Title : Converging paths: Green chemistry and human rights advocacy
Abstract:
This presentation explores the interconnected discourses of green chemistry and human rights advocacy, highlighting their shared objectives and synergistic potential. Green chemistry, as a discipline, emphasizes the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, minimize waste, and conserve resources, thereby promoting environmental sustainability. Conversely, human rights advocacy focuses on protecting and promoting the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals, encompassing principles of equity, justice, and access to essential resources. The relation between green chemistry and human rights advocacy arises from their mutual pursuit of a healthier, safer, and more equitable world. Green chemistry principles inherently align with human rights imperatives by safeguarding environmental quality, enhancing public health, and fostering social justice. For instance, the development and adoption of green chemistry practices contribute to mitigating pollution-related health risks, particularly in marginalized communities disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards. Also, green chemistry initiatives can serve as catalysts for advancing human rights objectives, particularly in areas such as access to clean water, air, and food, which are fundamental to realizing the right to a healthy environment and the right to life. By promoting the development and dissemination of eco-friendly technologies and sustainable production methods, green chemistry initiatives can contribute to addressing environmental injustices and promoting equitable access to resources essential for human well-being. Therefore, human rights frameworks offer valuable insights and normative guidance for shaping the ethical dimensions of green chemistry practices. Embracing human rights principles within green chemistry endeavours ensures that environmental sustainability efforts are equitable, inclusive, and respectful of human dignity. Additionally, human rights discourse provides a compelling moral imperative for prioritizing sustainability and environmental stewardship in chemical innovation and industry practices, which means that the intersection of green chemistry and human rights advocacy offers a fertile ground for interdisciplinary collaboration and collective action towards a more sustainable and rights-respecting future, achieving environmental justice, social equity, and human well-being on a global scale.
