The recent debacle in Côte d’Ivoire highlights the need for global social and environmental standards for companies.
A ship carrying toxic waste dumped its contents around the capital city of Abidjan last week causing 6 deaths and prompting 9,000 people to seek treatment so far. In an unprecedented move, the fragile government resigned in response to widespread protests, putting in jeopardy the stability of a country that is already teetering on the precipice of a shaky 2003 peace agreement between the rebel-held north and the ruling party in the south.
While sharply bringing into focus the powerful impact that environmental disasters can have on fragile economies, failed states, and countries in transition, this incident also raises the issue of global corporate accountability.
According to news reports, various companies were involved from the Greek company, Prime Marine Management that owned the Panamanian-registered vessel sailed by a Russian crew to the Netherlands-based company, Trafigura, that chartered the ship through its wholly-owned subsidiary in Abidjan, Puma Energy, and the Ivorian company, Tommy, that had been entrusted with handling the toxic waste after it was unloaded.
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