COP1 ministerial family photo
The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the Minamata Convention is set to convene from 19-23 November 2018 at the International Conference Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.
Key issues to be considered at COP2 include:
- Procedural matters including the rules of procedure and financial rules;
- Technical work related to mercury releases to land or water, as well as mercury emissions through open burning of waste;
- Effectiveness evaluation;
- Organizational arrangements for the Secretariat;
- The operation of the financial mechanism including the Memorandum of Understanding between the Convention and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and certain provisions for the Specific International Programme to Support Capacity Building and Technical Assistance; and
- Rules of procedure for the Implementation and Compliance Committee.
In preparation for deeper consideration at COP3, delegates at this meeting are also set to discuss the development of guidelines on interim storage, the establishment of waste thresholds and the work on guidance on the management of contaminated sites.
Significantly, delegates at COP2 are expected to take a final decision on the arrangements for the Secretariat, an issue that was left pending at the close of COP1. Included in these discussions will be matters related to cooperation with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat, as well as Switzerland’s offer to host the Minamata Secretariat.