Overcoming challenges measuring SDG 12 progress using national registers to track chemicals in waste

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12 contains ambitions to reduce human and ecological harm from chemicals, including those in waste, but current official indicators (measurable parameters used to evaluate sustainable development conditions) do not measure variables relevant to these goals, such as impact to humans or the environment from chemicals. Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers from around the world comprise rich datasets on chemicals in industrial waste that can and should be used to measure progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 12. However, translation of these data to inform evaluation of the subsequent human and ecological impacts is impeded by gaps in assessment models. Here, data from Canada’s Pollutant Release and Transfer Register – the National Pollutant Release Inventory is used in a case study to offer perspectives on future directions to fill these gaps. The use of such Pollution Release and Transfer Registers will substantially advance the ability to quantify progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal 12 aims of sound management of chemicals in waste and, importantly, human health and ecological harm reduction.