Basel/COP-10 Outcomes

Delegates to COP-10 of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal tackled a substantial agenda and adopted decisions on strategic issues, including the new strategic framework and the Indonesian-Swiss country-led initiative (CLI) to improve the effectiveness of the Convention. The COP also adopted 25 decisions on, inter alia: - synergies;
- the budget;
- legal matters;
- Basel Convention Regional and Coordinating Centres (BCRCs);
- capacity building;
- the Partnership Programme; and
- technical matters.

The Cartagena Declaration(draft version) on prevention and minimization of hazardous wastes was also adopted and is predicted to alter the focus of the Convention, from the movement of hazardous wastes to their minimization.

Advance report
IISD RS Coverage
COP10 Website

BCIE: Environmental Strategy

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) has adopted an Environmental Strategy to guide its financing of sustainable development projects in Central America and promote environmental principles in its practices. The Strategy sets out general principles and calls for Bank action in six areas: biodiversity; waste management; energy; air pollution; land management; and water as a resource.

Press Release

Europe: Water Management Law Conference

The Annual Conference on European Water Management Law will take place from 8-9 December in Trier (Germany) concentrated on "Practical implications of European policy for water conservation". Key topics include:- Water shortage and conservation: existing EU legislation;
- Instruments of European policy for water conservation;
- Watercourses and nature protection;
- Water supply and wastewater; and
- Cosumer protection

Further information

UNEP: New Draft Treaty Text for Mercury Negotiations

UNEP has released a an advanced copy of the "new draft [treaty] text for a comprehensive and suitable approach to a globally legally binding instrument on mercury" in preparation for the 3rd round of negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) from October 31-November 4 in Nairobi (Kenya). The text addresses challenges including:
- supply of, and interantional trade in, mercury;
- products and processes that use mercury, including artisanal and small-scale gold mining;
- emissions and releases of mercury into the atmosphere, water and land; and
- mercury storage, wastes and contaminated sites.

5th Marine Debris Conference

The 5th International Marine Debris Conference, co-organized by UNEP and US/NOAA, took place in Honolulu (US) from 20-25 March 2011. The Conference concluded with the adoption of the  Honolulu Commitment, establishing a cross-sectoral approach to help reduce the occurrence of marine debris, as well as the damage it causes to marine habitats, the global economy, biodiversity and human health.

Basel Convention: 8th Implementation and Compliance Committee

The Implementation and Compliance Committee of the Convention met in Geneva from 21-23 March 2011. Report

Marine Debris: 5th International Conference

Meeting from March 20-25 in Honolulu, Hawai’i (USA) international marine debris researchers, natural resource managers, policy makers, industry representatives, and the nongovernmental community will highlight research advances, allow sharing of strategies and best practices to assess, reduce, and prevent the impacts of marine debris, and provide an opportunity for the development of specific bilateral or multi-country strategies. Homepage

Basel Convention: Non-Paper on Wastes to Resources

Titled “Shifting paradigms: from waste to resources" this paper is intended to initiate discussions amongst parties and other stakeholders in relation to the Basel Convention’s role in strengthening the waste to resource linkage. Full Text

SPREP: 21st Meeting

The SPREP Secretariat has published the report of the 21st SPREP Meeting, held from 6-9 September 2010 in Madang (Papua New Guinea). It includes the Madang Communiqué adopted at the meeting, according to which SPREP members adopted the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan as the guiding document for regional environmental work, including by SPREP, with four priorities on climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem management, waste management and pollution prevention, and environmental monitoring and governance.

Africa: Rabat Declaration on Solid Waste Management

As part of preparations for CSD-19, the Intersessional Meeting on Solid Waste Management in Africa took place on 25-26 November 2010, in Rabat (Morocco). The Chair’s summary of the meeting including the annexed Rabat Declaration has been released as an advance, unedited report.