Committee: United Nations Environmental Programme
Topic: Toxic Waste
Country: People’s Republic of Bangladesh
A. Hazardous waste is any chemical that is potentially harmful to the environment and the living things that surround and get exposed to it. The chemicals and waste make a significant impact on an economic and environmental level. For example, one major event that happened in the United States was when Houston’s SuperFund site had a major oil spill is contaminating the rivers in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey. This would hurt the marine life and the assets of the company. Many countries have been turned into e-waste dumping grounds for developed countries. For example in Hazaribagh, Bangladesh, was a city flourishing with fauna and flora; now many litres of waste from the tanneries flow through the housing areas there; which causes the chemicals to enter into the wells. Hazaribagh is home to around 150 tanneries with 8,000 to 12,000 workers. The government tried to get rid of the tanneries but failed since it is the main financial source for the country. Around the world , 13 tons of toxic waste is being thrown out every second and that means that more is being thrown into areas like Hazaribagh.Many cities countries such as Ghana, India, and more are facing this problem and in some cases are the victims of the hazardous waste trade.
B. The United Nations have been involved with the problem with toxic waste since before the 20th century. The UNHRC created a Special Rapporteur in the OHCHR on the topic of Hazardous Substances and Wastes. In the Commission’s resolution 1995/81 the Commission and the Human Rights Council made an order to examine the human rights aspect for the people involved with toxic waste. Also, A/RES/44/228 states that the General Assembly “Requests the Secretary-General, following the organizational session of the Preparatory Committee, to establish an appropriate ad hoc secretariat at the United Nations Office at Geneva, with a unit in New York and another unit in Nairobi, taking into account the decisions to be made by the Preparatory Committee regarding the preparatory process for the Conference and based on the principle of equitable geographic distribution” The UN has passed many resolutions to try and solve the problem and has even installed an Ad Hoc secretariat in the UN Offices.
C. Bangladesh heavily relies on acid handlers and suppliers to stabilize their economy. The industrial growth rate of Bangladesh has been growing around 6% every year from the last decade. They have been running the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper since 2005, which improves the waste management situation and also, promotes the reuse of industrial waste. The Government of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Environment and Forest implemented the National Environmental Manage Action Plan since 1995. However, although these plans were implemented, the amount of toxic waste continues to increase. The Lead Acid Battery Recycling and Management Rules implemented by the government in 2006 led to recycling the waste and was one of the few acts that have equated. One solution, is for the Governments and the UN to work together openly which would meant the the governments would have transparency on where they are dumping their e-waste. In the past, material and energy efficiency were unsustainable in developed and developing countries and that led to increasing levels of pollution the undeveloped.However, the UN did not know of where the sources were and when they found out, many countries were dishonest about where they were dumping their waste. Another solution is changing the patterns of production and consumption in the industry. Having sustainable patterns in their development process will help the citizens feel less inclined to work in the e-waste dumps. Progress has been made in the management of waste in the oceans because of people improving the conservation and management of fishing resources. Sustainable human settlements also would help decrease the amount of toxic waste because it is essential to development. By intensifying efforts to improve the conditions of the towns and cities would help eradicate it since most of the pollution occurs there. The pollution that is being released there have toxic substances and greenhouse gases which is dangerous if people consume it. Finally, a country should start off focusing on their own emissions and dumping of e-waste and enforce their own laws to fight toxic waste. Overall, the governments and the UN should be working together, changing the patterns and consumption in the industry, and enforcing laws the laws about pollution and waste in their own country principal than helping others first.