In September 2023, an international resolution was passed to set up a Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). We take a look at what this is, why it is needed, how it came about, and what it may look like.
What are Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) and why is action needed?
Highly hazardous pesticides (commonly referred to as HHPs) are pesticides that cause disproportionate harm to human health and the environment.
Pesticides are products that have been designed to kill or repel insects, rodents, fungi and other organisms that may affect crops, livestock, people, infrastructure and materials. All pesticides are toxic. However, while some are relatively low risk to people, others are known to present particularly high levels of acute or chronic hazards.
This can include:
- Being acutely toxic to human – over 100,000 people die from pesticide poisoning every year.
- Contributing to long-term health conditions, such as cancer.
- Causing harm to the environment – threatening wildlife, contaminating soil and water, and destroying biodiversity.
Decisions about whether HHPs will be permitted for use in any country are made exclusively by the regulatory authorities in that country. Regulatory decisions may be influenced by international mechanisms such as Conventions, but ultimately national sovereignty prevails.
How did the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides come about?
The Global Alliance on HHPs was proposed and endorsed at the Fifth Meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in September 2023.
The conference brought together government representatives, international organisations, industry, civil society groups, and other relevant stakeholders, to establish and adopt a new Global Framework on Chemicals. Prior to the meeting, HHPs had been identified as a priority area, and a separate (though linked) target and resolution were proposed.
The target (Target A7), which was agreed by delegates, called on countries to take measures to phase out HHPs in agriculture by 2035:
‘by 2035, stakeholders have taken effective measures to phase out highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture where the risks have not been managed and where safer and affordable alternatives are available, and to promote transition to and make available those alternatives.’
The resolution (Resolution V/11), which was also agreed by delegates, was for the formation of the Global Alliance on HHPs. It was proposed by Angola, on behalf of the African Region. It called for:
‘the formation of a global alliance on highly hazardous pesticides with the goal of taking effective measures to phase out highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture where the risks have not been managed and where safer and affordable alternatives are available; and to promote transition to and make available those alternatives.’
How will the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides function?
The Global Alliance on HHPs will be a voluntary, multi-stakeholder, multisectoral partnership. It will include all interested stakeholders, such as individual countries, civil society groups, not-for-profits, academic institutes, and industry, among others.
The Alliance will be facilitated through a number of different United Nations (UN) agencies, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) taking a leading role. The World Health Organization (WHO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Development Programme (UNDP), and International Labour Organization (ILO) are all also involved.
The Alliance aims to support all interested stakeholders who can join as members by providing a platform for stakeholder dialogue and information sharing. The outputs of the Alliance will be aimed at supporting informed decision making on the part of national regulators.
What does the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides hope to achieve?
The Global Alliance on HHPs, as proposed by the African Region and endorsed at ICCM5, is requested to:
Develop an action plan with clear targets and milestones for progress, developed in consultation with stakeholders that builds on the document produced by FAO/WHO/UNEP titled ‘Initial considerations and elements of an action plan on highly hazardous pesticides’ to:
- raise awareness of the human health and environmental impacts of HHPs;
- identify and promote safer alternatives;
- share examples of countries having successfully phased out HHPs;
- support Lower and Middle-Income Countries in their efforts to strengthen national regulatory frameworks;
- mobilize support for farmers and agricultural workers in their transition from the use of HHPs and;
- support the agrifood supply chain in a transition from HHPs to safer alternatives.
In short, it will be a vehicle for change, helping to ensure that the target to phase out HHPs by 2035 (or otherwise reduce risks) is met.
How will this build on existing international action on Highly Hazardous Pesticides?
In many ways, the Global Alliance on HHPs will formalise existing partnerships and international work to address the risks associated with highly hazardous pesticides.
HHPs have already been recognized as a global problem by UN organizations, including the WHO and FAO. A growing number of countries have also taken action, introducing new bans on certain pesticides due to their impact on health and the environment.
Civil society groups, not-for-profits, and academic research institutes (including the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention), have long called for evidence-based action. Pesticide regulation is now widely recognised as the most effective solution to pesticide impacts on human and environmental health.
Industry have also recognised the risks of HHPs and have started to increase production of less harmful alternatives, such as biopesticides.
The members of the Global Alliance on HHPs will aim to coordinate all this work, ensuring coherence.
What are the next steps for the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides?
Work on establishing the Global Alliance on HHPs has already begun.
Initially, this has involved the UN organizations that are specifically named on the resolution. Each of these organizations has an extensive network of member countries, research and project partners, and formal collaborators.
The Alliance must reflect the varying interests, capacities and opinions of the UN agencies and all other stakeholders. Open communication will therefore be crucial to ensure that the objectives of all stakeholders are addressed.
The Global Framework on Chemicals, under which the Alliance was established, is overseen by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP has already made HHPs a priority area, placing a responsibility on the Executive Director to support the Alliance and report back at the next UN Environment Assembly. We would therefore expect, and hope, that progress on the Alliance to be reported at this meeting.
We have no doubt that, once established, the Global Alliance on HHPs will play an important role in helping to address and eliminate the harms from these extremely dangerous pesticides.
We look forward to working with our international partners to ensure its success.
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