Sub-Regional workshop on enhancing national cooperation and coordination for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Bamako conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the ECOWAS region - Seminar on sound management of used lead acid batteries (ULAB)

Synergies at national level among the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Bamako conventions should contribute and enhance a common national approach and understanding on chemicals and waste- related issues so that strategies are streamlined and therefore provide parties with the necessary elements for the coordinated implementation of the conventions. In this way, the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the UNEP’s DTIE Chemicals and Waste Branch and DELC including the interim secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the secretariat of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, together with many others partners coordinated their efforts to ensure that the chemicals and wastes management issues were integrated into relevant SDGs and associated targets. To effectively implement the comprehensive and integrated nature of the SDGs as they relate to chemicals and wastes, the global community needs to move beyond minimizing the adverse effects of toxic chemicals and stockpiles to human health and ecosystems. A circular and life-cycle approach for Sustainable Consumption and Production, and a proactive framework to address related environment and health issues, coupled with measures to advance a green economy and sustainable chemistry at all levels is needed to support the effective implementation of the SDGs. Equally important, we need to promote mainstreaming of chemicals and hazardous waste management into national environment, public health, social and economic policies and legislations. Lead is a cumulative toxicant particularly hazardous to young children and pregnant women. No safe level of lead exposure has been established. Improper recycling of used lead-acid batteries is a major route of lead exposure in Africa, especially for children.