POPs IN AFRICA HAZARDOUS WASTE TRADE 1980 - 2000 ... - Arte

African Leadership
minister, that no changes to Annex VII may be entertained prior
to the entry into force of the ban amendment.
In addition to the global-level influence of Africa in the Basel
Convention, African influence also has been experienced in other
regions. The Bamako Convention was used as a model piece of
legislation in Central America in the drafting of that region’s
hazardous waste import ban treaty. The Bamako Convention
also influenced the South Pacific region to adopt regional bans.
And in the Mediterranean Sea region, the North African countries
were instrumental in the adoption of a waste trade protocol under
the Barcelona Convention which also bans all hazardous waste
exports to non-OECD countries.
As is readily apparent, the above-mentioned world-wide
developments toward solving the hazardous waste crisis can be
attributed, to a very large extent, to the leadership of Africa. The
results, provided that the political resolve remains strong, are
expected to be far reaching indeed. These efforts not only end
the worst of the hazardous waste trade (OECD to non-OECD
countries) and thereby the transfer of OECD pollution to others
with less capacity. These efforts and developments also help
force OECD industries to employ clean production methods, as
well as pursue additional research and development in the field of
clean production such that hazardous waste is not generated in
the first place. No longer can OECD industries legally avoid this
responsibility by exporting their wastes to cheaper non-OECD
facilities.
The work is not yet over however, as African States will have to
remain vigilant, together with the EU and others, to ensure no
future weakening of the no-exceptions Basel ban. In addition, all
efforts are needed to encourage States to ratify the Basel ban, as
well as the Bamako Convention and other regional bans, so that
all bans enter legal force as soon as possible. And enforcement
measures will require continual efforts.
African leadership in the field of hazardous wastes is
impressive. Indeed the world owes great appreciation to African
resolve and dedication in seriously addressing the issue.
The same can be said for African countries' significant
contributions to ending the destructive practices of ocean
dumping of industrial wastes and ocean incineration. Both of
these practices were banned under the London Convention in
1993. In particular Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire played a critically
important role in helping to lead the international community
toward these historic decisions. There is no doubt that ending the
worst of the hazardous waste trade, ending ocean dumping of
industrial wastes, and ending ocean incineration are milestones
along the path toward sustainable development.
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