IUPAC
and its Green Chemistry Initiative
The International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
serves to advance the worldwide aspects of the chemical sciences
and to contribute to the application of chemistry in the service
of Mankind. As a scientific, international, non-governmental and
objective body, IUPAC addresses many global issues involving the
chemical sciences.
It has come to be recognised in recent years, that the science
of chemistry is central to addressing the problems faced by the
environment. Through the utilisation of various sub- disciplines
of chemistry and molecular sciences, there is an increasing appreciation
that the emerging area of Green Chemistry is needed for the design
and attainment of sustainable development. A central driving force
in this increasing awareness is that Green Chemistry accomplishes
both economic and environmental goals simultaneously through the
use of sound, fundamental scientific principles. For these reasons,
the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has
a central role to play in advancing and promoting the continuing
emergence and impact of Green Chemistry.
For this aim IUPAC has established the Working Party on 'Synthetic
Pathways and Processes on Green Chemistry'.
The term "Green Chemistry", as adopted by this IUPAC Working Party,
is defined as:
"the invention, design and application of
chemical products and processes to reduce or to eliminate the use
and generation of hazardous substances."
Through the vehicle of Green Chemistry, IUPAC is engaging the
international community in issues of global importance to the environment
and to industry, through education of young and established scientists,
provision of technical tools, governmental engagement, communication
to the public and scientific communities, and the pursuit of sustainable
development. By virtue of its status as a leading and internationally
representative scientific body, IUPAC is collaborating closely in
furthering individual national efforts as well as those of multinational
entities.
In this context, educational opportunities to train chemists in
the scientific principles and technical methodologies of Green Chemistry
are of course of primary importance.
To establish and carry out the Green Chemistry educational programs,
there should be a partnership among government entities, industry,
and academic institutions. This partnership should focus on the
importance of development and dissemination of new science and technology
that form the basis of Green Chemistry and on the related education
and training.
These target audiences need curriculum materials to be developed
and a suitable educational infrastructure in Green Chemistry to
be made available to teachers, instructors and professors.
More recently the Sub-Committee on Green Chemistry within the Organic
and Biomolecular Chemistry Division (III) was founded during the
General Assembly in Brisbane, Australia in July 2001. The aim of
the Subcommittee on Green Chemistry is to develop actions devoted
to the cause of Green Chemistry for its wider benefit to the future
of chemistry and society as a whole.
The Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Division of IUPAC has also
been involved in the promotion of Green Chemistry.
IUPAC Committee on Teaching of Chemistry (CTC) is interested in
developing curricula and initiatives on Green Chemistry.
Relevant
IUPAC Events related to Green/Sustainable Chemistry
1. Foundation of the IUPAC Working Party on Synthetic Pathways and
Processes in Green Chemistry, Seoul, Korea, August 1996.
2. International Conference on "Challenging Perspectives on Green
Chemistry", Venice, Italy, September 1997 (sponsored by IUPAC).
3. IUPAC-UNESCO project on small-scale chemical experiments (1998
to now).
4. Meeting of the IUPAC Working Party on Synthetic Pathways and
Processes in Green Chemistry, Venice, Italy, October 1998.
5. IUPAC ICOS 13 (Mini Symposium on Green Organic Synthesis), Warsaw,
Poland, July 1-5 2000.
6. Special Topic Issue and Symposium-in-Print on Green Chemistry
(Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 72, vol. 7, 2000),
July 2000.
7. IUPAC co-sponsored International Conference on "Chemical Education
and Sustainable Development", October 11-14, 2000 Moscow, Russia.
8. Institution of the Sub-committee on Green Chemistry within the
Commission 111.2 of IUPAC Division III, December 2000.
9. IUPAC International Symposium on Green Chemistry, Delhi, India,
January 10-13 2001.
10. IUPAC/ICSU Workshop on Electrochemistry and Interfacial Chemistry
in Environmental Clean-Up and Green Chemical Processes, Coimbra, Portugal,
April 6-7 2001.
11. IUPAC CHEMRAWN XIV, World Conference on Green Chemistry, Boulder,
Colorado, June 9-13, 2001.
12. IUPAC 38th Congress (Environmental Chemistry and the Greening
of Industry), Brisbane, Australia, July 1-6, 2001.
13. IUPAC Committee on Teaching of Chemistry; Satellite Conference,
Brisbane, Australia, July 1, 2001.
14. Foundation of the IUPAC Interdivisional Subcommittee on Green
Chemistry, Brisbane, Australia, July 2001.
15. IUPAC Workshop on Green Chemistry Education, Venice, September
12-14, 2001.