Summary
On Thursday, the Minamata COP1 High-Level Segment convened in the afternoon, with high-level delegates meeting in an opening ceremony, convening in eight ministerial roundtables and an interactive dialogue, and attending a ministerial dinner in the evening at the Palais des Nations.
The Committee of the Whole (COW) convened in the morning to hear progress reports, and in afternoon to recommend draft decisions to the COP.
An open-ended meeting of the Friends of the Chair group on secretariat functions met briefly to report on the outcome of bilateral meetings. Contact groups on reporting, and programme of work and budget convened at various points during the day.
The COP held a “Moment for Minamata” over lunch time, and delegates attended a high-level event hosted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on implementation of the Minamata Convention.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports for COP1. The summary and analysis is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Morning Session - Committee of the Whole (COW)
View of the dais during the morning session
Silvija Kalniņš, Latvia, Co-Chair of the Reporting Contact Group
Teeraporn Wiriwutikorn, Thailand, Co-Chair of the Technical Matters Contact Group
Italo Andrés Flamenco Cordova, El Salvador
Gillian Guthrie, Jamaica, Co-Chair of the Financial Mechanism Contact Group
Nassereddin Heidari, Iran
Reginald Hernaus, the Netherlands, Co-Chair of Programme of Work and Budget Contact Group
Fernando Lugris, Uruguay, COW Chair
María Florencia Grimalt, Argentina
Opening of the High-Level Segment
Delegates are welcomed to the opening of the high-level segement with traditional Swiss music
View of the dais during the opening of the high-level segment
Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation
Jacob Duer, Principal Coordinator, Interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention
Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment
Delegates during the high-level segment
The United Nations Uniting for Minamata High-Level Event
The event, moderated by Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health of the World Health Organization (WHO), is held in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations
David Granger, President of Guyana, delivers the keynote address
Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment
Li Yong, Director General, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Magdy Martinez-Soliman, Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Ministerial family photo
Around the Palais des Nations
Dignitaries at the Venue
UN Security around the venue
Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland, welcomes David Granger, President of Guyana, to the venue
Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, is welcomed to the venue
A bilateral meeting is held between Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, and David Granger, President of Guyana
Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, with Sena Sawai, Minamata Goodwill Ambassador
Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment, and David Granger, President of Guyana
Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, and Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation
Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Confederation, and Hiroshi Nishida, Mayor of Minamata City, Japan
Minamata Moment
Delegates gather for the 'Minamata Moment' to reflect on the history of Minamata
Shinobu Sakamoto, a woman living with fetal Minamata disease
Hiroshi Nishida, Mayor of Minamata City, Japan
Naoko Ishii, CEO, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Around the Venue
Delegates huddle during the Contact Group on Programme of Work and Budget
Sverre Thomas Jahre, Norway, Fernando Lugris, Uruguay, COW Chair, and Yingxian Xia, China
Delegates from Norway
Delegates from India and Iceland
Delegates from Ghana
Delegates speak informally
Evans Louis, Haiti, Gregory Bailey, Antigua and Barbuda, and Franklyn Connor, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Representatives from International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) test a face cream brought by a delegate to measure mercury content
