Highlights and images for 23 November 2018

Switzerland

Summary

 

Marc Chardonnens, President, COP2, in informal discussions with delegates

The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury convened for a final day on Friday, 23 November 2018. In the morning, delegates heard reports from the contact groups on effectiveness evaluation, technical issues, and budget; and from the Friends of the President group dealing with outstanding issues, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Global Environment Facility (GEF).COP2 President Marc Chardonnens (Switzerland) then opened discussions on the review of the financial mechanism. Delegates voted to reverse the decision taken on this issue on Tuesday, and then referred further discussion on this item to COP3.By 6:00 pm, delegates adopted decisions on:

  • capacity building, technical assistance and technology transfer;
  • releases;
  • waste thresholds;
  • Harmonized Customs codes;
  • date and venue of COP3;
  • effectiveness evaluation;
  • secretariat arrangements;
  • environmentally sound interim storage of mercury other than mercury waste; and
  • contaminated sites.

The contact group on budget and programme of work continued to work to complete its work.Delegates adopted the budget and programme of work for 2019 in the evening.After closing remarks by Rossana Silva Repetto, Executive Secretary, Minamata Convention, President Chardonnens gaveled the meeting to a close at 8:08 pm.

IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from COP2.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu

For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page

The dais during plenary
Marc Chardonnens, COP2 President, discussing with Stadler Trengove, Legal Advisor
Claudia ten Have, Minamata Convention Secretariat, and David Kapindula (Zambia), COP2 Rapporteur and incoming COP3 President
Delegates from Africa in consultations during plenary
Rossana Silva, Executive Secretary, Minamata Convention on Mercury
Franz Perrez, Switzerland, consulting with Heidar Ali Balouji, Iran
Delegates raise their flags to vote during plenary.
Vladimir Lenev, Russian Federation, consulting with Heidar Ali Balouji, Iran, during plenary
Vilma Morales Quillama and Camila Coralí Alva Estabridis, Peru
Nasser Mshai and Ziyad Bagazi, Saudi Arabia
Technical Matters Contact Group Co-Chairs Silvija Kalniņš (Latvia) and Teeraporn Wiriwutikorn (Thailand) consult with Kei Ohno Woodall, BRS Secretariat
Delegates from Bulgaria
Delegates from Sri Lanka
Teeraporn Wiriwutikorn, Thailand
Svetlana Bolocan, Moldova
Italo Andrés Flamenco Córdova, El Salvador
Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez Pérez, Chile
Mick Saito, Japan; Paul Almodóvar, US, discussing with Gabriela Nair Medina Amarante, Uruguay
Delegates applaud the adoption of a decision
Rossana Silva, Executive Secretary, Minamata Convention on Mercury, gives closing remarks.
President of COP2, Marc Chardonnens, gavels the meeting to a close.
Around the Venue
The ENB team at the Minamata COP2 (L-R): Brett Wertz, Nancy Williams, Sean Wu, Keith Ripley, Cherelle Jackson, and Tallash Kantai