The impact of the Basel and Bamako conventions on hazardous waste trafficking and environmental governance in West Africa

This study examines the dynamics of hazardous waste trafficking and environmental governance in West Africa. It evaluates the Basel and Bamako conventions through the lens of environmental justice, environmental governance, and the global Race to the Bottom concept. It assesses the environmental governance models adopted by these conventions in West Africa and beyond and evaluates their effectiveness towards achieving environmental justice. This study uses a critical appraisal framework to assess the relevance, sustainability, enforcement, ethical consideration, equity and practicability of the Basel and Bamako Conventions. A total of 28 articles were rigorously selected from multiple databases. It was found that while the Basel Convention provided a paramount global cooperation against hazardous waste export, it did not adopt a prohibitive and stronger stance against such exports to West Africa and other developing regions. The Basel Convention adopted a regulative, consent-based, and compromising framework for hazardous waste trade, which is more often exploited for hazardous waste export to some West African countries. Although the Bamako Convention provides a stronger, decisive, and prohibitive stand against hazardous waste trafficking, it is also limited by factors such as low institutional capacity, economic pressure, low technology, and enforcement lapses. Environmental injustice and the race to the bottom concept persist in West Africa. This study recommends strengthening compromising clauses within the conventions and enforcement processes for transferring hazardous waste management technologies to West Africa and properly inspecting second-hand goods to prevent hazardous waste export.