Sunday 24 November - 13:00-14:00 - Room 3
Technical Briefing on national reporting under the Convention
Article 21 of the Convention requests parties to periodically report on the measures taken to implement the Convention, effectiveness of these measures, and possible challenges they face. The first "short" reporting is due by 31 December 2019, covering Article 3 (mercury supply and trade) and Article 11 (waste). The full reporting is due by 31 December 2021, when parties are expected to report on the measures to phase out mercury-added products by 2020, national action plan on artisanal and small-scale gold mining, etc.
This technical briefing will deep-dive into the technical aspects of the first reporting in 2019, and remind the delegates on the parties' obligations to control the life-cycle of mercury that they have to report on in 2021.
Programme
1. First biennial reporting by 31 December 2019 – Deep dive
- Question 1 – primary mercury mining
- Question 2 – stocks and sources of mercury
- Question 3 – import consent
- Recent trend in mercury trade
- Question 4 – final disposal facilities
- On-line reporting tool
- National focal points
2. Full reporting by 31 December 2021 – Heads up
- Article 4 (products) – measures taken towards 2020 phase-out
- Article 5 (processes) – measures taken towards 2018/2025 phase-out
- Article 7 (ASGM) – national action plan within three years
- Other articles
Useful information
Sunday 24 November - 14:00-15:00 - Room 2
Briefing by the African Group on the proposed amendment to Annex A of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
African Region
Modérateur/Moderator Mme/Ms. Oarabile Serumola (Botswana)
| Thèmes |
Items |
Speakers / Intervenants |
Duration |
| Conclusions sur l’analyse de la situation régionale sur la dentisterie en Afrique |
Conclusions on the analysis of the regional situation on dentistry in Africa |
Ing. Serge Molly Allo'o Allo'o (Gabon) |
5mn |
| Pourquoi la région Afrique soutien-t-il l’élimination de l’amalgame dentaire ? |
Why does the Africa region support the face out dental amalgam? |
Dr. Christopher Kapeshi (Zambia) |
5mn |
| Expérience des alternatives disponibles pour une dentisterie sans mercure en Afrique : Cas de la Côte d’Ivoire |
Experience of alternatives available for mercury-free dentistry in Africa: Case of Côte d'Ivoire |
Dr. Sy Martial (Côte d’Ivoire) |
5mn |
| Pourquoi l’Alliance mondiale pour une dentisterie sans mercure soutient la proposition d’amendement de la région Afrique ? |
Why is the Global Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry supporting the Africa Region Amendment Proposal? |
Charlie G. Brown (USA)
Sharhriar Hossain Ph.D Vice President, World Alliance (Asia Pacific/ Bangladesh) |
5mn
5mn |
| Dentisterie sans mercure, opportunité sanitaires et environnementales pour les pays en développement |
Mercury-free dentistry, health and environmental opportunities for developing countries |
Mariscia Charles (Guyana) |
5mn |
| Fondement juridique de la proposition d’amendement de l’Annexe A proposé par la région Afrique |
Legal basis of the proposed amendment to Annex A proposed by the Africa region |
Dr. Wondwossen Syntayehu (Ethiopie/Institut Africain) |
5mn |
| Questions réponse |
Reactions/comments |
|
20mn |
Le Side Event se déroulera en français et en anglais avec une traduction simultanée dans les deux langues. Des sandwiches et des boissons seront servis / The Side Event will be held in French and English with simultaneous translation in both languages. Sandwiches and drinks will be served
Overview of the Speakers:
Ms. Oarabile Serumola (Botswana)
Ms. Oarabile Serumola is chemist, Director of the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control under Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism of Botswana. She administers three Chemical Conventions : Basel Convention, Stockholm Convention and Minamata Convention on Mercury. Her core mandates is to regulate the waste sector through development and implementation of Policies/ legislations and regulations dealing with waste management. She has over 20 years exprience dealing with environmental pollution and waste management issues.
Email oserumola@gov.bw Phone + 267 3934483 Mobile +267 73333589.
Serge Molly Allo’o Allo’o (Gabon)
Serge Molly Allo’o Allo’o is Biochemist, Deputy Director General of the National Antipollution Center, an institution under the authority of the Ministry in charge of the Environment whose mission is the fight against pollution and nuisance. He participated in negotiations on the development of the Minamata Convention and has extensive experience in negotiating Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) for chemicals and hazardous wastes.
He is Vice-President of the Minamata’s COP2 on behalf of the Africa Region.
Email sergemolly14@gmail.com Phone +241 077708528
Dr. Christopher Kapeshi (Zambia)
Dr. Christopher Kapeshi has over 16 years work experience as a dental surgeon and specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He is involved in teaching both medical and dental students in government and private universities in Zambia. He has served as a board member on a multi-national board. He is currently practicing as a specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon at University teaching hospital in Lusaka Zambia. He is currently the president of the Zambia Dental association (ZDA)
Dr. Say Martial (Cote d’Ivoire)
Dr. SAY Martial held a Ph D degree in organic chemistry in 2001 at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. He is assistant professor in the Department of Organic Chemistry at Felix Houphouet Boigny University. He has been appointed to be Coordinator of the National Programme for Chemicals Management at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. He is also the National Focal Point of the Minamata Convention on mercury.
Charlie G. Brown (USA)
Charlie Brown, an attorney, is president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, the umbrella NGO which mobilizes civil society to work to end the use of mercury amalgam. The World Alliance works with governments and NGOs around the work, and with its regional affiliates: the Asian Center for Environmental Health, le Centre Africain pour la Santé Environnementale, the Latin American Center for Environmental Health, and the European Center for Environmental Medicine.
Ph.D Sharhriar Hossain (Bangladesh)
Dr. Shahriar Hossain is an ecologist and social justice advocacy, he is being involved with the Minamata process since 2008 and member of Minamata Convention mercury waste expert group. He is a contributor and expert of the UNEP Practical Hand Book on waste. Dr. Shahriar is a social and environmental activist and founder of Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO and working on Mercury Amalgam issue since 2012, he is now the Executive Vice President of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry.
Mariscia Charles (Guyana)
Ms. Mariscia Charles is a Policy Analyst in the Minister’s Secretariat at the Ministry of Natural Resources in Guyana. She is Guyana’s National Focal Point on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the National Supervisor for Guyana National Action Plan for the ASGM sector Project, the National Coordinator for the National Working Group for the implementation of the Minamata Convention. She is also a current Bureau member from the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean for COP3. As Guyana’s Minamata Convention project lead, she provides policy advice to the Minister of Natural Resources on a wide range of ministerial and public policy issues specifically to Minamata and Mercury, coordinate and participate in the policy-making consultative processes and prepare and provide quality control reviews and advise on the policy matters.
Dr. Wondwossen Syntayehu (Ethiopie/Institut Africain)
keywords: annex A, dental amalgam
Monday 25 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 3
Delivering on the 2030 Agenda through Environmental Governance: Promoting synergies between biodiversity and chemicals and waste MEA clusters
UNEP
Introduction
Multilateral Environmental Agreements are fundamental instruments in strengthening the environmental dimension of 2030 Agenda. In this wider context of sustainable development, the MEAs have a crucial role not only in responding to environmental challenges but preserving the human wellbeing, healthy ecosystems and food security.
The biodiversity and chemicals/waste related MEAs cut across all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to their distinct legal mandates, many interlinkages exist across the conventions. These interlinkages and cross-cutting issues provide concrete footsteps and opportunities for closer cooperation at all levels. New thinking and models for action are needed to reverse the current environmental trends. There are increasing calls to address the challenges coherently by working together, outside the silos.
The current ongoing processes on post-2020 framework for SAICM and the post-2020 biodiversity framework provide important avenues for enhancing policy coherence and cooperation. These future looking processes offer concrete ways to enhance synergies both among the different MEAs as well as in the wider UN-system. The Chemicals and Waste Branch of UNEP in consultation with Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) and other institutions is currently working on an Assessment paper, which seeks to assess the linkages between chemicals and waste management and other international policy agendas and to identify opportunities for coordination and cooperation. The paper presents an entry point to further build on synergies between identified policy agendas, including implementing biodiversity and chemicals/waste agendas at national, regional and global level.
UNEP and the various environmental agreements need to further strengthen the joint actions to deliver on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Promoting synergies of MEAs across biodiversity and chemicals/ waste clusters is one of the key areas of work in this regard.
Modality
The event is organized by UNEP and its main objective is to showcase the interlinkages between clusters and facilitate interactive dialogue on way forward – what needs to be done on national, regional and global level. Most participants will be drawn on a first-come, first-served basis, from national delegations to the Minamata convention to share ideas and way forward on enhancing synergies among biodiversity and chemicals MEA clusters. Other participants will represent the UN system, international organizations, and major groups and stakeholders. Flyers, power point presentations on promoting synergies among biodiversity and chemicals and wastes clusters of MEAs shall be used to aid knowledge and information sharing for the meeting.
Outcomes
Participants will develop a practical understanding on the synergies between biodiversity and chemicals/ waste MEA clusters, as well as an understanding on how best to promote synergies among the two MEA clusters at all levels. A detailed meeting report shall be developed and shall be uploaded on UNEP and relevant MEA websites to ensure information with unrepresented parties and stakeholders.
Target audience
- Member state representatives present at the CoP
- MEA Secretariats (Biodiversity and chemicals and waste related)
- The private sector
- NGOs
- UN agencies- UNEP, WHO, OHCHR etc
- Intergovernmental Organizations
Draft Agenda
(Moderator Jacqueline Alvarez, UNEP Chemicals)
13:15-13:30 Welcome and opening (Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP)
13:30-13:40 Overview of options and opportunities from chemicals and waste perspective (Rossana Silva Repetto, Executive Secretary Minamata Convention on Mercury)
13:40-13:50 Overview of options and opportunities from biodiversity perspective (Martha Rojas Urrego, Executive Secretary Ramsar Convention on Wetlands)
13:50-14:45 Open Discussion, invited comments by:
- Carlos Martin-Novella, Deputy Executive Secretary BRS Conventions
- Sverre Thomas Jahre, Senior Advisor, Department of Marine Management and Pollution Control, Section for Industry, Norway
- Felix Wertli, Head of Section, Global Affairs, Switzerland
- Noluzuko (Zukie) Gwayi, Senior Policy Advisor, International Chemicals and Waste Cooperation, South Africa
Guiding questions for Discussion
- What opportunities do you see for (inter-cluster) synergies to deliver on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?
- Way forward. How best can synergies between the two MEA clusters be built on?
14:40-14:45 Conclusions and Closing (Tita Korvenoja, UNEP Law Division)
Presentations:
Overview of options and opportunities from the chemicals and waste perspective
Delivering on the 2030 Agenda through Environmental Governance - Promoting synergies between biodiversity and chemicals and waste MEA clusters
keywords: biodiversity, chemicals and waste, national implementation
Monday 25 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 4
planetGOLD: solutions for the ASGM sector
GEF
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest anthropogenic source of mercury globally. Under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Parties agreed to take steps to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury and mercury compounds from ASGM. To address this sector, the GEF approved a $45 million global program, Global Opportunities for Long Term Development of the ASGM Sector (GEF GOLD). This program now has its own identity and is branded planetGOLD.
During this side event, some of the main issues associated with the ASGM sector will be presented, including formalization, finance, and alternative technologies to mercury. Through video, the event will bring miners’ voices to the COP, to identify practical issues and barriers in reducing/eliminating mercury in ASGM. A panel of experts and the audience will then offer their perspectives and possible available solutions.
Expected speakers:
- Anil Sookdeo, GEF
- Mariscia Charles, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana
- Dewi Krisnayanti, National Project Coordinator, planetGOLD Indonesia project
- Patience Singo, Advisor, IMPACT
- Priya Bala-Miller, Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI), and Chair, Programme Advisory Group, planetGOLD
keywords: ASGM
Monday 25 November - 13:15-14:00 - Room 18
Ending the mercury age in dentistry: the roadmap of solutions for the phase-out mercury dental amalgam
Say No to Mercury
The event will address the various challenges of both the point and diffuse sources of mercury releases and emissions from the dental sector. A roadmap to phase out the use of mercury dental amalgam will be shared. It sets out a new standard for best environmental practices and utilize the best available technology for the permanent abatement of mercury pollution from the dental sector.
Programme: three PowerPoint presentations followed with opportunity for questions from the delegates to the expert panelists.
Expected speakers:
- Dr Lisa Matriste, Say No to Mercury – “Ten reasons to phase-out dental amalgam NOW”
- Anita Tibau, Say No to Mercury – “The Ugly Truth – mercury releases and emissions from the dental sector”
- Mike Darcy, CEO MARS Bio-Med Processes Inc – “Introducing the MARS Liberty BOSS amalgam separator – BAT for the abatement of releases of dental mercury into waste water treatment plants”
Presentations:
Say No to dental mercury now
Say No to Dental Mercury Now - flyer
keywords: dental amalgam, crematoria, amalgam separator devices
Monday 25 November - 14:00-14:45 - Room 18
The African amalgam amendment: protecting our environment, our health and our children
World Alliance for Mercury-free Dentistry
Moderator: Dr, Shahriar Hossain (World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry), Bangladesh
| Thèmes |
Items |
Speakers/Intervenants |
Duration |
| L’Amendement porté par la région Afrique, une priorité à l’ordre du jour de la COP 3 : Pourquoi un amendement porté par la région Afrique |
The African Amalgam Amendment, a high on agenda at COP3: Why the African Amendment |
Ing. Serge Molly Allo'o Allo'o (Gabon) |
5mn |
| Pourquoi la fin de l’amalgame chez les enfants et les mères allaitantes est significatif et constitue une étape d’équité entre le monde entier et l’Europe |
Why Ending amalgam for children and nursing mother is significant and a step to equity of the entire world with Europe |
Dr. Graeme Munro Hall (UK) |
5mn |
| Pourquoi la région Afrique soutien-t-elle l’élimination de l’amalgame dentaire ? |
Why does the Africa region support the face out dental amalgam? |
Dr. Christopher Kapeshi (Zambie) |
5mn |
| Dommages environnementaux importants pour l'alimentation des enfants / Major environmental harm for children’s diets |
Explain the major environmental harm for children’s diets in developing countries unless the transition to mercury-free dentistry begins now |
Michael Bender (USA) |
5mn |
| Pourquoi l’Alliance mondiale pour une dentisterie sans mercure soutient la proposition d’amendement de la région Afrique ? |
Why is the Global Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry supporting the Africa Region Amendment Proposal? |
Charlie G. Brown (USA) |
5mn |
| Fondement juridique de la proposition d’amendement de l’Annexe A proposé par la région Afrique |
Legal basis of the proposed amendment to Annex A proposed by the Africa region |
Dr. Wondwossen Syntayehu (Ethiopie/Institut Africain) |
5mn |
| Open Discussions |
Reactions/comments |
|
10mn |
Other speakers:
- Mr. Bally Dominique Kpokro, Executive Director, African Center for Environmental Health, Cote d’Ivoire
- Dr. Say Martial, Cote d’Ivoire)
- Siddika Sultana, Director Asian Center for Environmental Health, Bangladesh
- Mr. Florian Schulze, Project Manager, Environmental Medicine, Germany
- Dr. Aneshimode Leslie Adogame, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Nigeria
Presentations:
Emerging Global Consensus for Ending Mercury Amalgam Use for Children
Progress Toward Mercury-Free Dentistry in Europe and the Americas
Why does the African Region support the phasing out of dental amalgam
Why ending amalgam for children and nursing mothers is significant
The African amalgam amendment: protecting our environment, our health and our children
Key elements of an amalgam phase out strategy, including country-specific examples
End amalgam for the most vulnerable to mercury among us by 2021
Asian Center for Environmental Health Building Asian Network
keywords: dental amalgam
Tuesday 26 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 2
Towards mercury-free ASGM
Switzerland, UNIDO, BGI
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has challenging environmental and social implications. The sector significantly contributes to mercury emissions the environment creating damage to human health and the environment. Many efforts are under way to improve this situation. With this side-event the Government of Switzerland and its partners would like to discuss the implementation of the Minamata Convention with regard to ASGM in different countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Mongolia, Nigeria, and Peru. Where does mercury free ASGM work and why? What alternative approaches and better practices exist? How should tailings in ASGM be managed? How can formalization lead to better practices? How can a traceable value chain encourage the reduction of mercury use eventually to zero? What role can the harmonization of legislation play?
The event is targeted towards delegates from different ministries, NGOs and the private sector all dealing with the challenges in the ASGM sector. The event will discuss the questions above through concrete examples of different countries.
Draft Programme
1) Opening (25mn)
Welcoming remarks
- Mr Felix Wertli, Head of Swiss Delegation to the Minamata COP3, Head Global Affairs, Federal Office for the Environment Switzerland (FOEN)
Key notes speeches
On market access and traceability:
- Ms Monica Rubiolo Gonzalez, Head of Trade Promotion, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Switzerland (SECO)
- Representative of Ecuador (tbc)
On Formalization:
- Mr Jürg Schneider, Program Officer, Swiss Development Cooperation (DEZA)
- Representative of Philippines (tbc)
On Management of mercury waste and Hg in tailings:
- Representative of Ghana (tbc)
2) Parallel group discussion related to the key note speeches (45mn)
- Market access and traceability
- Formalization
- Management of mercury and tailings
3) Summary in Plenary and conclusions (15mn)
- Rapporteurs of the groups inform about the group discussions
- Representative of UNIDO summarizes and makes an outlook
keywords: ASGM, national implementation
Tuesday 26 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 18
Minamata Initial Assessments and the UNEP mercury inventory toolkit: enhancing knowledge to implement the Minamata Convention
UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch
National governments, with funding provided by the GEF and technical assistance provided by GEF implementing agencies, have over the past years been implementing Minamata Initial Assessments (MIAs) that aim to strengthen national decision-making toward ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and build national capacity towards implementation of future obligations.
The overall objective of this side event is to showcase how the knowledge generated through MIA contributes to timely and effective ratification and implementation of the Minamata Convention.
Specific objectives: To demonstrate how knowledge generated through the MIAs:
- has helped countries identify their national challenges on mercury and prioritize actions to implement the Minamata Convention;
- has enabled the identification of wider regional and global trends and new opportunities for regional cooperation amongst parties;
- has contributed to improved understanding on mercury emissions and releases and allowed the further refinement of the UNEP Mercury Inventory Toolkit, and the launch of the 2019 update.
Expected Results:
- Reinforced understanding on how the knowledge generated through MIAs can serve countries in their efforts to implement the Minamata Convention;
- Improved understanding on the areas of regional cooperation regarding the implementation of the Minamata Convention;
- Disseminated information on the 2019 UNEP Mercury Inventory Toolkit,
Target Audience:
- Country delegates
- Implementing/Executing partners
- Donors
Format: The event is held as an interactive session addressing the three objectives above using short speeches, videos and electronic tools.
Knowledge products to be shared:
- Summary of the global and regional trends of mercury emissions and releases
- Summary of the global and regional trends on priority actions and capacity ga
Draft Agenda and Expected Speakers:
The side event will be chaired by Juha Ronkainen, UNEP
- Opening
Ludovic Bernaudat, Programme Management Officer, UN Environment Programme
- National mercury inventories: key findings
David Evers, Executive Director, Biodiversity Research Institute
- Minamata Initial Assessments: National Priorities and Capacity Gaps
Takafumi Anan, Associate Expert, Minamata Secretariat
- 2019 UNEP Mercury Toolkit
Jakob Maag, Senior Expert, United Nations Institute for Training and Research
keywords: Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA), UNEP Toolkit, emissions and releases
Tuesday 26 November - 18:15-19:00 - Room 2
Quick guides to mercury from coal with focus on the challenge for emerging Asia
Global Mercury Partnership; Area on Mercury Control from Coal Combustion
The burning of coal is one of the largest single anthropogenic sources of mercury air emissions. Although coal contains only small concentrations of mercury, it is burnt in very large volumes. And despite a growing number of countries moving away from coal, its global demand is expected to remain steady over the next 5 years at least. Up to 95% of mercury releases from power plants can however be reduced, by improving coal and plant performance and optimizing control systems for other pollutants.
Through this side event, the Global Mercury Partnership - Coal Combustion Area, will offer COP3 attendees - of both technical and non-technical background - a snapshot on the situation of mercury from coal burning. With a particular focus on applicability and costs, the event will provide hands-on state of the art knowledge and science on mercury monitoring, cost-effective control measures and abatement technologies. It will also feature national perspectives, with speakers presenting on the latest developments of the sector. Finally, participants will be invited to exchange with national and international experts through a participatory Q&A session.
Programme and expected speakers:
18:15 Opening remarks, followed by an overview of past and future work of the Global Mercury Partnership Coal Combustion Area, including an announcement of new project work in Southeast Asia - Lesley Sloss, International Energy Agency Clean Coal Centre and Peter Nelson, Macquarie University (Australia)
18:25 A quick guide to opportunities for co-benefits from plant optimization and existing pollutants control measures - Carlos Romero, Lehigh University, USA
18:35 A quick guide on how to monitor mercury emissions from coal burning at increasingly low concentrations - Joseph Siperstein, Ohio Lumex, USA
18:45 A few quick examples of mercury control projects - Roger Brandwood, Uniper, UK
18:55 Questions & Answers
19:00 End of the event - Speakers will remain available to answer questions.
Presentations:
A few quick examples of mercury
control projects
A Quick Guide on how to monitor mercury emissions from coal burning
sources at increasingly low concentrations
Mercury from coal plants: focus on Asia
A Quick Guide to Opportunities for Co Benefits from Plant Optimization and Existing Pollutants Control Measures
keywords: emissions, coal combustion
Tuesday 26 November - 18:15-19:00 - Room 18
Mercury contaminated sites - guidance, finance and the challenges of ASGM sites
IPEN
This event aims to raise awareness among Parties and others about the opportunities and challenges presented by mercury-contaminated sites and the importance of addressing them to reduce global mercury pollution levels. It will present information about the state of mercury-contaminated sites globally, those that present some of the greatest risks, challenges and health impacts, as well as emerging technologies to address challenging sites such as active ASGM locations. Strategies to address primary mercury mining which is on the rise in some countries, will also be discussed with specific examples. In addition, it is anticipated that information will be presented on funding opportunities for the Parties to address contaminated sites within the framework of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Expected speakers:
- Lee Bell, Mercury Policy Advisor, IPEN
- Yuyun Ismawati, Nexus 3 / BaliFokus Foundation
- Griffins Ochieng Ochola, Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD)
Presentations:
Mercury contaminated sites in ASGM sites of Indonesia
Mercury Pollution and Contaminated Sites: Case of ASGM and Other Hotspots in Kenya
Mercury Contaminated Sites: The urgent need for global guidance
keywords: contaminated sites, ASGM
Wednesday 27 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 3
COP Special event on Mercury Science
The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention is convening a special session on mercury science, with funding from the Government of Japan. For the planning of the session, the Secretariat consulted with Prof. Jozef Pacyna, chair of the International Conference on Mercury as Global Pollutants held in Krakow, Poland in September 2019, and invited the following speakers.
- Mr. Nil Basu, McGill University, Canada
- Ms. Milena Horvat, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
- Ms. Joy Leaner, Western Cape Government, South Africa
- Mr. Olaf Malm, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Mr. Jozef Pacyna, AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland
- Mr. Mineshi Sakamoto, National Institute for Minamata Disease, Japan
The session will start with presentations on state of mercury science, followed by a panel discussion on the contribution of science to the implementation of the Minamata Convention.
Presentation:
Bridging knowledge on global mercury with environmental responsibility, human welfare and policy response
Wednesday 27 November - 18:15-19:00 - Room 15
Defining the road ahead: Lessons learned from the National Action Plans on ASGM
UNEP, UNIDO, WHO
Development of National Action Plans (NAPs) for artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is an obligation under Article 7 of the Minamata Convention for each Party that determines that mercury use in ASGM in its territory is “more than insignificant”. Recognizing that the ASGM sector is closely linked to complex economic, social and environmental issues, the Convention allows flexible, country-specific solutions through the development of NAP to reduce and where feasible eliminate mercury use in the ASGM sector. Till date, 35 countries have embarked on the development of a NAP. Several of them have already completed or are about to endorse and submit their NAP to the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention.
The side event will present the global status and progress made on the NAP development. It will highlight the challenges that national teams have encountered during such process and discuss possible solutions to overcome them, including with respect to the future NAP implementation. The event will be organized around key issues and strategies of NAPs, including for example: i) developing a national overview of the ASGM sector, ii) developing formalization strategies, iii) developing public health strategy, and/or iv) managing mercury trade regionally. Further, it will feature a discussion on paving the road towards implementation, including with respect to mobilizing financial resources, leveraging political will and inter-ministerial coordination. The audience will have an opportunity to share their experiences and questions through an online polling tool.
Overall objective of the event is to share and discuss the progress made and draw lessons from the development of the NAPs so far.
Target audience: Governmental representatives from countries with ASGM, civil society stakeholders, IGOs
Expected speakers:
- Opening remarks and presentation of the global progress
- Rocio Fernandez Garcia, UNIDO
- Malgorzata Stylo, UNEP
- Sharing national experience and lessons learned
- Uganda
- Arnold Waiswa Ayazika; Director Environment Monitoring and Compliance; National Environment Management Authority
- Anne Nakafeero, National Environment Management Authority
- Ecuador
- Berenice Alexandra Quiroz Yanez, Minamata focal point
- José Antonio Piedra Montoya, National NAP Project Coordinado
- Ellen Rosskam, WHO
- Milene Pacheco, Artisanal Gold Council
Presentation:
Addressing health when developing national action plans on ASGM under the Minamata Convention on Mercury
keywords: ASGM, national implementation
Wednesday 27 November - 18:15-19:00 - Room 18
Dangerous, mercury-laden and often illegal skin-lightening products and measures to restrict them under the Minamata Convention
Zero Mercury Working Group
18:15 Dangerous, mercury-laden and often illegal skin lightening products: readily available for (online) purchase
Michael Bender, MPP/ZMWG
Shahriar Hossain, ESDO, Bangladesh
18:29 Enforcement measures to restrict high mercury cosmetic products under the Minamata Convention
Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, EEB/ZMWG,
Jam Lorenzo, Ban Toxics, Philippines
Griffins Ochieng, CEJAD, Kenya
18:43 Outreach to affected communities
Amira Adawe, The Beautywell Project
18:50 Questions & Anwsers
19:00 Closure
Thursday 28 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 1
Looking ahead: SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020
The SAICM Secretariat
Objectives:
- Inform participants on the intersessional process (IP) for SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 and the journey towards the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5)
- Moderate a discussion on strengthening coordination and engagement for the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 in response to the SAICM independent evaluation and in line with the 2030 Agenda.
Background:
- SAICM is a global multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder, voluntary policy framework aimed at minimizing significant adverse effects of chemicals on human health and the environment by 2020. The SAICM platform has provided a space to convene actors and to coordinate and catalyze collective actions. It has built capacity at country and regional level for addressing basic elements for the sound management of chemicals and has addressed emerging issues such as chemicals in products, electronics and pharmaceutical pollutants.
- One of the key strengths of SAICM is that it has provided the opportunity for governments and non-government actors, to discuss and deliberate on the management of chemicals throughout their life cycle in an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.
- A new overarching approach for SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 is currently being deliberated by an intersessional process and key decisions will be taken at the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management in Bonn, Germany from 5-9 October 2020.
Key Policy Questions for Discussion
- How has the Minamata Convention on Mercury community at large benefited from the implementation of SAICM to date?
- How the Minamata community could participate closer in the intersessional process?
- How do the Minamata National Focal Points and SAICM National Focal Points work together at national level? What is working well? What can be improved?
- How can we maximize benefits of each other’s efforts?
- What can be improved in relation to information sharing and collaboration?
- How can we foster a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach, including partnership and mechanisms for technical cooperation?
Draft Agenda:
| PROPOSED TIMING
|
PROPOSED SECTIONS
|
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS
|
LEAD BY |
| 13:15 – 13:45
|
Welcome
Introduction to the intersessional process considering SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020
|
SAICM is an ambitious initiative
SAICM delivering its outputs though conferences and intersessional meetings
Evidence that political and technical awareness and understanding of the risk of chemicals, and the tools available to manage risks |
Mrs. Judith Torres, Co-chair of the intersessional process considering SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020, Government of Uruguay
Mrs. Brenda Koekkoek, Programme Officer, SAICM Secretariat
|
| 13:45 – 14:15 |
Working together to improve capacity for the sound management of chemicals and waste and encourage regional cooperation |
Examples of national and regional initiatives for the sound management of chemicals and wastes:
Government of Kenya: Support to chemicals and wastes MEAs and SAICM implementation: Towards becoming a party to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and leading regional cooperation on the establishment of a lead in paint standard.
Government of the Republic of Moldova: Supporting SAICM Implementation regarding GHS in Central and Eastern Europe and looking ahead to support post-ratification of the Minamata Convention
European Environmental Bureau: Mercury added product reduction projects within a non-legally binding framework for improving capacity for the sound management of chemicals and waste |
Panelists
Government of Kenya
Panelist to be confirmed
Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, Project Manager for 'Zero Mercury' Campaign
|
| 14:15 – 14:35 |
Discussion |
Key Policy Considerations |
Mrs. Brenda Koekkoek, Programme Officer, SAICM Secretariat |
| 14:35 – 14:45 |
Closing: Getting to ICCM5 |
What are the next steps towards the fourth meeting of the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 and ICCM5? |
Ms. Jutta EMIG
Head of Division
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety Government of Germany |
Presentations:
Final Agenda of the Side event
Looking ahead: SAICM and the sound management of cshemicals and waste beyond 2020
Overview of Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in Kenya
Republic of Moldova SAICM and the sound management of chemicals and waste
Mercury-added product reduction projects within a non-legally binding framework
keywords: products, finance, awareness raising, national implementation, SAICM
Thursday 28 November - 18:15-19:00 - Room 15
Get to know the High ambition alliance on chemicals and waste and good ideas for global organization of the chemicals and waste agenda beyond 2020
Government of Sweden, Government of Uruguay
This event aims to inform the audience about the high ambition alliance on chemicals and waste. It will also discuss the opportunities of a global framework for addressing challenges in the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020, including its relationship with the chemicals and waste related conventions.
The Government of Sweden and Uruguay will host the event and present the ideas behind creating the high ambition alliance on chemicals and waste. What it is envisioned to contribute with? Who should and can take part?
Expected speakers:
- Sofia Tingstorp, Ministry of Environment, Sweden
- Alfred Wills, Summit Outcomes
Presentations:
Enhancing the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste beyond 2020
High ambition alliance on chemicals and waste
keywords: awareness raising, beyond 2020
Thursday 28 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 18
Regional and national approaches to mercury trade control in Latin America
UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office
The event will share the outcomes of the regional workshop held in Bolivia in October 2019. The workshop was co-hosted by the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and the Government of Bolivia to exchange information on mercury trade between countries of Latin America and the Caribbean region and to support the countries in the implementation of their obligations under the Convention. Following the presentation on the regional perspectives and outcomes of the workshop, two countries will present their national and regional experience and challenges to control and keep track of mercury trades.
Chair: Jordi Pon, UN Environment Programme, Latin America and the Caribbean Office
Introduction: Capacity-building and technical assistance on mercury trade. Claudia ten Have, Secretariat of the Minamata Convention
Presenters:
- Regional perspectives; outcomes of the regional workshop to exchange information on mercury trade: Mr. Arturo Gavilán, INECC/Government of Mexico.
- A national system to control and track mercury movements; the case of Peru: Mr. César Llanos, Ministry of Environment, Peru.
- Regional cooperation; the Andean Observatory to exchange information on mercury: Mr. Roberto Mario Esmeral, Deputy minister, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia.
Presentations:
Regional and national approaches to mercury trade control in Latin America
Introduction
Flyer
Establishment of the Andean Observatory responsible for the management of official
information regarding Mercury
Regional perspectives ; outcomes of the regional workshop to exchange information on mercury trade
A national system to control and track mercury movements: the case of Peru
keywords: mercury trade, supply and demand
Thursday 28 November - 18:15-19:00 - Room 18
Strategic planning for implementation of the health-related articles of the Minamata Convention
WHO
This event will be the official global launch of new WHO Guidance on Strategic Planning for Implementation of the Health-related Articles of the Minamata Convention, and will share experience from its early use in countries. The objective is to foster collaboration between the health and other sectors, provide a forum for the health sector to showcase their work, as well as explain the opportunities and challenges encountered.
The Programme will include:
- Introduction to the WHO guidance, pilot testing in 2018 and roll-out in three countries in the second half of 2019.
- Experience from Lao PDR, Sri Lanka and Tanzania in using the guidance. A short brochure outlining the country experience will support the event and the countries will be invited to speak about the results of their strategic planning exercise. Topics will include: opportunities for mainstreaming mercury activities in ministries of health; how health plans complement and build in MIAs and national plans; creating health networks for implementation among national bodies. Identified challenges will also be shared to raise awareness about the needs of the health sector.
- Working with NGOs and industry partners. One or two speakers or discussants from the floor will highlight the importance and advantages of working with a range of partners at national level.
- Discussion, Q&A. This will also enable the audience to raise any specific technical issues on the health-related articles.
- Closing remarks from WHO about global implementation of the guidance.
Expected speakers:
- Dr. Panom Phongmany, Deputy Director General, Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR
- Dr. Lakshman Gamlath, Deputy Director General (Environmental Health, Occupational Health & Food safety), National Codex contact point for Sri Lanka, National INFOSAN Emergency contact point for Sri Lanka, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
Organized by:
- Carolyn Vickers, WHO
- Ellen Rosskam, WHO
Presentation:
WHO Launch of the Guidance Document
keywords: health, national implementation
Friday 29 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 15
Launch of 4th round of application for the Special Programme on institutional strengthening for chemicals and waste
UNEP Special Programme Secretariat
The Special Programme, also known as the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, provides support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to enhance their sustainable institutional capacity to develop, adopt, monitor and enforce policy, legislation and regulation for effective frameworks for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the Minamata Convention and SAICM.
The Special Programme intends to support country-driven institutional strengthening at the national level, in the context of an integrated approach to address the sustainable financing of sound management of chemicals and wastes, taking into account:
- National development strategies, plans and priorities of each country; and
- Increase sustainable public institutional capacity for the sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their life cycle.
Support from the Special Programme is available for developing countries, taking into account the special needs of least developed countries and small island developing States, and for countries with economies in transition, with priority given to those with least capacity. Furthermore, the following criteria should also be met:
- To avoid duplication and proliferation of funding mechanisms and associated administration, the Special Programme will fund activities that fall outside the mandate of the Global Environment Facility;
- Applicants are eligible if they are Party to any one of the relevant conventions or have demonstrated that they are in the process of preparing for ratification of any one of the conventions;
- Applications must include identification of the associated domestic measures to be taken to ensure that the national institutional capacity supported by the Special Programme is sustainable in the long term;
- The Special Programme only accepts applications directly from national Governments.
At its fifth meeting the Executive Board of the Special Programme agreed to launch the fourth call for applications for funding from the Special Programme in the margins of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention.
The present side event aims to raise awareness of the launch of the fourth call for applications and to familiarize participants with the updated application package, which consists of the application guidance, application guidelines and application forms. The side event will also mark the launch of the Special Programme e- learning course, which was specially designed to support applicants for the development of applications for the fourth round.
Furthermore, the Special Programme Secretariat will host a discussion with a panel of speakers who have successfully applied for funding from the Special Programme Trust Fund with the view to sharing their experiences and lessons learned during the application process. The panel will also include members of the Special Programme Executive Board who will share their perspective on the application appraisal process.
Tentative timetable:
13:30-13:35 Opening and welcome remarks - UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch
13:35-13:50 Presentation: Overview of the updated Application Package - Special Programme Secretariat
13:50-14:15 Presentation: Special Programme e-learning Platform and course - Ms. Leslie Paas
14:15-14:45 Panel Discussion: Advice from successful applicants and members of the Special Programme Executive Board - Panel members: TBD
14:45-14:55 Q&A Session - All
14:55-15:00 Closing remarks - Special Programme Secretariat
For more information, please contact:
Special Programme Secretariat
E-mail: unepchemicalsspecialprogramme@un.org
Web: https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/special-programme
Presentations:
Launch of the Fourth Round of applications for funding from the Special Programme
Special Programme Elearning Course
keywords: national implementation, resource mobilization, institutional strengthening
Friday 29 November - 13:15-14:45 - Room 18
Opening the black box: Local insights into the formal and informal global mercury trade
IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL)
The Minamata convention is regulating the formal trade and use of mercury. But little information is available on the formal and especially informal pathways of mercury and how these drive the artisanal gold economies. From its original source to the gold mining sites at the other end of the world, trade routes of illicit mercury remain largely elusive to this day.
An insight into the supply routes and value chain of the mercury market is needed to support the reduction of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Where does the mercury originate from? How was it transported and by whom? Through which channels, formal or informal? Who benefits most from this trade? Which systems are constraining mercury free artisanal gold?
To answer these questions, IUCN NL initiated a study on the political ecology of the gold-mercury link to identify illicit mercury flows, trade hubs and key players in multiple countries, namely Guyana & Suriname, Bolivia, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burkina Faso.
The objectives of this global study are: 1) to improve the understanding of mercury flows, trade hubs and key players, 2) to enhance the governance of mercury in the ASGM sectors of the target countries, 3) to enhance recognition of the scale and impact of the informal mercury trade, and 4) to showcase that this is a global problem.
After an intensive investigation phase by local teams existing of partner NGOs coached by globally recognized expert consultants, IUCN NL in collaboration with all partners and in consultation with UNEP is presenting initial results. We aim to strengthen the Minamata convention with information that is not available through official channels and presents an addition to the knowledge collected in UNEP’s global mercury assessment. We want to inform national governments about formal and informal mercury trade pathways and shed light onto the key players driving the trade. We hope to support National Action Plans with the insight gained into the illicit mercury trade to enhance the governance of mercury in the ASGM sector. Furthermore, we aim to raise awareness in the global community about the influence and impact of the illicit mercury trade on ASGM.
Programme:
13:15 Welcome
13:20 Introduction of IUCN NL’s Mercury Governance Project & Panelists
13:30 Interactive panel discussion
14:25 Questions & further audience discussion
Expected speakers:
- Richard Gutierrez, BAN Toxics / AGC, the Philippines
- Griffins Ochieng, Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD Kenya)
- Oscar Campanini Gonzales, Centro de Documentación e Información (CEDIB), Bolivia
- Yuyun Ismawati, Nexus3/BaliFokus Foundation, Indonesia
Moderated by: Yves Bertran, Executive Director at Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)
Presentations:
Opening the black box: Local insights into the formal and informal global mercury trade
Side-event Flyer
keywords: supply and demand, trade, ASGM, illicit mercury trade