Chemical pollution hinders the enjoyment of a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Exposure to chemical pollution is linked to a wide range of health impacts, particularly on women and children. Pollution, including pollution caused by chemicals and waste, is part of the triple planetary crisis, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss, and is a major global threat. Yet, chemicals continue to play  an important role in our lives and in society at large. This is why the sound management of chemicals and waste is of the utmost importance, in order to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals.

Within this context, the 3rd Berlin Forum convened as an opportunity for stakeholders to take stock and foster implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals: For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (GFC). The GFC was adopted in September 2023 at the High-level Segment of the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5). The Framework contains five Strategic Objectives and 28 Targets that guide stakeholders at all levels in taking action to achieve the sound management of chemicals and waste.

The aim of the 3rd Berlin Forum was to provide high-level stakeholders from diverse sectors the opportunity to take stock of the GFC one year after its adoption, as well as to galvanize political momentum for advancing its implementation. The overall goal of the Forum was to foster knowledge-sharing and strengthen global multistakeholder collaboration and action to address the global pollution crisis. Recognizing that addressing this crisis through the sound management of chemicals and waste requires stakeholder action in multiple sectors, the Forum considered various approaches to raising awareness and advancing implementation of the GFC, including:

• fostering commitment in key sectors that play an important role in achieving change;
• creating links to and engaging with other sustainable development fora;
• strengthening legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and capacities;
• transforming product value and supply chains; and
• identifying and scaling up innovative financing.

The 3rd Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability was hosted by Steffi Lemke, German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, and co-hosted by the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). It took place from 5-6 September 2024 as a high-level virtual event.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Tomilola Akanle Eni-ibukun, Ph.D.; Wangu Mwangi; and Keith Ripley. The Digital Editor was Diego Noguera. Video production by Tasha Goldberg and Felipe Ruiz. The Editor was Leila Mead.

Funding for ENB coverage of this meeting was provided by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany (BMUV).