While the Minamata Convention on Mercury celebrates the eighth anniversary of its entry into force, more than 150 games and many stakeholders continue to work to reduce mercury pollution worldwide.
The preparations are going well for the 6th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-6), which will take place from November 3 to 7, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Since August 16, 2017, the Minamata Convention has taken important measures to control the sources of supply and mercury trade, reduce the use, emissions and mercury releases, educate the public and strengthen the necessary institutional capacities.
Together, the parties have taken measures to gradually eliminate the products containing added mercury, in particular fluorescent lamps, thermometers and mercury in cosmetics, as well as to limit the use of mercury in industrial processes.
The executive secretary of the Convention, Ms. Monika Stankiewicz said that “these concrete achievements by the parties have contributed to reducing the demand for mercury within industries and reducing emissions and discharges in the environment. Strong action remains to be carried out to protect the current and future ecosystems and generations, in particular populations vulnerable to exposure to mercury ”.
The work of implementation within national laws is supported by the Fund for the Global Environment (FEM) and the specific international program, which constitute the financial mechanism, and initiatives such as the Planetgold program supported by the FEM.
Osvaldo Patricio Álvarez Pérez, president (Chile) of COP-6, said that by associating all the living forces to implement the Minamata convention and other environmental efforts, “we can take up the common challenges and make a greater difference. I undertake to collaborate with all the parties to find common ground and protect the populations and the environment from the dangers of mercury pollution ”.
The COP-6 will discuss the challenges that the parties face in the implementation of the agreement, such as trade control, waste management and the use of mercury in cosmetics, dental fees, craft and small scale of gold and industrial processes.
It will also be an opportunity to approach the question of strengthening cooperation with other global agreements and international partners on essential subjects such as biodiversity and full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities.