News & Events

Brazil: joins OECD agreement on mutual acceptance of chemical safety data

05-May-2011

Brazil has become the fourth key emerging economy to join the OECD system for the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) in the Assessment of Chemicals, ensuring that the results of non-clinical chemical safety testing done there will be accepted in all other participating countries.

QSAR Toolbox: Guidance on importing databases

03-May-2011

A guidance document for importing databases into the OECD QSAR Toolbox is now available. The QSAR Toolbox is a software application intended to be used by governments, industry and other stakeholders to fill gaps in (eco)toxicity data needed for assessing the hazards of chemicals. This new document specifically provides guidance on how users can import their own proprietary experimental data into the Toolbox and use them to fill data gaps by read-across or trend analysis.

Update of OECD Harmonised Templates

29-Apr-2011

The OECD Harmonised Templates (OHT) are standard data formats for reporting studies done on chemicals to determine their properties or effects on human health and the environment. Minor updates were recently made to 37 OHTs, based on the experience and suggestions for improvement from users implementing them in databases such as IUCLID 5.3 (managed by the European Chemical Agency).

Details of additions brought or changes made in February 2011 in these templates and associated XML files are accessible on the OHTs Webpage, “Update Overview ” link.

Green Growth and Development Workshop

28-Apr-2011

OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is organising a workshop on "Green Growth and Development" on 28 June. This one-day workshop aims to provide an interactive platform for discussion among representatives from developing countries, environmental specialist from development agencies, and invited guest speakers on the relevance of green growth to developing countries.

Les collectivités locales et les marchés du carbone : Conférence de presse et table ronde

19-Apr-2011

La direction de l'environnement de l'OCDE et CDC Climat ont tenu une conférence de presse pour présenter l'étude internationale "Les collectivités locales et les marchés du carbone" le mardi 19 avril à CDC Climat, Paris, suivie d'une table ronde sur le thème des financements innovants pour la mise en oeuvre des plans énergie-climat territoriaux. Plusieurs collectivités étudient les mécanismes de projets de réduction d'émission de carbone pour valoriser ces réductions et trouver des compléments de financements.

Cities and carbon markets: Press conference and roundtable event

19-Apr-2011

The OECD Environment Directorate and CDC Climat held a conference on Cities and carbon markets, bringing together city officials from across France, on Tuesday 19 April in Paris. Speakers include J. Oliveira-Martins (OECD Regional Development), Bruno Charles (Vice President of Greater Lyons), Olivier Degos (Regional delegate for S.D., Council of Aqutaine). The event was held at CDC Climat headquarters in Paris.

Cities and Carbon Market Finance

14-Apr-2011

This paper reviews 10 in–depth case studies of urban projects proposed and operating within the realm of Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. Drivers of success for these projects are examined, and how to best tap the potential for carbon markets to offer increased levels of financial support for urban mitigation projects is explored.

Report on Structural Alerts for the Identification of Protein-Binding Chemicals now published

11-Apr-2011

This document is a report of the expert consultation held on 20 October 2010 with the aim to evaluate a set of structural alerts for estimating covalent binding of chemicals with proteins. The resulting set of alerts have been implemented in version 2.0 of the OECD QSAR Toolbox.

Fossil fuels: Subsidy reform would combat climate change and save taxpayers' money

08-Apr-2011

Reforming fossil fuel subsidies would help fight climate change, save taxpayers' money and better target public expenditures on social protection, participants at a recent OECD expert workshop on fossil fuel support were told. OECD and other international organisations were encouraged to play a key role in developing measurements and improving transparency around government support for fossil fuels.

PRTR: Summary of Estimation Techniques for Releases from Products is now available

07-Apr-2011

The release of chemicals used in products is one of the key area where better knowledge is needed for a sound risk assessment and management of chemicals. OECD has just published a summary of estimation techniques for releases from products. This document outlines currently available techniques for quantifying releases of chemicals to the environment from the use phase of end-products. It also includes 11 case studies which target specific substances (e.g. lead) and product types (e.g. building and car care products and packages).