Minamata Convention on Mercury

Minamata Convention on Mercury
Name	Minamata Convention on Mercury
Date signed	10 October 2013
Location signed	Kumamoto, Japan
Date effective	16 August 2017
Ratifiers	135

Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and mercury compounds. The treaty was named after the Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning that was first identified in Minamata, Japan in 1956. The Minamata Convention was adopted on 10 October 2013 at a diplomatic conference in Kumamoto, Japan, and it entered into force on 16 August 2017. As of now, 135 countries have ratified the treaty.

Background and history

The Minamata Convention was developed under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UNEP Governing Council adopted a resolution in 2008, which initiated the process of developing a global treaty on mercury. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established to prepare the draft text of the treaty. The INC held several sessions between 2009 and 2013, during which it negotiated the terms of the treaty. The Minamata disease was a major concern for the negotiators, as it highlighted the devastating effects of mercury poisoning on human health and the environment.

Objectives and scope

The main objective of the Minamata Convention is to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and mercury compounds. The treaty aims to reduce mercury emissions and releases, and to minimize the use of mercury in products and industrial processes. The Convention also seeks to promote sustainable development and environmental protection. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among others, have been involved in the development and implementation of the treaty.

Key provisions and control measures

The Minamata Convention includes several key provisions and control measures, such as: * Reducing mercury emissions from power plants and industrial processes; * Phasing out the use of mercury in thermometers, barometers, and other measuring devices; * Restricting the use of mercury in dental amalgam and fluorescent lighting; * Managing mercury waste and disposing of mercury-containing products; * Establishing national action plans to reduce mercury emissions and releases; * Promoting the use of alternative technologies and mercury-free products.

Implementation and compliance

The Minamata Convention has a number of mechanisms to ensure its effective implementation and compliance. These include: * National reporting on mercury emissions and releases; * Review and evaluation of national action plans; * Technical assistance and capacity-building for developing countries; * Dispute settlement procedures.

Parties and status of ratification

As of now, 135 countries have ratified the Minamata Convention, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, Russia, and United States. The treaty has been widely ratified, indicating a strong international commitment to reducing the risks associated with mercury.

Relationship with other agreements

The Minamata Convention is closely related to other international agreements, such as the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Minamata Convention also complements other environmental agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Category:Environmental treaties