Toxics & pollution: forever a cinderella issue?

Part of our Gender & Climate series

WTGGW9 confirmed that Toxics & Pollution is still very much a Cinderella issue. To date it has not connected as an issue with the public and funders alike. Why?

We know that chemicals, pollutants and toxics have a pernicious, long-lasting and often initially invisible impact on health, equality, climate, environment and biodiversity. Yet, the use of synthetic chemicals is widespread, we are exposed to them in almost every product we use or consume in our daily lives. And these toxic chemicals have specific gendered and intersectional negative impacts due to a combination of biology and structural gender, racial and social inequality. Many women and people of colour are also disproportionately impacted by toxic chemicals due to workplace exposure with little or no PPE such as in hair and nail salons, and in cleaning and caring roles in the home and in the workplace.

1. How can we best frame and understand the societal, health and environmental impacts of Toxics and Pollution?
2. Why is it imperative to introduce a gender-differentiated and intersectional view into the topic of harmful chemicals and chemicals policy?
3. Does work to address Toxics and Pollution in our environment have a comms problem?
4. Over 99% of all man-made chemicals, including pesticides, are derived from fossil fuels: there are powerful forces in favour of maintaining the status quo. How can we better understand and challenge the opposition to tighter regulation and environmental protections?
5. What is needed from funders to rise to this challenge?

Our speakers:

• Helen Lynn Environmenstrual Campaign Manager and Health Adviser, WEN
• Anna Turns, Environmental Journalist & Author, Go Toxic Free: Easy and Sustainable Ways to Reduce Chemical Pollution
• Karen Joash, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, NHS
• Kate Metcalf, Co-Director, WEN