Chemicals Management Forum San Antonio, Texas May 15-16, 2012

1. Chemicals management indicators in the movement toward sustainable cities in Mexico Dr. Leonora Rojas-Bracho/National Institute of Ecology of Mexico Chemicals Management Forum San Antonio, Texas May 15-16, 2012 Commission for Environmental Cooperation

2. Sustainable cities project • A new initiative is being undertaken in Mexico aimed at leading medium-sized cities toward sustainability • Indicators related to chemicals management are being developed to measure compliance with the current regulation and the elimination of non-essential uses and the reduction of releases of hazardous substances

3. Overall objective To direct the environmental performance of Mexican cities toward environmental sustainability, through development of a set of indicators Environmental performance Environmentalsustainability Themovementtowardredesign of thewaysusedtomeetsociety’sneeds, whichtakesintoconsiderationthelong-termcapacity of theenvironmentaltowithstandthe load placed onit. Themeasurableresults of theactionsundertaken in a citytoprotect and promotecaringfortheenvironment, and toprevent, reduce and mitigatethe adverse effectthat human settlements, productiveactivities and servicesexertuponit, taking as thepoint of referencethecity’spolicies, regulations, objectives and environmentalgoals.

4. Project overview • Our vision of an environmentally sustainable city is that in which its infrastructure and processes have been redesigned to meet society's needs within the long-term carrying capacity of the environment. • Our aim is to produce a comprehensive set of indicators that serve to evaluate the environmental performance of a medium-sized city and set environmental sustainability goals for the short, medium and long terms.

5. Vision of the indicators Vision: To minimize the use and release of the chemical substances, the risks on the environment and health from which have been documented, until their elimination or substitution by other safer technologies or substances • Indicators are focused on the environmentally-appropriate management of • chemical substances in industrial facilities . Indicators cover two phases: • 1st Phase, with short- and medium-term goals: • Addressed to compliance with the legal framework in effect and the non-regulatory instruments • Formulated on the basis of existing information • 2nd Phase, with medium- and long-term goals: • Promotion and application of BAT/BEP as a path forward to eco-efficiency Eliminate non-essential uses and minimizethereleasetotheenvironment of chemicalsubstancesthatrepresentanunacceptableriskto human health and theenvironment Policy direction: 5

6. Substances subject to Mexican PRTR reporting

7. Indicator: Substitution of non-essential uses of RETC substances Objective: Measure the elimination of non-essential uses of RETC substances by the substitution for safer substances. Policy direction: It is expected a gradual decrease of non-essential uses of chemicals listed in the Mexican Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (RETC), included the Persistent Organic Pollutants listed in the Stockholm Convention.

8. Indicator: Reduction of releases of RETC substances Objective: Measure the reduction of releases of RETC substances to the environment Policy direction: It is foreseen to reduce the releases of RETC substances through the implementation of BAT/BEP implementation in order to protect human health and the environment 8

9. Limitations on the chemical substances management • Few precedents regarding management of chemical substances in sustainable cities around the world. Not explicit • Regulation of chemicals is limited in Mexico • There is no registry in Mexico for chemical substances used in industry • Limited information. We are currently working on the first chemicals inventory, with a 2009 base year, to be published in 2012

10. Initial city for project application Aguascalientes Metropolitan Area (AMA) • Three municipalities in a single metropolitan area • Population: The population of the state is 1,200,000 inhabitants, of which 80% is concentrated in the AMA. • The Aguascalientes State government’s “Green Agenda”

11. Levels of participation in the project • Federal, State and Municipal governments • In the first phase we are working with secondary information • Private sector • Will get incorporated into the project through a workshop with the sectors during the initial phase, and • Will participate in generating information and the strategy for the second phase • Social sector • Will get incorporated into the project through a workshop with the sectors during the initial phase, and • Will participate in design of a second phase, for development of indicators for sustainable consumption

12. Path forward • Learn in depth the concepts and methodologies for chemicals alternatives assessments • Know international experiences on chemicals substitution • Propose a regional forum on chemicals substitution with experts of the region in the framework of the SMOC activities • Enhance research on chemicals substitution in the academy sector • Continue promoting the use of the indicators in other medium-sized cities of Mexico

13. Thank you! Merci! ¡Gracias! Three countries. One environment.