Assessing the Role of the Basel Convention in Addressing Plastic Pollution at the International Level- A Critical Review

Abstract

Plastic pollution from plastic waste emerged as a significant challenge in the present century. Plastic pollution has numerous adverse environmental effects, including health, climate, biodiversity, marine life, and ecological imbalances. These effects may endanger the health and happiness of individuals, aquatic creatures, and the pristine terrestrial and marine environment. The Basel Convention addresses this global issue and sets rules for managing plastic waste and preventing it from polluting the environment. While there is no dedicated treaty addressing plastic pollution, it remains the only legally binding international instrument addressing this issue alongside other rules scattered in different forms. Various other attempts to curb plastic pollution, such as the 2019 amendment to the Basel Convention, often referred to as the “plastic waste amendment”, are being made along with ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty. Accordingly, this commentary not only addresses the issues of plastic waste hazard on the environment as well as on human health but also reviews the positive aspects, constraints, and most important effects of the Basel Convention in dealing with the global plastic waste crisis. It also critically evaluates the convention’s provisions to better understand their effectiveness in plastic waste management and offers practical insights and recommendations for sustainable and conscious implementation of laws.