Minamata Convention

August 18, 2023

16^th August 2023 marked the sixth anniversary of coming into force of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

ABOUT MINAMATA CONVENTION

Mercury is a toxic chemical that can cause issues in thyroid, kidneys, lungs, immune system, eyes, gums, irreversible brain damage and disrupt ecosystem health.

There is no known safe exposure level for elemental mercury in humans, and effects can occur at even very low levels.

It is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.

It is the first global landmark treaty to protect people and the environment from the toxic effects of mercury.
It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland in 2013.
- It came into effect in 2017.
Currently it has 144 parties and 128 signatories.
- India ratified it in 2018.
It is named after the Japanese city of Minamata, which experienced a severe, decades-long incidence of mercury poisoning in 1950s after industrial wastewater from a chemical factory was discharged into Minamata Bay.
Major highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury include
- a ban on new mercury mines,
- the phasing out of existing mines and mercury-added products,
- control measures on air emissions,
- interim storage of mercury and its disposal
The Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF) is one of the two components of the financial mechanism of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, together with the Specific International Programme.

NOTE

The planetGOLD programme, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to end the toxic trail of small-scale gold mining which includes use of mercury.