Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) COP 2025

Prelims (GS I) – General issues on Environmental ecology.

Mains (GS II) – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Why in news?

Recently India's delegation led by Minister of Environment, forest and ckimate change participated in the Conference of the Parties (COPs) to Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions in Geneva.

BRS COPs 2025 – The Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions are meetings of governments from countries that have accepted, ratified, these conventions.
These conventions address the global trade and management of hazardous chemicals and wastes.
Location – Geneva.
Theme - "Make visible the invisible: Sound management of chemicals and wastes".

Basel Convention

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
Adopted on - 1989, entered into force in 1992.
Focus - Controls transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
Prior informed consent for waste shipments, environmentally sound management, waste minimization.

Rotterdam Convention

Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
Adopted on - 1998, entered into force in 2004.
Focus - Promotes shared responsibility in international trade of hazardous chemicals.

Stockholm Convention

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Adopted on - 2001, entered into force in 2004.
Focus - Elimination or restriction of production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Targets chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate, and pose risks to human health and ecosystems.

Key Intervention by India

India emphasized that effective implementation of BRS Conventions requires,
- Access to finance
- Technology transfer
- Capacity-building
- Technical assistance
- Strengthened international cooperation
The delegation highlighted India's integrated approach through national legislation such as,
- Environment (Protection) Act
- Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules
- E-Waste Management Rules, 2016
Shared India's best practices such as ban on identified single-use plastic items and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging.

Reference

PIB| BRS COPs 2025

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