Basel Convention

Definition

The Basel Convention is an international treaty that aims to reduce the movement of hazardous waste between nations, particularly from developed to developing countries. By establishing strict regulations on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, it seeks to protect human health and the environment from the potential dangers posed by these materials. This agreement is crucial in addressing global environmental health issues and managing electronic waste effectively.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Basel Convention was adopted in 1989 and has been ratified by over 180 countries, making it one of the most significant international agreements for waste management.
2. One of the main objectives of the Basel Convention is to ensure that hazardous waste is managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
3. The convention includes provisions for the prior informed consent of countries receiving hazardous waste, ensuring they are aware of what they are accepting.
4. It specifically addresses the challenges posed by e-waste, which often contains toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that can leach into the environment.
5. The Basel Convention encourages countries to develop national strategies for the reduction of hazardous waste generation and promotes recycling and recovery methods.

Review Questions

• How does the Basel Convention address the issue of hazardous waste management on an international scale?
  • The Basel Convention addresses hazardous waste management by establishing strict regulations that control the transboundary movement of such wastes. It emphasizes the importance of environmentally sound disposal methods and mandates that exporting countries obtain prior informed consent from importing countries before transferring hazardous materials. This framework aims to protect vulnerable nations from becoming dumping grounds for hazardous waste generated in developed countries, ensuring a more equitable approach to global waste management.
• Discuss the impact of the Basel Convention on electronic waste (e-waste) in developing countries.
  • The Basel Convention has had a significant impact on how e-waste is managed globally, especially in developing countries that often face challenges related to improper disposal. By imposing regulations that limit the export of hazardous e-waste without proper consent, it helps prevent these countries from becoming dumping grounds for toxic materials found in old electronics. This has encouraged improved practices in e-waste recycling and raised awareness about the health and environmental risks associated with improper handling of electronic products.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Basel Convention in achieving its goals related to hazardous waste reduction and e-waste management.
  • The effectiveness of the Basel Convention can be evaluated through its widespread adoption and the establishment of frameworks for hazardous waste management. While it has successfully raised awareness and led to improvements in legislation across many nations, challenges remain due to non-compliance by some countries and loopholes that allow illegal dumping. Moreover, as technology advances and e-waste generation increases, ongoing efforts are required to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and encourage innovative solutions for sustainable waste management practices worldwide.

Related terms

Hazardous Waste: Waste that poses a significant risk to human health or the environment due to its chemical nature, toxicity, or potential for pollution.

E-waste: Electronic waste consisting of discarded electrical or electronic devices, which can contain hazardous materials that pose environmental and health risks if not disposed of properly.

Transboundary Movement: The movement of waste across national borders, which can complicate waste management efforts and pose risks if not properly regulated.