New global chemicals forum
It is understandable, that especially outside the EU such a stringent legislative package created by a single geographical area causes controversy — it has even been called a hindrance to trade. Helsinki Chemicals Forum, which was held for the first time last May, reached the conclusion that REACH alone can not be the global solution for controlling the risks associated with chemicals handling, or eliminating possible detriments of chemicals. For developing countries the concern was that the stringent chemicals legislation set by the industrial countries, may shift the most hazardous production to the less developed regions, not to mention the new global routes for most dangerous chemicals and waste.
This year’s Helsinki Chemicals Forum is the second attempt to meet some of the challenges presented by international chemicals politics. World’s leading “chemical regulators” from the United States, Australia, Canada and EU will be there, accompanied by high-level representatives from United Nations Environment Programme UNEP and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD. During the first day of the forum the attendees will also take up particular issues concerning of the world’s fastest growing economies — China, India, Brazil and a few other, smaller countries, such as Kenya and Vietnam.
Maintaining competitiveness of the chemicals industry is a central element in the development and innovativeness of the chemical sector, which should not be jeopardised unnecessarily by the legislation. The third part of the forum takes on the issue of competitiveness keeping partially in mind for instance the challenges of international chemical politics and the possibilities for preventing emerging protectionism.
Innovations in the field of chemistry will truly be needed in the near future. Ahead of us are significant environmental challenges, such as climate change and water contamination. Research in the fields of chemistry and natural sciences will be reinforced in different parts of the world and as a producer of new innovations chemicals industry will have a central role in it. The so-called “green chemistry” will emerge in the coming years as a new research emphasis, onto which HCF 2010’s fourth topic will focus on.
The keynote speakers of Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010 will be two notable people: Nobel Peace Laureate President Ahtisaari and the Nobel Chemistry Laureate Professor Crutzen.
www.helsinkichemforum.eu
(Photo: Lehtikuva / Matti Björkman)
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