – and enhance them (e.g., pre-emptively wearing protective gears tailored to varying bodily measurement).
Keima Gardiner, Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago elaborated on the leadership and commitment from international policy bodies, as well as national governments. Within the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Convention, Gardiner mentioned the growing female representation at the high-level, including the female presidencies of the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions. From the national and regional level, she mentioned the similar trend of growing female representation within the offices, as well as regional bodies like the Basel Convention Regional Training Centre for the Caribbean (BCRC Caribbean). In terms of the significance of securing such female voices in various institutional structures, she pointed out the benefits from addressing the varying impacts of chemicals and waste (created by the different occupational exposure due to gendered labor), as well as interlinkages with the other angles such as ethnic dimension and cultural considerations.
Ruth Spencer, Marine Ecosystems Protected Areas (MEPA) Trust, Antigua and Barbuda, highlighted the importance of integrating women’s voice into the local-level environmental management. Reflecting from her experience, Spencer mentioned there have been inconsistency in enforcing regulations locally – including safe and adequate uses of chemicals. In those cases, female members of the community have been at the forefront of pointing them out, addressing them, and pushing for action. Based on such a trend, she viewed the female voice as the source to strong and resilient community against adverse environmental impacts and natural disasters, as they take on the role of community stewards holding authorities accountable. Spencer conveyed the necessity of mainstreaming more female voice into the actual decision-making processes locally and nationally.
Marina Keil, Founder and Director, Samoa Recycling and Waste Management Association (SRWMA) shared her experience as a female who was able to break into the industry traditionally dominated by men. Keil noted that, she initially entered the recycling industry motivated by profit but later realized the recycling facility she operates is not an environmental champion, but rather a culprit to further pollution. She underscored the need for more thorough management of the residue from the dismantling practices. Successfully utilizing a training support provided by the Samoan Ministry of Environment, Keil shifted her approach to a more sustainable recycling practice established the first ever recycling and waste management association, both in Samoa and the Pacific. As the Association successfully became the focal point for recycling and managing hazardous and low-value waste streams such as plastics, waste oil and e-waste, the association has been replicated in other Pacific countries. From her experience, Keil highlighted the importance of providing opportunities for female leaders in the waste management sector and enhancing their capacity to devise and operationalize an impactful plan for sustainable recycling practices.
Tanya Yanuyanurua, Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF), Fiji, shared her experience on mainstreaming the rights of the marginalized groups into recycling and waste management. As the PRF advocates for increased awareness and best international practices on recycling, they choose to work with the most vulnerable members of the community, including women, individuals with disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+. This stems from the realization that there is a human element attached to waste recycling, explained Yanuyanurua. Some of the achievements include their recent workshop, during which they were able to revise the term of 'informal waste pickers' – who are individuals that collect recyclables to generate income – to the Community Pillars of Recycling (CPR). Through the workshop, CPR were provided with financial and literacy training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and food and dignity packages (during COVID-19). Further outreach and support have been given to: the youth recycling ambassadors in schools, community recycling projects whose majority (60%+) population are women and girls, and other intersectional identities around recycling and waste management.
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The Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) Programme is a $515-million, five-year initiative backed in part by the Global Environment Facility, which is providing $75 million. It supports 33 small island developing states in four regions – the Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian and Pacific oceans – to reduce and manage hazardous waste and improve chemicals management in their territories. ISLANDS is led by UNEP, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Inter-American Development Bank.