"World leaders promised to halve the risks from pesticides by the end of the decade at a 2022 UN summit. Last year, the UN adopted an indicator of progress known as total applied toxicity (TAT), which factors in the different levels of harm that chemicals cause different species. To monitor progress toward the biodiversity pledge, the researchers used the TAT framework and safety thresholds from seven regulatory authorities around the world to develop a globally consistent measure of damage from 625 pesticides."
"The study, which examined 65 countries representing almost 80% of farmland on the planet, found total applied toxicity fell in Europe, which began to phase out neonicotinoids in 2013, and China, which introduced a zero-growth pesticide policy in 2015. However, toxicity increased considerably in much of Africa, India, the US, Brazil and Russia. Chile is the only country on track to meet the UN target of reducing pesticide risk by 50% by 2030, the study found."
Applied toxicity from synthetic pesticides increased globally between 2013 and 2019, with insects experiencing a 42.9% rise and soil organisms a 30.8% rise. Aquatic plants and land-based vertebrates showed declines in applied toxicity. Total applied toxicity (TAT) and safety thresholds from seven regulatory authorities were used to measure damage across 625 pesticides. Data covered 65 countries representing almost 80% of farmland. Applied toxicity decreased in Europe and China after policy changes, but increased markedly in much of Africa, India, the US, Brazil, and Russia. Chile remains the only country on track to halve pesticide risk by 2030.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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