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This first session of the mercury science stream of the Minamata Online Season 2 will address interactions between biogeochemical mercury cycling and climate change. The online event will take place on Thursday 22 July (15h30-17h00 CEDT).
16 July 2021
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In the run-up to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-4), Minamata Online returns to support government officials, scientists,
NGOs and other stakeholders of the international mercury community. Check the Minamata Online Season 2 calendar and save the date.
15 July 2021
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On 6 July 2021, Bahrain deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 132nd Party to the Minamata Convention.
08 July 2021
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The Mercury in Products Area of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday 7 July in an online setting. Visit the meeting website for more information and registration details.
05 July 2021
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Titled “Ambition and Action towards 2030”, this virtual forum will count on Wednesday 7 July with the participation of Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz at the Ministerial Dialogue. Visit the website for more information on the two-day event.
05 July 2021
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Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz attended the 60th Council Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on 16 June, thanking Council members and the GEF Secretariat for their strong engagement in the Minamata Convention. The GEF Trust Fund is one of the two components of the financial mechanism of the Convention.
16 June 2021
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A new report produced by the UN Secretariats of the Basel, Minamata,
Rotterdam, & Stockholm conventions maps the interlinkages between
hazardous chemicals, wastes and climate change, which combine to impact
on efforts to conserve and restore nature.
04 June 2021
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On 27 May, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention participated in a Chemicals and Waste briefing organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network (GEN). The online event offered an overview on key activities and important conferences, including the digital and in-person segments of COP-4.
27 May 2021
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Joint statement by the Secretariats of the Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, & Stockholm conventions in launching Key Insights from a Study on the Interlinkages between Chemicals and Waste and Biodiversity.
21 May 2021
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The first version draft of the guidance on national reporting is now open for comments. Parties and stakeholders may submit comments using the comment form available for this purpose and submit it by 28 June 2021.
20 May 2021
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On June 2, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention co-host a webinar that will provide an overview of new guidance on public health strategies in the context of the convention. Learn more and register here by 31 May.
14 May 2021
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On 30 April 2021, the Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz notified the Parties and Signatories to the Minamata Convention on Mercury of three proposed texts of amendments to Annexes A and B.
05 May 2021
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This report summarizes the outcome of the work of the group. Submitted and supplemented information is presented in a "compilation document", part of which is to be further organized and made available to COP4 as an information document.
04 May 2021
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP4) will be held in two segments: online (1-5 November 2021) and in-person (first quarter of 2022 in Bali, Indonesia). Read the letter from the COP4 President and the Executive Secretary.
30 April 2021
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Representatives of donor and recipient countries gathered virtually with members of the wider GEF community to discuss priorities and ambitions for the multilateral trust fund’s next four-year funding cycle that starts in July 2022.
23 April 2021
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On 8 April 2021, the Government of Cambodia deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 131st Party to the Minamata Convention.
19 April 2021
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Parties and stakeholders may submit comments by 31 May 2021.
15 April 2021
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On 31 March 2021, the Government of Central African Republic deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 130th Party to the Minamata Convention.
15 April 2021
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The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention expresses its condolences on the passing of Prof. Lucyna Falkowska, key leader of mercury research in Poland. She passed away on April 7 at the age of 70.
14 April 2021
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The fifth round of applications was launched on 7 April 2021. The deadline for the submission of applications is 7 August 2021.
09 April 2021
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The 15th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, to be held in Cape Town July 2022, issues a call for mini workshop proposals with an opportunity to convene virtual sessions as part of Minamata Online Season 2.
31 March 2021
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On 26 March 2021, the Government of Burundi deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 129th Party to the Minamata Convention.
30 March 2021
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On 10 March 2021, the Government of Cameroon deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 128th Party to the Minamata Convention.
26 March 2021
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On March 30, planetGOLD hosts a virtual event with the participation of the Minamata Convention and the Global Environment Facility to look at the accomplishments and future of the programme after two years of tackling mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
24 March 2021
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On International Women’s Day, the Secretariat launched a video on how women are more negatively impacted by mercury and what needs to be done to better protect, support and promote gender equality. Watch it now.
08 March 2021
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Watch Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz’s video address for the event on 22-23 February 2021: “"This Assembly, together with major MEAs meetings, will help set the world on a clear path to improve human and environmental health".
24 February 2021
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Following the Exchange Session in February, Parties requested the Secretariat to provide for an additional opportunity to engage on the initial views submitted on the proposed indicators. This Exchange Session will be held on Thursday, 4 March 2021. Register now.
19 February 2021
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The Secretariat presents the first publication on the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury – Progress Report 2020. It is focused on the activities and achievements through the year to help fight the toxic impact of mercury. We hope you find this report as useful and full of hope as we do.
03 February 2021
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Parties shall not allow, by taking appropriate measures, the manufacture, import or export of mercury-added products listed in Part I of Annex A after 2020.
27 January 2021
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Following the plan of work for the proposed indicators, the Secretariat will facilitate an exchange session in two parts on the received initial views and responses on Tuesday 2 and Thursday 4 February, from 14:00 to 16:00 CET. Click on the headline to know more and register for the exchange session.
26 January 2021
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The Minamata Secretariat hosted a webinar on the Third Round of applications to the Specific International Programme in separate sessions in English, French and Spanish on 19 and 20 January 2021.
13 January 2021
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On 5 January, the Government of Italy deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 127th Party to the Minamata Convention and the first country to join in the new year 2021.
06 January 2021
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As part of the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to countries to ratify and implement the Minamata Convention, the government of Myanmar has presented the translation of the Convention text in its official language.
30 December 2020
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On 16 December 2020, the Government of Pakistan deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby becoming the 126th Party to the Minamata Convention.
18 December 2020
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On 15 December, the Minamata Convention Secretariat took part in the eleventh meeting of the Global Mercury Partnership Advisory Group. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange on future priorities, discuss progress and next steps, including the preparations for the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (Bali, Indonesia, 1-5 Nov. 2021)
17 December 2020
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On 16 December, the Minamata Convention Secretariat participated in a Chemicals and Waste briefing organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network (GEN). The online event reviewed the outcomes of the work and key activities of 2020, and presented the latest information on the priorities and main conferences scheduled for 2021.
16 December 2020
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The Third Round of applications to the Specific International Programme opened on 15 December 2020. Eligible Parties are invited to apply for projects that can range in size from USD50,000 to USD250,000. Applications are due by Thursday, 18 March 2021.
15 December 2020
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Submissions of initial views on indicators on effectiveness available on online workspace. This is in support of intersessional work on indicators for effectiveness evaluation (MC-3/10).
14 December 2020
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The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention attended the 59th Council Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which due to COVID-19 restrictions was held online from December 7 to December 11, 2020.
10 December 2020
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Under the programme funded by the European Union to help on mercury-added products and effectiveness evaluation, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention invites project proposals on "Market survey and capacity building in Asia and the Pacific".
02 December 2020
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On 1 December, Minamata Online held the last event of the season, its information session on “Socioeconomic impact of mercury pollution”.
01 December 2020
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The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is inviting Parties and interested stakeholders to submit, by December 13th, scientific, technical and policy information on gender and mercury.
30 November 2020
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On 26 November, Minamata Online held an information session on “Article 12: Contaminated Sites”.
This online event, part of the “implementation review and support” stream, outlined how the Minamata Convention sets out obligations with respect to the management of contaminates sites (Article 12) and how it provides relevant technical guidance.
27 November 2020
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On 17 November, Minamata Online held an information session on “Multimedia modelling of global mercury movement”.
18 November 2020
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On 12 November, Minamata Online held two information sessions on "Article 11: Mercury Wastes". These virtual sessions, part of the implementation review and support stream, outlined how the Minamata Convention sets out obligations regarding the management of mercury wastes (Article 11).
13 November 2020
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By October 2020, 91 national reports have been received (achieving a 79.8% rate for the first reporting cycle). New reports received will be posted on this website when available.
12 November 2020
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On 17 November, the Minamata Secretariat, in collaboration with UNEP Global Mercury Partnership and ICMGP, will hold a science session on the opportunities that multimedia modelling covering air, water, biota and humans provides for assessing the state of the environment and the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention.
11 November 2020
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On 4 November 2020, the Government of Qatar deposited its instrument of accession, thereby becoming the 125th Party to the Minamata Convention.
06 November 2020
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On 5 November, Minamata Online held an information session on “Mercury emissions: Estimation and projection”. This online science session, part of the “mercury science” stream, presented available information on estimated mercury emissions of release to the environment and their future projection.
05 November 2020
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