strategy
Reducing industrial pollution
Synonyms:
Eliminating industrial pollution Context:
Industry is the world's major polluter, responsible for about 90% of the sulphur oxides (SOx), 50% of the CO2 and hydrocarbons, and up to 40% of the nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter that humanity releases into the environment. Worldwide, industry generates over 2,000 million tonnes of solid wastes and 338 million tonnes of hazardous wastes every year. The bulk of these is produced in the OECD countries. For many years such industrial wastes have been released into the environment in quantity and without treatment due to economic considerations, but tighter controls in recent years have encouraged or ensured waste recycling, and appropriate management to reduce their environmental impacts.This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.
Implementation:
A greening of industry is taking place as the traditional industrial model of producing product plus waste for disposal is gradually being transformed into a more integrated "industry ecosystem" model which consumes the minimum of energy and materials, generates the minimum of wastes and uses the effluents of one process as the raw materials for another. The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Industry and Environment Programme Activity Centre promotes industrial greening. UNEP and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) convened the first World Industry Conference on Environmental Management (WICEM I), which committed itself to develop and promote environmental management in industry. In 1991, WICEM II issued the [Business Charter on Sustainable Development], which is being adopted by companies worldwide. UNEP's Cleaner Production Programme promotes and disseminates information on low-waste technologies.Capital investment in pollution abatement accounted for about 5% of total industrial investment in Germany, Japan and the USA in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Often up to 60-80% of pollution can be eliminated with only small increases in costs. Thereafter, additional cost rises sharply as the degree of abatement is increased.
Narrower:
Reducing industrial emissionsRegistering industrial emissionsReducing industrial water pollutionIntroducing pollution-based tax systemReducing pollution from energy generationReducing pollution hazards of industrial researchReducing pollution hazards of industrial research Facilitates:
Reducing air pollutionTaking occupational risksTaking occupational risksReducing adverse atmospheric effects of industrial developmentPromoting good practice in health, environment and safety management Facilitated by:
Constructing sustainablyReducing industrial wastesEnforcing air quality controlsIntroducing pollution licencesProtesting industrial pollutionImplementing voluntary environmental programmes by industryDeveloping national strategies to control transboundary air pollution Problems:
Employment at risk through elimination of industrial pollutionEnvironmental hazards constraining scientific research
Environmental hazards from timber industries
Environmental hazards of industrialization
Environmental hazards of nuclear weapons industry
Export of hazardous industries
Industrial and domestic heating emissions as air pollutants
Industrial waste water pollutants
Industrial waste water pollutants
Urban-industrial air pollution
Values:
Pollution Organizations:
International Chamber of Commerce UNEP Industry and Environment United Nations Environment Programme Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level UNEP-DTIE Cleaner Production Subjects:
Industry → Industry Societal Problems → Pollution
Type Classification:
D: Detailed strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
