Chemicals Management ForumSan Antonio, Texas May 15-16, 2012

Chemicals management indicators in the movement toward sustainable cities in

Mexico Dr. Leonora Rojas-Bracho/National Institute of Ecology of Mexico

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Sustainable cities project

• A new initiative is being undertaken in Mexico aimed at leading medium-sized cities toward sustainability

• Indicators related to chemicals management are being developed to measure compliance with the current regulation and the elimination of non-essential uses and the reduction of releases of hazardous substances

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Overall objective

To direct the environmental performance of Mexican cities toward environmental sustainability, through development of a set of

indicators

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The measurable results of the actions undertaken in a city to protect and promote caring for the environment, and to prevent, reduce and mitigate the adverse effect that human settlements, productive activities and services exert upon it, taking as the point of reference the city’s policies, regulations, objectives and environmental goals.

Environmental performance Environmental sustainabilityThe movement toward redesign of the ways used to meet society’s needs, which takes into consideration the long-term capacity of the environmental to withstand the load placed on it.

Project overview• Our vision of an environmentally sustainable city is that in

which its infrastructure and processes have been redesigned to meet society's needs within the long-term carrying capacity of the environment.

• Our aim is to produce a comprehensive set of indicators that serve to evaluate the environmental performance of a medium-sized city and set environmental sustainability goals for the short, medium and long terms.

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Vision of the indicators

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Indicators are focused on the environmentally-appropriate management of chemical substances in industrial facilities . Indicators cover two phases:

1st Phase, with short- and medium-term goals:• Addressed to compliance with the legal framework in effect and the non-regulatory

instruments• Formulated on the basis of existing information

2nd Phase, with medium- and long-term goals:• Promotion and application of BAT/BEP as a path forward to eco-efficiency

Vision: To minimize the use and release of the chemical substances, the risks on the environment and health from which have been documented, until their elimination or substitution by other safer technologies or substances

Policy direction:

Eliminate non-essential uses and minimize the release to the environment of chemical substances that represent an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment

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Substances subject to Mexican PRTR reporting

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Indicator: Substitution of non-essential uses of RETC substances

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Objective: Measure the elimination of non-essential uses of RETC substances by the substitution for safer substances.

Policy direction:

It is expected a gradual decrease of non-essential uses of chemicals listed in the Mexican Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (RETC), included the Persistent Organic Pollutants listed in the Stockholm Convention.

Short term Medium term Long term

Non

-ess

entia

l use

s of R

ETC

subs

tanc

es

Indicator: Reduction of releases of RETC substances

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Objective: Measure the reduction of releases of RETC substances to the environment

Policy direction:

It is foreseen to reduce the releases of RETC substances through the implementation of BAT/BEP implementation in order to protect human health and the environment

Short term Medium term Long term

Rele

ases

of R

ETC

subs

tanc

es

Limitations on the chemical substances management

• Few precedents regarding management of chemical substances in sustainable cities around the world. Not explicit

• Regulation of chemicals is limited in Mexico• There is no registry in Mexico for chemical substances used in

industry• Limited information. We are currently working on the first

chemicals inventory, with a 2009 base year, to be published in 2012

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Initial city for project application

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Aguascalientes Metropolitan Area (AMA)

• Three municipalities in a single metropolitan area

• Population: The population of the state is 1,200,000 inhabitants, of which 80% is concentrated in the AMA.

• The Aguascalientes State government’s “Green Agenda”

Levels of participation in the project

• Federal, State and Municipal governments • In the first phase we are working with secondary information• Private sector• Will get incorporated into the project through a workshop with the

sectors during the initial phase, and• Will participate in generating information and the strategy for the

second phase• Social sector• Will get incorporated into the project through a workshop with the

sectors during the initial phase, and• Will participate in design of a second phase, for development of

indicators for sustainable consumption

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Path forward

• Learn in depth the concepts and methodologies for chemicals alternatives assessments

• Know international experiences on chemicals substitution • Propose a regional forum on chemicals substitution with

experts of the region in the framework of the SMOC activities

• Enhance research on chemicals substitution in the academy sector

• Continue promoting the use of the indicators in other medium-sized cities of Mexico

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Thank you! Merci!

¡Gracias!

Three countries. One environment.

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