The Basel Convention was established primarily for which of the following purposes?

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Explanation

The Basel Convention is an international treaty focused on controlling the transboundary (cross-border) movement of hazardous wastes.
Its primary goal is to protect human health and the environment from the negative effects of generating, managing, and disposing of hazardous wastes.
A key aspect is preventing "toxic dumping," where developed countries export hazardous waste to less developed countries with weaker environmental regulations.

Option B: This relates to the Montreal Protocol, which is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances that cause ozone depletion.
Option C: This is the focus of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and various other human rights covenants, not an environmental treaty like the Basel Convention.
Option D: This is the primary goal of the Kyoto Protocol and the subsequent Paris Agreement, which focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.

Visual 1: Table: A comparative table of major international environmental treaties (Basel, Montreal, Kyoto, Stockholm) and their primary objectives.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Purpose of the Basel Convention as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, especially in community health, must understand environmental health hazards. Exposure to hazardous waste can cause a range of health issues, from cancers to developmental problems, which nurses may encounter in their patients.
A nurse's role includes advocating for safe environmental practices and educating communities about the risks of improper waste disposal.
What if? If a community health nurse notices a cluster of unusual illnesses near a new waste disposal site, they should suspect an environmental link, document findings, and report to public health authorities, potentially invoking principles protected by treaties like the Basel Convention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Basel Convention'.
This is a factual recall question that tests knowledge of major international treaties.
Recall or deduce the specific domain of the Basel Convention. Direct knowledge is often required for such questions.
Evaluate each option. 'Hazardous wastes' is the correct association for the Basel Convention.
Mentally associate the other options with their correct treaties to confirm the answer: Ozone -> Montreal Protocol; Greenhouse gases -> Kyoto Protocol. This process of elimination reinforces the correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.