Basel Convention

Basel Convention‏‎

The Basel Convention‏‎ is an international treaty designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, specifically to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries. It is named after Basel, Switzerland, where the convention was opened for signature on 22 March 1989.

History

The Basel Convention was initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in response to numerous international scandals regarding hazardous waste disposal. The convention was adopted on 22 March 1989 and entered into force on 5 May 1992.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Basel Convention are to minimize the generation of hazardous wastes, to promote environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, and to restrict the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.

Provisions

The Basel Convention imposes obligations on parties to ensure that hazardous wastes are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. It also provides a regulatory system for the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and other wastes.

Parties

As of 2021, 187 states and the European Union are parties to the Basel Convention. The United States has signed the Convention but has not ratified it.

Criticism

Despite its objectives, the Basel Convention has been criticized for not fully preventing the international trade in hazardous waste, particularly to developing countries.

See also

• Rotterdam Convention
• Stockholm Convention
• Minamata Convention on Mercury