Curtain Raiser ｜

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The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in 2013 to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The treaty bans new and phases out existing mercury mines, contains measures to control air emissions and trade, and regulates the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

At its first and second meetings, in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Minamata Convention adopted decisions to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention, including providing guidance on the operation, duration and terms of reference of the Specific International Programme (SIP) to support capacity-building and technical assistance and providing guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on overall strategies, policies, and eligibility for access to and utilization of financial resources.

The COP also adopted guidance documents, including in relation to mercury supply sources and trade, mercury emissions, and the sound interim storage of mercury other than waste mercury. COP2 accepted the offer of the Government of Switzerland to host the autonomous Secretariat of the Convention in Geneva.

At its third meeting, the COP is expected to address a number of key technical issues, including:

• mercury-added products and manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used;
• releases of mercury;
• mercury waste, in particular consideration of relevant thresholds;
• emissions of mercury resulting from the open burning of waste; and
• guidance on the management of contaminated sites.

The COP will also be reviewing and adopting decisions on a number of operational issues, including:

• review of the financial mechanism, including the GEF and the SIP;
• capacity building, technical assistance and technology transfer;
• implementation and Compliance Committees;
• effectiveness evaluation;
• financial rules;
• sharing of secretariat services between the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, and
• programme of work and budget for the biennium 2020-2021.

The COP will also discuss issues relating to the review of Annexes A and B to the Convention, which is due by 2022. A group of African countries has also submitted a proposal to amend Annex A to the Convention on the issue of dental amalgam.

COP3 to the Minamata Convention is set to convene from 25-29 November 2019, at the International Conference Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.