Environment Focus
An environmental lens on policies for better lives
Category: Health
A global pioneer addressing water scarcity – how can Israel face other pressing environmental challenges?
by Sho Yamasaki, OECD Environment Directorate Israel is one of the world’s most arid countries, but its small open economy is fertile ground for tech-driven innovation. The country boasts the highest concentration of start-ups per capita in the world. Tech start-ups and their dynamic… Continue Reading “A global pioneer addressing water scarcity – how can Israel face other pressing environmental challenges?”
Limiting environmental impacts through unused or expired medicine
By Frithjof Laubinger, Environmental Economist, OECD Environment Directorate Pharmaceuticals are widely considered as essential for maintaining human and animal health, but many of us do not consider their impact beyond treating infections and disease. In fact, residues from medicine can become an environmental concern… Continue Reading “Limiting environmental impacts through unused or expired medicine”
Nanomaterials: tiny particles, big questions
By Kyeong Wha Chung, Hannah Thabet and Bob Diderich, OECD Environment Directorate Nanomaterials make up many of everyday products around us, whose existence relies on the ability to design, manufacture, and manipulate materials on a tiny scale that is invisible to the naked eye.… Continue Reading “Nanomaterials: tiny particles, big questions”
The green recovery: an opportunity to address inequalities?
By Enrico Botta, OECD Environment Directorate Over the past decade, inequalities in income and opportunities have increased. The income of the top 10% is over ten times larger than the bottom 10% while traditional opportunities for social mobility have withered. While official income inequality… Continue Reading “The green recovery: an opportunity to address inequalities?”
Let’s choose to challenge the climate crisis with a gender lens
By Sigita Strumskyte, Dimitra Xynou, Amelia Smith and Shanda Moorghen, OECD Environment Directorate On 8 March, the world will observe International Women’s Day under the theme #ChooseToChallenge. It is a day to recognise achievements, spread awareness and strengthen commitments to creating more inclusive societies,… Continue Reading “Let’s choose to challenge the climate crisis with a gender lens”
Regulating groups of chemicals: a cost-effective option for chemical safety
By Bob Diderich and Shanda Moorghen, OECD Environment Directorate There are currently more than 23,000 chemicals produced or imported at quantities of more than one tonne per year just in Europe. We can find them in the clothes we wear, the shampoos we use,… Continue Reading “Regulating groups of chemicals: a cost-effective option for chemical safety”
COVID-19 and the looming plastics pandemic
By Frithjof Laubinger and Nikhil Varghese, Circular Economy and Waste Team, OECD Environment Directorate During the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the city was dealing with more than 240 tons of medical waste a day, a six-fold increase over the amount being… Continue Reading “COVID-19 and the looming plastics pandemic”
Time for Nature: Is a global public health crisis what it takes to protect the planet’s biodiversity?
By Edward Perry, Policy Analyst, OECD Environment Directorate Today is World Environment Day. As countries across the globe are still reeling from the human, social and economic cost of COVID-19, dedicating today to nature might seem ill-timed. Let me tell you – it’s not.… Continue Reading “Time for Nature: Is a global public health crisis what it takes to protect the planet’s biodiversity?”
Déjà vu all over again …. Or is it? Learning from the past to green the COVID-19 recovery
By Shardul Agrawala, Head of the Environment and Economy Integration Division, OECD Environment As governments rush to commit vast sums of money to respond to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, there are growing calls to “green” these recovery packages. In a way, it’s like déjà… Continue Reading “Déjà vu all over again …. Or is it? Learning from the past to green the COVID-19 recovery”
Why is there a shortage of disinfectants during the COVID-19 crisis?
By Bob Diderich and Sylvie Poret, OECD Environment Directorate I’m sure many of you recently had the same experience I had. I went to the pharmacy in the early days of the pandemic and, before I opened my mouth, the pharmacist said “we’re out… Continue Reading “Why is there a shortage of disinfectants during the COVID-19 crisis?”
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