The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and their linkages with the Sustainable Development Goals
Information found within this e-course is based on available information on the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It draws on the experiences and expertise of Secretariat staff from each of the Conventions, and on sources of information publicly available.
The overall aim of the course is to guide Parties to the conventions, and those interested in these topics, on the linkages between the three conventions and their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Describe the importance and benefits that implementing the Conventions brings for protection of human health and the environment.
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Understand the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
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Describe who the key actors are in each Convention and their roles.
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Discuss the key legal provisions under each Convention that are related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Explain why collecting and submitting specific information by Parties to each of the three Conventions is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Module 1 - The Basel Convention
Learning Objectives
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What the Basel Convention is, who its main actors are, how it works and its key legal provisions.
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Why National Reporting is important, what this involves, what information is needed, how to develop national inventories, and how to prepare and submit National Reports.
- How the PIC procedure of the Basel Convention is used to control transboundary movements (export, import, or transit) of hazardous wastes and other wastes.
Content
1. What is the Basel Convention?
2. What does National Reporting involve?
3. What information is needed to prepare National Reports?
4. How to submit National Reports through the Electronic Reporting System (ERS)?
5. The Basel Convention and the SDGs.
Module 2 - The Rotterdam Convention
Learning objectives
- What the Rotterdam Convention is, who are its main actors, how it works, and what benefits it brings for the protection of human health and the environment from certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
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How the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) and the Import Responses (IRs) for chemicals listed in Annex III to the convention serve as an early warning system for industrial chemicals, pesticides, and severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPFs) that Parties can use to determine whether trade and use require careful consideration and permission for imports from Parties.
Content
1. What is the Rotterdam Convention?
2. What is the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC)?
3. Import Responses (IRs) for chemicals listed in Annex III.
4. The Rotterdam Convention and the SDGs.
Module 3 - The Stockholm Convention
Learning objectives
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What the Stockholm Convention is, who its main actors are, how it works, and its key legal provisions.
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What National Implementation Plans are, how they are prepared, and their importance in demonstrating how Parties will implement the Convention.
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Why National Reporting is important, what this involves, what information is needed, how to develop national inventories, and how to prepare and submit National Reports.
Content
1. What is the Stockholm Convention?
2. What are National Implementation Plans?
3. What does National Reporting involve?
4. What information is needed to prepare National Reports?
5. The Stockholm Convention and the SGDs.
Module 4 - Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the Sustainable
Learning Objectives
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The Sustainable Development Goals, Targets, and Indicators.
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Linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals, notably Goal 12, and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
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What indicators 12.4.1, 12.4.2, and 12.5.1 are designed to measure and how implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions contribute to measuring these indicators.
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Why Parties should meet their obligations, not only in the context of the Conventions but also the Global Indicator Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Content
1. Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals and chemicals and waste.
3. How the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions contribute to Goal 12.
4. Highlights on how the Conventions contribute to other Sustainable Development Goals.
The course, which contains 4 modules, is self-paced and adapted to the schedule of full-time working professionals. We advise short or medium sessions from 10 to 60 minutes per day, depending on the section studied. Participants are provided with the opportunity to learn through various experiences: absorb (read); interact (activity); and reflect (relate to one’s own reality). This includes videos, reading materials and quizzes.
The 4 modules of the course are self-standing and can be completed in any order. However, it is recommended that learners complete the modules in a sequential manner.
All sections conclude with a quiz to reaffirm the knowledge learners will acquire.
A certificate of completion will be awarded to participants who successfully complete all 4 modules and pass a final quiz with a minimum score of 70%.
Additionally, participants will be requested to provide feedback on the course by filling in a feedback form after completing all the modules, accessible anytime.
This e-learning course is targeted at government officials, e.g., national focal points, who have a role in ensuring that the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions are implemented to the greatest extent possible.
The course is also open to other interested stakeholders who would like to learn more about these important global agreements and how they contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
For example:
• Government officials who are not already specialists on the subject in question
• NGOs
• Educators
• Students
• Other interested stakeholders
The course can be completed on any computer (Windows and Mac) or mobile device. Any internet browser is compatible as long as it has been updated to its latest version.