Highlights and images for 28 September 2017

Switzerland

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

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