The Burden of Toxicity: A Cross-Sectoral Examination of Chemical Pollution's Impacts on the Environment

The ChemCure Summit (6th-7th May, Amsterdam) attracted a wide network of philanthropic funders on addressing the need to lower toxic and pollution impacts to human health and the environment. Overall summit objectives: 1. To highlight the interconnected nature of environmental and health impacts caused by chemicals and chemical pollution. 2. To foster a deeper understanding of how chemical pollution in the environment directly and indirectly affects nature and human health. 3. To emphasize the need for holistic, cross-sector solutions that address both environmental and public health concerns simultaneously. In this presentation, the impact of toxicity on environmental impacts is presented. Here the emphasis that all efforts to reduce the toxic burden should address the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Examples of how this crises is interlinked is presented, and how interlinked solutions are needed. The history of the pollution crises has been a continuing pattern of recognizing planetary threats to late. The emphasis needs to be put on prevention. As an example of solutions, the concept of "Bauhaus chemistry is presented": - Design more with less- Inspiration through simplification- No waste, no waste exports.- Localized means of materials, production and recycling/reuse