The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions are multilateral environmental agreements international treaties that address hazardous waste and chemicals management. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal was adopted in 1989 to control the movement of hazardous waste between countries. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade was adopted in 1998 to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from highly dangerous, long-lasting chemicals by restricting and ultimately eliminating their production, use, trade, release and storage. Exposure to POPs can lead to serious health effects, including certain types of cancer, birth defects, developmental problems, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, and greater susceptibility to disease.

UNDP supports developing countries to meet their commitments under these chemicals’ management conventions through capacity building, demonstration of safer alternatives, technology transfer, technical transfer and effective partnerships. Up to date, eighty four countries benefited from such assistance.