A Historic Step in the Fight Against Mercury Pollution
During the 6th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6), parties adopted 22 decisions during a week marked by collaboration and determination.
From 3 to 7 November, the conference brought together over 1,000 participants in Geneva and more than 4,000 online.
“Thanks to your creativity and commitment, we have set new ambitious goals together and left mercury a little further behind us,” said Osvaldo Álvarez Pérez (Chile), COP-6 President, in his closing remarks.
Historic Achievements
Among the key outcomes, COP-6 adopted new amendments to Annex A, agreeing to phase out dental amalgam by 2034, a move described by many delegations as a historic milestone for the convention.
Parties also agreed to intensify global efforts to eliminate mercury-containing skin lightening products, strengthen measures against artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and continue work on mercury supply, trade, and waste management.
Biodiversity
The conference recognized the need to implement the roadmap to enhance co-benefits between the Minamata Convention and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties also called for closer collaboration with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution, the Chemicals and Waste Cluster, the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, among others.
COP-6 also presented preparations for the first effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention.
Stakeholder Participation
Stakeholder engagement reached unprecedented levels, including:
- The creation of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Mercury
- Launch of the Convention Women’s Caucus
- A youth declaration
The conference also featured special in-person events, including:
- Screening of the film From Science to Action: Protecting the Amazon from Mercury Pollution
- Lessons learned from the PlanetGOLD Programme
- Discussions on harmful beauty practices
Nineteen knowledge labs facilitated fruitful information exchanges. Exhibitions such as the Minamata Photographers’ Eye Project and Humanæ by Angélica Dass highlighted the connection between Minamata disease’s legacy and current challenges, such as mercury use in the Amazon and skin-lightening products.
Looking Ahead
“We have just opened a new chapter in the history of mercury,” said Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz.
The 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-7) is scheduled for June 2027.
Source: un.org
