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Today marks the beginning of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, as well as the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, with the two-week event concluding on Friday 9 May.
I work in the Environment Agency’s international engagement team for waste, supporting Defra colleagues on the Basel Convention. As part of the UK delegation, I am finalising our positions on issues to be discussed with representatives from 191 parties and over 150 observer entities.
The 2025 COP theme is 'Make visible the invisible: sound management of chemicals and wastes,' and includes a ministerial session for global leaders to debate and exchange experiences. This will help us raise awareness of the importance of managing chemicals and waste in an environmentally sound manner.
My work focuses on key portfolios within the Basel Convention Work Programme, using my 25 years of regulatory experience to support practical outcomes.
Preparation is key, to ensure we have clear aims and objectives for the meeting. This includes consultations with industry stakeholders and other parties, sharing information and gaining valuable points of view before we start negotiations.
One proposal at the COP is amending the convention text regarding waste operations, aiming to improve clarity on which operations, like metal recycling or chemical treatments, are within its scope.
Adding examples and possibly new waste activities keeps the convention relevant and supports equal implementation by parties. We look forward to positive negotiations and hopefully reaching a consensus.
A significant part of the current work plan is developing technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of different waste streams. This year, we’ll review documents on waste batteries and tyres.
Other agenda items include the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling, improving the system of prior informed consent, implementing timescales for responding to consent applications, preventing and enforcing illegal shipments, and reviewing the convention reporting systems.
I encourage practitioners with an interest in these areas to keep an eye on the Basel Convention website, and the Earth Bulletin who will report on the discussions each day. It’s vital for the convention to be successful that policy and industry work closely together to deliver the aims in a sustainable way.
The COP promises to be a busy but engaging 11 days. I hope to share some of the talking points and insights into how multilateral environmental conventions like the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions evolve and adapt to the modern world.
During the COP, online side events will allow parties and observers to share concerns, research findings, and future work plans. Further information and connection details are available on the Basel Convention website.
