Environmental and Health Impacts of Pesticides and Fertilizers and Ways of Minimizing Them: Envisioning a Chemical-safe World - Summary for Policymakers

Unlike most industrial chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers (both inorganic and organic) are deliberately released to the environment to provide specific functions. These releases create potential risks to the environment and health. Yet despite many published scientific studies, data gaps exist and consolidated knowledge about the adverse impacts of pesticides and fertilizers at the global level is lacking. To help address that gap, UNEA Resolution 3/4 requested “the Executive Director to present a report on the environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers and ways of minimizing them, given the lack of data in that regard, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant organizations by the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly”. This report was developed by UNEP in close consultation with FAO, WHO and a wide range of experts and stakeholders. The Summary for Policymakers presents the main findings of the report in a concise form, together with options for action to facilitate global policy considerations in the UNEA process.