Online Basel Convention meeting postponed, says bureau. African countries and NGOs had called for delay.

/
AdobeStock-87550527-opt.jpg

The bureau for the Basel Convention has postponed an online open-ended working group (OEWG) meeting that was set to take place on 22-25 June. 

The decision, made at a 10 June virtual bureau meeting, came after NGOs and African countries that are parties to the convention called for  postponement until a physical meeting is possible. 

The bureau for the UN convention, which controls international movement and disposal of hazardous wastes, agreed in early April to hold the OEWG meeting online "as an exceptional measure in the current situation", while travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic prevented delegates from meeting in person.

But protests came from NGO the Basel Action Network (BAN), which sent two alerts to delegates saying the online meeting would disadvantage developing countries. And on 28 May, the African group said in a separate communication that it had told the bureau and secretariat its "reasons for not accepting the planned electronic and in English-only Basel Convention OEWG-12 meeting" and requested a delay until next year.

The African group said that while it understood the reasons, "there are serious challenges unique to the African region that will effectively preclude or significantly compromise Africa’s full effective participation."

It cited the lack of translation from English into the UN's six languages that usually accompanies UN meetings, adding that more than 70% of African countries are non-English speaking.

The "digital divide" between developed and developing nations was another barrier, it said. "To assume that participants in Africa ... under lockdown conditions at home, would certainly have good and regular access to the internet and emails within 48 hours, is being unrealistic in light of the prevailing conditions," it said.

Postponement

The bureau agreed on 10 June to postpone the meeting and "to explore further the available options for a scheduling and format that would provide the best possible setting for the OEWG, taking into consideration the existing circumstances of the global Covid-19 pandemic," according to a notice sent to all parties. Three options are being considered:

  • meeting in person, when it is possible;

  • meeting online and by email correspondence, before September; and

  • meeting by email correspondence only, before September.

It agreed to "further consultations" on these "within and across regions by the OEWG-12 bureau members and with the engagement of the co-chairs". The issue will be addressed at the next online bureau meeting on 22 June.

Jim Puckett, executive director of BAN, welcomed the decision.

"The UN is meant to allow equal footing for all countries," he said. "We are certainly happy to see that Africa has put their foot down and called for postponement until the meeting can be held in a fair and democratic way." 

And Rolph Payet, executive director of the convention's secretariat, said: "The secretariat is ready, as always, to continue to support the co-chairs and the other members of the OEWG bureau in their task of setting a date and format for the convening of the OEWG-12 meeting most conducive to a successful outcome."

Agenda

The OEWG agenda includes items addressing a number of technical guidelines, such as:

  • environmentally sound management of waste containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or mercury;

  • identification and environmentally sound management of plastic waste;

  • transboundary movement of used electrical and electronic equipment and waste (e-waste); and

  • whether guidelines on environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries need updating.

The OEWG is also set to discuss plastic waste and waste containing nanomaterials, on which the Basel Convention has increased its work recently.

Last year, parties adopted an amendment that requires exporting countries to receive prior informed consent (Pic) from receiving countries before they export any plastics that are not clean, sorted and intended for recycling. This will come into effect in January 2021.