sustainable development 20 years on from the ... - José Eli da Veiga

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Small-scale fisheries continue to be important in the region in terms of providing food and
employment to thousands of communities, both on the coast and in inland fisheries. Like other foodproducing
sectors, fisheries and aquaculture are strongly affected by climate change. Direct effects on
resources include changes in the physiology of organisms and in patterns of spatial and temporal
distribution and hence in their abundance, owing to changes in hydrographic or temperature patterns,
rising mean sea levels, erosion of beaches and disruption from weather phenomena such
as acidification.
Indirectly, climate change has had a significant impact on the production of various inputs for the
production of balanced feed, such as fishmeal, soy bean, sorghum and other grains. The upward trend in
the price of these products, as well as in energy prices, has undermined the competitiveness of small
aquaculture producers, in many cases leading them to abandon aquaculture altogether.
9. Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals
As mentioned in chapter I, chemicals production in the region and in developing countries generally is an
activity that generates significant negative environmental and health-related externalities (IPCS, <strong>20</strong>10;
WHO, <strong>20</strong>09b). Neither the industry nor users bear the costs of proper disposal of chemical waste.
Institutional progress has been made, however, including new national and international
regulations and improvements in risk assessment measures, as well as in the definition of indicators and
metrics (WHO, <strong>20</strong>05, IPCS, <strong>20</strong>10). Most countries of the region have adopted strategies for management
of chemical products and have ratified the relevant international conventions on chemicals as described
below. As there are significant problems in implementing these conventions, particularly in terms of
financial, institutional and technical capacity, the synergies among the three conventions and among
countries need to be exploited more fully.
(a)
Control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
(Basel Convention)
Countries of the region have implemented the Basel Convention measures to varying degrees in
accordance with their capabilities, characteristics and needs. Some of the issues of concern to the region
are smuggling of hazardous waste, training of customs officials and enforcement officers, raising the
awareness of judges, improving legislative and regulatory frameworks, waste management infrastructure
(including monitoring and analysis aspects) and financing, educating and raising the awareness of public
and private sectors.
Even though it has not yet come into force, nine countries in the region 15 and 71 in total
(including the European Union) have signed the 1995 amendment to the Basel Convention prohibiting the
export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries for final disposal, recovery or
recycling. The Basel Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage Resulting from Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was signed by only three countries in the region. 16
15
16
The countries in the region that have ratified the Protocol are Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay,
Plurinational State of Bolivia, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. See [on line]
http://www.basel.int/Countries/StatusofRatifications/BanAmendment/tabid/1344/Default.aspx [date of reference:
December <strong>20</strong>11].
Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.