role of sustainable chemistry in biosphere?
Answers
Sustainable Development Goals adopted at the UN Summit in 2015 [1] are directly related to the necessity of reducing the impact of chemicals on the components of environment. In particular, Goal 6 (“Ensure access to water and sanitation for all”) includes such targets as “improve water quality by reducing contamination, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally” and “protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.” Goal 11 (“Sustainable cities and communities”) describes the necessity of reducing “the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” Goal 15 (“Life on land”) requires ensuring “the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular, forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements”.
The impact of certain chemicals, nitrogen compounds in particular, has already exceeded evidence-based planetary boundaries and may result in disastrous consequences for humanity [2]. Though it is impossible to restrict the presence of all humanmade chemicals in the environment, it is necessary to restrict the discharge of the most hazardous chemicals to limit their impact on the biosphere [3, 4]. The estimation of the impact is of great urgency and needs to be addressed immediately.