Meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-17), the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-12) and the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12) will be held back-to-back in Geneva from 28 April to 9 May 2025.
The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties bringing together the parties to the three major conventions on the management of hazardous substances and waste. The theme of the meetings will be « Making the invisible visible: sound management of chemicals and wastes ».
- Adopted in 1989, the Basel Convention aims to reduce the transboundary movement of hazardous waste between countries, particularly from developed to developing countries. This international treaty imposes strict rules on the transport and disposal of such waste in order to minimise the risks to the environment and public health.
- Signed in 1998, the Rotterdam Convention establishes a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for international trade in certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides. This mechanism ensures that importing countries receive all the necessary information before authorising the entry of these substances into their territory, thereby enhancing transparency and safety.
- Adopted in 2001, the Stockholm Convention targets persistent organic pollutants (POPs), extremely toxic chemicals that accumulate in living organisms and the environment. This international treaty seeks to eliminate or restrict the production and use of these substances to prevent their devastating effects.