Axel van Trotsenburg, the Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, addressed the Third Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability on September 5, 2024. His remarks focused on the vision of "A Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste," a concept adopted during the 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management under Germany's presidency.
"Our mission at the World Bank is to end poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet," stated van Trotsenburg. He emphasized that while chemistry has driven significant advancements, unchecked chemical use and pollution present major challenges. The failure to control waste undermines efforts to reduce poverty.
Van Trotsenburg highlighted lead pollution as a significant issue, citing World Bank research estimating that 5.5 million people die prematurely each year due to lead poisoning-related health conditions. In low- and middle-income countries, children under five lose an average of six IQ points because of lead exposure, impacting their future productivity and economic growth.
"We are committed to working in partnership towards a future free of lead poisoning," he said. Van Trotsenburg advocated for increased capacity to test and identify pollution hotspots and stressed the importance of eliminating polluting chemicals from essential resources like drinking water and food.
He praised the establishment of the GFC Fund by Germany and other donors, aimed at helping governments manage dangerous chemicals better. The World Bank Group is enhancing support for governments in assessing needs, developing legal frameworks, and managing chemicals aligned with environmental standards.
Van Trotsenburg called for a paradigm shift towards sustainable chemistry through partnerships among academic experts, regulatory authorities, and innovative businesses. "We need safer chemicals... Plastics are great, but not when our oceans are full of them," he remarked.
In conclusion, van Trotsenburg underscored the necessity for coalition action: "It is clear – we need a coalition for action." He expressed his full support for the forum's efforts and wished participants success in their deliberations.