The Minamata Convention on Mercury

The negotiation process of the Minamata Convention was long and complex. It arose from the decision, taken by the UNEP Governing Council in February 2009, to prepare a comprehensive, legally binding instrument on mercury. The detailed mandate was set out in Part III of Decision 25/5.

Sessions of the
UNEP Governing Council

  • 27th session: 18 – 22 February 2013, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 26th session: 21 – 24 February 2011, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 25th session: 16 – 20 February 2009, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 24th session: 5 – 9 February 2007, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 23rd session: 21 – 25 February 2005, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 22nd session: 3 – 7 February 2003, Nairobi, Kenya

From that date, negotiations began through the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.

Sessions of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee

  • INC 7: 10 – 15 March 2016, Dead Sea, Jordan
  • INC 6: 3 – 7 November 2014, Bangkok, Thailand
  • INC 5: 13 – 18 January 2013, Geneva, Switzerland
  • INC 4: June 27 – July 2, 2012, Punta del Este, Uruguay
  • INC 3: October 31 – November 4, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya
  • INC 2: 24 – 28 January 2011, Chiba, Japan
  • INC 1: 7 – 11 June 2010, Stockholm, Sweden

At the same time, work was carried out in the context of the Global Mercury Partnership, whose activities have been conducted through the PAG meetings.

Meetings of the
Partnership Advisory Group

  • PAG 11: December 2020, online
  • PAG 10: November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland
  • PAG 9: November 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
  • PAG 8: 22 September 2017, Geneva, Switzerland
  • PAG 7: March 8, 2015, Dead Sea, Jordan
  • PAG 6: October 31 – November 1, Bangkok, Thailand
  • PAG 5: 27 July 2013, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • PAG 4: 27-28 September 2012, Rome, Italy
  • PAG 3: November 5-6, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya
  • PAG 2: 21 – 22 September 2010, Geneva, Switzerland
  • PAG 1: March 31 – April 2, 2009, Geneva, Switzerland

The Minamata Convention finally comes into effect on August 16, 2017

The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the governing group of the convention, it is held from 24 to 29 September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The COP will meet annually for the first three years, therefore every two years.

Meetings of the
Conference of the Parties

  • COP 4: 1 – 5 November 2021, Bali, Indonesia
  • COP 3: 25 – 29 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland
  • COP 2: 19 – 23 November 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
  • COP 1: 24 – 29 September 2017, Geneva, Switzerland

It is essential the Intersessional work, the purpose of which is to prepare the activity of the COP.

CONTACT US

Secretariat: 
National Reference Centre for Mercury (CNRM)
CNR-Institute on Atmospheric Pollution (CNR-IIA)
Tel: +39.0984 493213 – 493214
Fax: +39.0984 493215
U.O.S. of Rende, c/o UNICAL
Via Savinio, snc 
87036 Rende (CS), Italy