BaselCountry

BaselCountry is a term that refers to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which is an international treaty that was opened for signature on 22 March 1989. The convention aims to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous wastes by controlling their transboundary movements. It is one of the most widely ratified international environmental agreements, with 187 parties as of 2023.

The Basel Convention was developed in response to the increasing global movement of hazardous wastes, particularly from developed to developing countries. It establishes a framework for the management of hazardous wastes through principles such as the polluter pays, the principle of prior informed consent, and the principle of transboundary liability. The convention also promotes the development and transfer of technology for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes.

The Basel Convention has been amended several times to address new challenges and developments in the field of hazardous waste management. The most recent amendment, the Basel Ban Amendment, entered into force on 1 May 2019. This amendment prohibits the export of hazardous wastes from developed countries to developing countries, with limited exceptions. It also establishes a mechanism for the export of hazardous wastes from developing countries to other developing countries.

The Basel Convention is implemented through the work of the Basel Convention Secretariat, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The secretariat provides technical assistance, capacity building, and information dissemination to the parties. It also organizes meetings and conferences to promote the implementation of the convention.

The Basel Convention has been instrumental in shaping the global approach to hazardous waste management. It has set a standard for the protection of human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous wastes. However, it has also faced criticism for its limitations and the need for further amendments to address emerging issues. Despite these challenges, the Basel Convention remains a key instrument in the global effort to manage hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner.