29. UNEP’s Activities on Alternatives

by Ms. Agneta Sundén-Byléhn

 

Following up on the activities carried out by Sweden, UNEP is presently involved in four different activities aimed at assisting Governments and others concerned in finding potential alternatives (both chemical and non-chemical) to substitute uses or reduce releases of the twelve POPs.

  1. Developing a database on alternatives, which will allow users enter by economic sector; specific use/application; and type of alternative (biological, chemical, environmental, technological). It is only meant to constitute an information source and not set up for recommending any particular alternatives. The system will be available on the Internet based POPs-Homepage, through which users may also provide additional information and suggest other alternatives.

  2. A collection of Action Plans and Studies to Replace/Reduce Releases of POPs has been initiated and is made available also via the POPs Homepage.

  3. References to Experts will be provided with the Alternatives and Action Plans when relevant.

  4. Work to develop a Guide for the Selection of Replacements of POPs Pesticides has recently been initiated. Cooperation with International Organizations is being sought and the FAO based IPM facility has already expressed their interest in participating. The Guide is planned to be ready towards the end of the year.

 

In addition to providing these products on the Internet, it is envisaged that they be distributed in hard-copy or other forms for users which do not have Internet access.