Kemikalier och klimat - Kemikalieinspektionen

2. English Summary
On synergies and conflicts between Reduced Climate Impact and A non-toxic
Environment - A Preparatory Study
The manufacture and use of chemicals accounts for about one tenth of all
anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s chemicals are almost
exclusively made from fossil materials – leading to CO2-emissions when
degrading. Chemicals manufacture is generally energy intensive and heavily
dependent of fossil fuels. In addition, several manmade chemicals degrade
only slowly in the atmosphere, causing greenhouse effects by themselves.
The effect of such long-lived substances might in extreme cases be several
thousands times higher than that of carbon dioxide, per unit.
But chemicals are also crucial for evolving technical solutions to curb
climate change. Advanced energy technology for instance - such as
photovoltaic cells, energy storage equipment, and insulation materials –
requires high efficiency chemicals to deliver. Some of these solutions are
making use of clearly toxic chemicals - such as mercury in energy efficiency
light bulbs. Large scale climate investments in various technological
solutions might therefore lead to widespread emissions of toxic chemicals.
On the other hand, the transition from a fossil fuel based production towards
bio-based sources creates opportunities to introduce less toxic chemicals, e g
by mimicking biological processes through “white biotechnology” processes.
These aspects make it crucial to discuss chemicals production and use not
only from a toxicological perspective, but also in relation to climate change.
Questions should be raised regarding what kind of feedstock to be used, how
chemicals with GHG potential can be avoided, etc.
The relation between climate and chemicals has not been thoroughly
investigated or discussed. The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) has
therefore requested this preparatory study to be produced, to consider various
aspects of chemicals in relations to the climate issue. The report describes
both synergetic and conflicting issues. The report also suggests measures to
take the issue forward on the national (Swedish) and international arena.
Examples of synergies include the following:
– Reduced extraction of fossil materials decreases the release of toxic
compounds bound to the earth crust. One example being mercury
present in trace amounts in fossil coal. Increased energy efficiency and
transforming society to use more bio-based fuels will decrease the
release of toxic substances from fossil materials.
– Refined petroleum products, such as gasoline, contain a broad mixture of
cancerogenic and mutagenic substances. Reducing the use of gasoline
will reduce the output of health threatening chemicals, given that the
alternatives used are less toxic.
– The development of “industrial biotechnology” (which is based on
biological processes) reduces the need for fossil fuels as feedstock,
increases the yield in conventional production. Simultaneously, products
generated tend to be less toxic.
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