1998 Year of the Ocean A Survey of International Agreements 



has been transmitted to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent to ratification A protocol on 

 pollution from land-based activities, which accounts for about 80 percent of the pollution 

 entering the marine environment, is currently under negotiation. 



Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements 

 of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) 



The Basel Convention is an international agreement which attempts to control the 

 movement of hazardous waste across State boundaries. This Convention, which went into effect 

 in 1992: 



• 



requires environmentally sound management of transboundary movements and 

 disposal of waste 



• provides a list of covered wastes (including hazardous and other wastes) 



• prohibits exports of covered wastes to the Antarctic Treaty Area 



• generally requires notice to and consent, in certain circumstances, of transit and 

 receiving countries before exports of covered wastes commence 



• commits parties to prohibit a transboundary movement if there is reason to believe 

 that the waste would not be managed in an environmentally sound manner in the 

 importing country 



• commits parties to assume responsibility for disposal of waste illegally exported and 

 imported 



One hundred twenty-two countries have ratified the Basel Convention. Although the U.S. 

 Senate has given its advice and consent, the United States is not a party at this time. 



Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment 

 From Land-Based Activities, 1995 



The Global Program of Action was adopted November 3, 1995 at the conclusion of a 

 two-week conference sponsored by the UNEP and hosted by the United States. The Global 

 Program of Action seeks to prevent the degradation of the marine environment from land-based 

 activities by helping States Parties realize the duty to preserve and protect the marine 

 environment. It is designed to assist States in taking actions individually or jointly according to 

 their respective policies, priorities, and resources. It constitutes a practical source of guidance for 

 action which must take place at the national and regional level; identifies steps for making 

 available knowledge and experience about effective measures to combat land-based sources of 

 marine pollution; and offers instruction on how to involve the relevant United Nations 

 institutions in the implementation effort. 



J-7 



