Overview of the Minamata Convention on Mercury activities

This document sets out guidance on sites contaminated by mercury or mercury compounds, as adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury at its third meeting in November 2019. Paragraph 3 of article 12 of the Minamata Convention provides that the Conference of the Parties shall adopt guidance on managing contaminated sites.

This document presents guidance related to best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) to assist parties in fulfilling their obligations under Article 8 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”), which concerns controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions of mercury and mercury compounds to the atmosphere from the point sources falling within the source categories listed in Annex D to the Convention.

This summary document presents the main findings of the technical document in plain language. Recognizing the relevance of the results of the Global Mercury Assessment 2018 for policy makers, this section presents key findings of highest policy relevance.

This update to the Global Mercury Assessment 2013 provides the most recent information available for the worldwide emissions to air, releases to water, and transport of mercury in atmospheric and aquatic environments.

The Technical Background to the Global Mercury Assessment 2018 forms the basis for the statements made in the GMA2018 Report; it is fully referenced and peer-reviewed according to standard scientific practice.

This document developed by UN Environment Programme is intended to provide guidance to countries in formulating artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) National Action Plans (NAPs) that are compliant with the requirements of the Minamata Convention. The document also provides technical, legal and policy information on issues related to ASGM, which may be useful when preparing and implementing the NAP. This guidance is indicative – the use of this document is not mandatory or a requirement under the Convention. French version - Spanish version

A good understanding of mercury supply, trade and demand is critical to effective implementation of the Convention. This report provides detailed and timely information on where mercury comes from, how it moves in commerce, and how it is used in products and industrial processes. To further facilitate informed decision-making, the report also evaluates data sources, discusses trends and identifies knowledge gaps.

This informative document has been prepared by the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre-Regional Centre of the Stockholm Convention for Latin America and the Caribbean (BCCC/SCRC), based in Montevideo, Uruguay, within the framework of an agreement with the United Nations Environment Programme / Regional Ofce for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP/ROLAC). Versión en español del documento

The brochure herein provides basic information on the Minamata Convention on Mercury and its implementation in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. Versión en español del documento.

The text of the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted and opened for signature at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries held on 10 and 11 October 2013 in Kumamoto, Japan.

The UNEP Global Mercury Partnership is acting now on the substantive areas of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This brochure illustrates key issues and how they are being addressed by partners of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership.

This is a joint UNEP and AMAP* report that presents the latest and comprehensive information of global mercury emissions and releases to the environment, information on atmospheric and aquatic chemistry and fate and transport of mercury. The report is a fully referenced scientific background report for the Global Mercury Assessment 2013; Sources, Emissions, Releases, and Environmental Transport.