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Environmental Governance Regimes

BASEL CONVENTION – Outcomes of the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Basel Convention

2011

The Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was held from 17 to 21 October 2011 in Cartagena, Colombia. More than 700 delegates from governments, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector attended the Meeting.

Ministerial consultations and roundtables covered a wide range of issues which led to the adoption of decisions on strategic issues, including the new Strategic Framework for the Implementation of the Basel Convention for 2012-2021 and the Indonesian-Swiss Country-Led Initiative (CLI) to improve the effectiveness of the Basel Convention.

The new Strategic Framework for the Implementation of the Basel Convention for 2012-2021 sets out a vision, guiding principles, strategic objectives, means of implementation, and indicators of achievements. The Strategic Framework aims at strengthening the environmentally sound management of such wastes as a contribution to promoting human health, sustainable livelihoods, and eradicating poverty.

The Indonesian-Swiss Country-Led Initiative (CLI) to improve the effectiveness of the Basel Convention led to the adoption of a Decision for the unblocking of an amendment that will ban the export of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD countries, known as the Ban Amendment. The so-called CLI decision allows the Ban Amendment to come into force for those countries who wish to adhere to it, but also moves forward in establishing a regime for countries who wish to trade in waste to ensure the minimization of health and environmental impacts, ensuring adequate social and labour conditions and creating new economic opportunities. It clarifies the interpretation of Article 17(5) of the Convention, setting the bar for entry into force of the Ban Amendment. The amendment will enter into force once an additional 17 parties ratify it. The entry into force of the Amendment will send a powerful political signal and it will stimulate more Parties to ratify the Ban.

Note

Article 17(5) of the Basel Convention:
“Instruments of ratification, approval, formal confirmation or acceptance of amendments shall be deposited with the Depositary.  Amendments adopted in accordance with paragraphs 3 or 4 above shall enter into force between Parties having accepted them on the ninetieth day after the receipt by the Depositary of their instrument of ratification, approval, formal confirmation or acceptance by at least three-fourths of the Parties who accepted them or by at least two thirds of the Parties to the protocol concerned who accepted them, except as may otherwise be provided in such protocol.  The amendments shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after that Party deposits its instrument of ratification, approval, formal confirmation or acceptance of the amendments.”

Source: Basel Convention, IISD Reporting Services
For further Information:
http://www.basel.int
http://www.iisd.ca/basel/cop10/?utm_source=lists.iisd.ca&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Linkages+Update+-+Issue+%23178+-+4+November+2011

About the author

MEPIELAN Centre
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MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.

Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.

MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).

On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable

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