The Basel Convention is an international treaty that was signed in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. The goal of the convention is to protect human health and the environment from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
The convention has 189 parties, including all of the world’s major economies. The convention is implemented by the Basel Convention Secretariat, which is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
The convention has four main objectives:
- To prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
- To reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
- To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
- To cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
The convention has a number of key provisions, including:
- A ban on the export of hazardous wastes to countries that do not have the capacity to manage them safely;
- A requirement for countries to notify the Basel Convention Secretariat of any proposed transboundary movement of hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to obtain the prior informed consent of the importing country before exporting hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to establish national systems for the management of hazardous wastes; and
- A requirement for countries to cooperate with each other in the implementation of the convention.
The Basel Convention has been successful in reducing the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including the illegal trade in hazardous wastes and the management of hazardous wastes in developing countries.
The following are the subtopics of the Basel Convention:
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Scope
- Definitions
- General obligations
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of export
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of import
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for disposal
- Illegal traffic in hazardous wastes
- Liability and compensation
- Institutional arrangements
- Financial arrangements
- Technical cooperation
- Information exchange
- Review and amendment
- Final provisions
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is an international treaty that was signed in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. The goal of the convention is to protect human health and the environment from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
The convention has 189 parties, including all of the world’s major economies. The convention is implemented by the Basel Convention Secretariat, which is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
The convention has four main objectives:
- To prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
- To reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
- To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
- To cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
The convention has a number of key provisions, including:
- A ban on the export of hazardous wastes to countries that do not have the capacity to manage them safely;
- A requirement for countries to notify the Basel Convention Secretariat of any proposed transboundary movement of hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to obtain the prior informed consent of the importing country before exporting hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to establish national systems for the management of hazardous wastes; and
- A requirement for countries to cooperate with each other in the implementation of the convention.
The Basel Convention has been successful in reducing the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including the illegal trade in hazardous wastes and the management of hazardous wastes in developing countries.
The following are the subtopics of the Basel Convention:
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Scope
- Definitions
- General obligations
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of export
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of import
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for disposal
- Illegal traffic in hazardous wastes
- Liability and compensation
- Institutional arrangements
- Financial arrangements
- Technical cooperation
- Information exchange
- Review and amendment
- Final provisions
Introduction
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is an international treaty that was signed in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. The goal of the convention is to protect human health and the environment from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
The convention has 189 parties, including all of the world’s major economies. The convention is implemented by the Basel Convention Secretariat, which is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Objectives
The convention has four main objectives:
- To prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
- To reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
- To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
- To cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
Scope
The convention applies to all hazardous wastes that are defined in the convention as “wastes that, by their nature, composition or quantity, pose or are likely to pose significant hazards to human health or the environment when transported, treated, stored, disposed of or otherwise managed.”
Definitions
The convention defines a number of terms, including:
- “Hazardous waste”
- “Transboundary movement”
- “Disposal”
- “Management”
- “Export”
- “Import”
- “Generator”
- “Disposer”
- “Carrier”
- “Broker”
- “Funder”
- “National authority”
- “Regional economic integration organization”
General obligations
The convention sets out a number of general obligations for parties, including:
- To take all appropriate measures to prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
- To reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
- To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
- To cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
The convention regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. The convention requires parties to notify the Basel Convention Secretariat of any proposed transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. The convention also requires parties to obtain the prior informed consent of the importing country before exporting hazardous wastes.
Management of
The Basel Convention is an international treaty that was signed in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. The goal of the convention is to protect human health and the environment from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
The convention has 189 parties, including all of the world’s major economies. The convention is implemented by the Basel Convention Secretariat, which is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
The convention has four main objectives:
- To prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
- To reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
- To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
- To cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
The convention has a number of key provisions, including:
- A ban on the export of hazardous wastes to countries that do not have the capacity to manage them safely;
- A requirement for countries to notify the Basel Convention Secretariat of any proposed transboundary movement of hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to obtain the prior informed consent of the importing country before exporting hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to establish national systems for the management of hazardous wastes; and
- A requirement for countries to cooperate with each other in the implementation of the convention.
The Basel Convention has been successful in reducing the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including the illegal trade in hazardous wastes and the management of hazardous wastes in developing countries.
The following are the subtopics of the Basel Convention:
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Scope
- Definitions
- General obligations
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of export
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of import
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for disposal
- Illegal traffic in hazardous wastes
- Liability and compensation
- Institutional arrangements
- Financial arrangements
- Technical cooperation
- Information exchange
- Review and amendment
- Final provisions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Basel Convention:
What is the Basel Convention?
The Basel Convention is an international treaty that was signed in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. The goal of the convention is to protect human health and the environment from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.What are the objectives of the Basel Convention?
The objectives of the Basel Convention are to:- Prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
- Reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
- Ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
Cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
What are the key provisions of the Basel Convention?
The key provisions of the Basel Convention include:- A ban on the export of hazardous wastes to countries that do not have the capacity to manage them safely;
- A requirement for countries to notify the Basel Convention Secretariat of any proposed transboundary movement of hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to obtain the prior informed consent of the importing country before exporting hazardous wastes;
- A requirement for countries to establish national systems for the management of hazardous wastes; and
A requirement for countries to cooperate with each other in the implementation of the convention.
What has been the success of the Basel Convention?
The Basel Convention has been successful in reducing the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including the illegal trade in hazardous wastes and the management of hazardous wastes in developing countries.What are the subtopics of the Basel Convention?
The subtopics of the Basel Convention are:- Introduction
- Objectives
- Scope
- Definitions
- General obligations
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of export
- Management of hazardous wastes within the country of import
- Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for disposal
- Illegal traffic in hazardous wastes
- Liability and compensation
- Institutional arrangements
- Financial arrangements
- Technical cooperation
- Information exchange
- Review and amendment
- Final provisions
Question 1
The Basel Convention is an international treaty that was signed in:
(a) 1989
(b) 1992
(c) 1995
(d) 2001
Answer: (a)
Question 2
The goal of the Basel Convention is to:
(a) Protect human health and the environment from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
(b) Reduce the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes.
(c) Ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound.
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d)
Question 3
The Basel Convention has 189 parties, including all of the world’s major economies. The convention is implemented by the:
(a) Basel Convention Secretariat
(b) United Nations Environment Programme
(c) International Atomic Energy Agency
(d) World Health Organization
Answer: (a)
Question 4
The Basel Convention has four main objectives:
(a) To prevent the generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes as far as practicable;
(b) To reduce transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes;
(c) To ensure that the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes including their transboundary movements and disposal is environmentally sound; and
(d) To cooperate, directly and through appropriate international organizations, in the implementation of this Convention.
Answer: (d)
Question 5
The Basel Convention has a number of key provisions, including:
(a) A ban on the export of hazardous wastes to countries that do not have the capacity to manage them safely;
(b) A requirement for countries to notify the Basel Convention Secretariat of any proposed transboundary movement of hazardous wastes;
(c) A requirement for countries to obtain the prior informed consent of the importing country before exporting hazardous wastes;
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d)
Question 6
The Basel Convention has been successful in reducing the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. However, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed, including the illegal trade in hazardous wastes and the management of hazardous wastes in developing countries.
Answer: True
Question 7
The following are the subtopics of the Basel Convention:
(a) Introduction
(b) Objectives
(c) Scope
(d) Definitions
(e) General obligations
(f) Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
(g) Management of hazardous wastes within the country of export
(h) Management of hazardous wastes within the country of import
(i) Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes for disposal
(j) Illegal traffic in hazardous wastes
(k) Liability and compensation
(l) Institutional arrangements
(m) Financial arrangements
(n) Technical cooperation
(o) Information exchange
(p) Review and amendment
(q) Final provisions
Answer: (a)-(q)