Environment Ministry,
UN Environment and Dow Chemical Launch Collaborative
Pilot
Beijing, 16 September
2008 - China's Ministry of Environmental
Protection (MEP), the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and Dow Chemical (China)
Investment Company Limited (Dow) today signed
a joint project document to collaborate
on promoting chemical safety and emergency
preparedness in the chemical industry in
China.
The partnership will
support the development of the safer production
of chemicals and safety management systems
in pilot industries. It will also assist
the Ministry and relevant organizations
to improve local awareness and preparedness
for industrial environmental emergencies.
Lijun Zhang, vice minister
of MEP, said today: "We face formidable,
but reachable goals in China concerning
safety and emergency response. The chemical
industry plays a very important role in
our nation's development, and this program
will draw us closer to where we need to
be; in essence, having safer places to work
and live".
Arab Hoballah, Chief
of the Sustainable Consumption and Production
Branch of UNEP indicated that this project
will assist in building capacity in the
MEP and in the chemical industry and its
value chain and is line with UNEP's Bali
Strategic Plan on Technology Support and
Capacity Building.
"Through this demonstration
project and other relevant activities, the
experience gained will be important in supporting
further capacity development of local authorities
and broader section of the chemical industry
in China, as well as setting the basis for
a National Center for Safer Production,"
he said.
Neil Hawkins, Vice President,
Sustainability at Dow, said: "We are
excited to move forward into another multi-year
project in China, our third largest market
and an important center of global transformational
growth. Collaborating with partners like
MEP and UNEP will make a positive and lasting
impact on a wide range of people, and Chinese
society as a whole."
"In 2005, Dow sponsored
the three-year national pilot project with
the China's State Environmental Protection
Administration (now MEP). Dow also partnered
with China's State Administration of Work
Safety to launch a national demonstration
project on the safe management of hazardous
chemicals promoting a better understanding
and awareness among small- and medium-sized
enterprises. This project will be another
important contribution in setting the standard
for sustainability in China," he added.
Promoting chemical safety
and emergency preparedness in the chemical
industry in China
Expected deliverables
for the program include the development
of training material to help build capacity
with local companies, the organization of
training systems and the development of
case studies. The project will last for
two years, starting from September 16, 2008.
Notes to Editors
On the 3rd of July 2007,
UNEP signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA)
with the MEP on Disaster Preparedness and
Chemical Safety, which states that UNEP
will "jointly work with MEP (then the
State Environment Protection Administration
- SEPA) for seeking financial support to
develop workshops, demonstration projects,
seminars, training courses and other Awareness
and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local
Level (APELL) activities".
This LOA allows for
several partnerships with private sector
or donors' contribution to implement jointly
identified activities in response to safer
production challenges.
About MEP
MEP(Ministry of Environmental
Protection of the People's Republic of China),
formerly State Environmental Protection
Administration, is the nation's environmental
protection department charged with the task
of preventing and controlling environmental
pollution, protecting nature and ecology,
supervising nuclear safety, safeguarding
environmental safety, and promoting the
harmony between man and nature.
Directly under the State
Council, it is empowered and required by
law to implement environmental policies
and enforce environmental laws and regulations.
More information on MEP can be found on
www.mep.gov.cn.
About UNEP
The mission of UNEP
is to provide leadership and encourage partnership
in caring for the environment by inspiring,
informing, and enabling nations and peoples
to improve their quality of life without
compromising that of future generations.
UNEP encourages decision
makers in government, local authorities
and industry to develop and implement policies,
strategies and practices that are cleaner
and safer, make efficient use of natural
resources, ensure environmentally sound
management of chemicals, reduce pollution
and risks for humans and the environment,
enable implementation of conventions and
international agreements, and incorporate
environmental costs.
More information on UNEP can be found on
www.unep.org.
Mr. Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesman
Ms. Emily Zhang, Dow Greater China Media
Relations
