International Activities
- Introduction
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- G8 Ministers for Research (the Carnegie Group)
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
- American Chemical Society (ACS) Green Chemistry Institute (GCI)
- Links to Programs in Other Countries
Introduction
Over the years, EPA’s Green Chemistry Program has collaborated with a number of organizations to further its green chemistry goals internationally. The most important of these are the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the G8 Ministers for Research, and the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute.
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
At a February 1998 meeting of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Advisory Group on Risk Management, EPA proposed the Sustainable Chemistry, or Green Chemistry, Initiative to encourage fundamental breakthroughs in chemistry that prevent pollution without sacrificing performance or cost. The Advisory Group supported this initiative and delegates to a subsequent OECD Joint Meeting endorsed it. A Steering Group for the OECD Sustainable Chemistry Initiative surveyed sustainable chemistry activities OECD-wide, including government, academic and industrial activities. At a workshop in October 1998 in Venice, Italy, the Steering Group proposed the following highest-priority activities:
- Supporting and promoting the research and development;
- Recognizing sustainable chemistry accomplishments;
- isseminating related technical and event information, e.g. on the Internet;
- Developing guidance on implementing sustainable chemistry programs for OECD member countries and outreach to non-member international interests; and
- Incorporating sustainable chemistry principles into chemical education.
G8 Ministers for Research (the Carnegie Group)
During meetings in 2005, the Carnegie Group founded a research and training network on green sustainable chemistry called the International Green Network (IGN) . The Interuniversity Consortium “Chemistry for the Environment” (INCA, in Venice, Italy) was selected as the hub of the IGN. INGA and other research centers dedicate space in their institutions to IGN. The goals of IGN are to sponsor, coordinate and provide information for scientific collaborations; provide training for young chemists; and support applications of sustainable chemistry in developing nations. The Carnegie Group approved an outline of the goals and mission of IGN at a subsequent meeting.
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
In 1976, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) set up a standing committee called CHEMRAWN , short for Chemistry Research Applied to World Needs. Over the years, there have been a number of CHEMRAWN conferences and projects to advance chemical technologies that help achieve a sustainable society. In particular, CHEMRAWN XIV, held in 2001, had a theme of "Toward Environmentally Benign Processes and Products."
American Chemical Society (ACS) Green Chemistry Institute
The ACS Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) has as its mission “to advance the implementation of green chemistry principles into all aspects of the chemical enterprise.” GCI has two dozen international chapter affiliates with a variety of educational and programmatic activities.
Links to Programs in Other Countries
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Italy
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- Green Chemistry Network
- Environment, Sustainability & Energy Gateway of the Royal Society of Chemistry
- Crystal Faraday Partnership