The report relates to discussions held on operational and financial aspects of test methods validation under the OECD Test Guidelines Programme. The workshop was organised in the context of a broader discussion on building confidence of regulatory bodies and modernising the validation process for new and emerging chemical safety testing methods and approaches. In this workshop, attention was raised on the need for increased public funding for validation activities, including independent peer review, and the need to make existing validation resources and know-how better known to method developers to facilitate the organisation of validation activities.

This document describes the design and results of the validation exercise for the Rapid Estrogen ACTivity In Vivo (REACTIV) Assay, organised by France and the United Kingdom. This method was developed for the detection of estrogen axis active substances. The project was on the Test Guidelines Programme work plan until 2024.

This document contains a Guidance Document (GD) on Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) for Phototoxicity Testing, originally developed by Japan, reviewed, consolidated and finally approved by the Working Party of the National Coordinators of the Test Guidelines Programme. This document provides an overview and key characteristics of each individual information source available for phototoxicity testing, and their use within the IATA. The project was on the Test Guidelines Programme work plan until 2024.

This document encloses the Peer Review Report (PRR) of the validation study for OptiSafeTM Eye Irritation Test (EIT) for its inclusion in OECD Test Guideline 496 on In Vitro Macromolecular Test Methods. The OptiSafeTM EIT is validated for identifying chemicals that do not require classification for eye damage. The project was on the Test Guidelines Programme work plan until 2024.

This document presents the design and the results of a validation exercise for the short-term Juvenile Hormone Activity Screening Assay (JHASA) using Daphnia magna, organised by Japan. This method was developed to detect the potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with juvenile hormone activity. The project was on the Test Guidelines Programme work plan since 2016 and until 2024.

This document contains the validation report of the IL-2 Luc LTT assay on in vitro immunotoxicity, prepared by Japan in 2023. This was a project on the work plan of the Test Guidelines Programme until 2024.

This document contains the report of the peer review organised by Japan for the validation of the IL-2 Luc LTT assay on in vitro immunotoxicity, a project on the work plan of the Test Guidelines Programme until 2024.

This document contains the validation report of the H. azteca bioconcentration test (HYBIT), prepared by Germany in 2023 and approved as Test Guideline 321 by the Working Party of the National Coordinators of the Test Guidelines Programme. This was a project on the work plan of the Test Guidelines Programme until 2024.

This report provides a year-by-year overview of the main trends in development finance with biodiversity-related objectives for the period 2015-22, considering a wide range of sources: bilateral providers from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members and beyond, including South-South and triangular co-operation providers; multilateral development banks and other multilateral institutions; private finance mobilised by development finance; and private philanthropy. The estimates are based on statistical data from the OECD and the International Forum on Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD), capturing both official development assistance and non-concessional development finance. They include breakdowns by provider, sector, financial instrument and recipient country grouping, as well as details on financial allocations to the mainstreaming of biodiversity, climate change, Indigenous peoples and local communities, and gender equality. The evidence aims to help DAC members and other stakeholders implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity and track the contribution of development finance against its Target 19 on resource mobilisation.

Children can be more vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards, such as those presented by chemicals, due to their physiological differences and unique behaviour. Risk assessment methodologies that specifically consider children are required to ensure that potential risks are addressed. The purpose of this document is to compile parameters and algorithms for estimating children’s exposure to crafts and toys via the dermal, inhalation, and oral routes, with a focus on published guidance or approaches used by regulatory bodies. Key sources of information include publications and guidance from various international regulatory agencies, as well as peer-reviewed studies and reviews of parameters and algorithms for exposure to children’s crafts and toys. Examples of parameters, including considerations for selecting appropriate age groups, and algorithms are provided in detail for each product category and route (dermal, inhalation, and oral).

Industrial facilities have a significant impact on the environment due to their use of large amounts of raw materials and energy, resulting in the release of pollutants into the air, water and soil. These facilities are obligated to adhere to various regulatory requirements, including emission levels and environmental quality objectives at the local level. This report provides a cross-country analysis of Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREFs) for three industrial sectors: iron and steel, paper and pulp, and waste incineration. It examines six BREFs from different countries and organisations, such as China, India, South Korea, the US, the EU, and the World Bank. The information gathered from various jurisdictions may help and support countries in developing sector-specific BREFs. Furthermore, this comparative analysis can identify areas for potential harmonisation between countries and highlight aspects of the BREFs that may require expansion or updating to better address environmental impact considerations.

This report presents a synthesis of publicly available information on perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs), with the aim of elucidating the identities of PFPEs on the global market and analysing their life cycle. This includes their production and use, presence of other PFASs as impurities in commercial formulations, degradation mechanisms, and environmental releases of PFPEs and other PFASs present in commercial formulations.

The 2024 edition of OECD Tourism Trends and Policies analyses the latest tourism performance and policy trends across 50 OECD countries and partner economies. It takes stock of the tourism economy’s recovery post-pandemic and highlights the need for co-ordinated, forward-looking policies, as challenges remain to build momentum for a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive future for the sector. Evidence on the significance of the tourism economy is presented, with data covering domestic, inbound, and outbound tourism, enterprises and employment, and internal tourism consumption. Tourism policy priorities, reforms and developments are analysed, and examples of country practices highlighted. Thematic chapters provide insights on strengthening the tourism workforce and building the evidence base for sustainable tourism policies.

Earth's orbits are polluted by more than 100 million debris objects that pose a collision threat to satellites and other spacecraft. The risk of perturbing highly valuable space-based services critical to life on Earth, such as weather monitoring and disaster management, is making debris mitigation an urgent policy challenge. This book provides the latest findings from the OECD project on the economics of space sustainability, which aims to improve decision makers’ understanding of the societal value of space infrastructure and costs of space debris. It provides comprehensive evidence on the growth of space debris, presents methods to evaluate and quantify the value of the satellites at risk and discusses ways to ensure a more sustainable use of the orbital environment. It notably includes case studies from Italy, Japan and Korea on the socio-economic value of different types of space infrastructure and discusses the feasibility and optimal design of fiscal measures and voluntary environmental rating schemes to change operator behaviour. This work is informed by contributions from researchers worldwide involved in the OECD project.

To better address the impacts from climate change, OECD countries are increasingly making climate change adaptation a policy priority. Assessing progress in the implementation of national adaptation policies is a critical step in understanding how adaptation efforts contribute to strengthening climate resilience, and whether they are effective. Experience in policy design and implementation has grown significantly, however measuring progress remains a challenge for countries.

Building on a cross-country survey and country case studies carried out in Chile, Korea, the Slovak Republic and the United Kingdom, this report provides insights into current OECD country practices in measuring climate adaptation. It proposes a framework that can guide countries on what needs to be measured and how, and discusses the role that adaptation indicators and a conducive institutional environment can play in strengthening adaptation measurement.