The Global Chemicals Outlook II has been prepared in response to Governing Council decision 27/12, adopted in 2013, which requested the Executive Director to continue work on the Global Chemicals Outlook, and United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/7, adopted in 2016, which requested the Executive Director to submit an update of the first Global Chemicals Outlook, addressing inter alia the work carried out particularly in relation to lacking or inadequate data to assess progress towards the 2020 goal, the development of non-chemical alternatives, and the linkages between chemicals and waste, in coordination with the Global Waste Management Outlook, and providing scientific input and options for implementation of actions to reach relevant Sustainable Development Goals and targets up to and beyond 2020. Resolution 2/7 included a request to address the issues identified as emerging policy issues by the International Conference on Chemicals Management, as well as other issues where emerging evidence indicates a risk to human health and the environment.