cop4

Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4) - Second segment

Bali, Indonesia, 21 Mar 2022 - 25 Mar 2022
Meeting Information

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Bureau of the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury decided, at its fifth meeting held on 14 April 2021, to organize COP-4 in two segments: a first segment was conducted online within the period of 1 to 5 November 2021 and, in accordance with Decision MC-4/1 on the dates of the resumed COP-4, a second segment was conducted in-person within the period of 21 to 25 March 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. You can find here the schedule of work for the second segment of COP-4.

The secretariat monitored and evaluated the COVID-19 pandemic situation and made adjustments to COP-4.2, in close collaboration with the host country, Indonesia, and in full consultation with the COP-4 Bureau.

The meeting was preceded by preparatory events. A COP-4 document briefing was held online from 1 to 3 February 2022. On 14 February, the secretariat launched the Online Budget and the Technical Documents Forums to provide a secured space for Parties to review, comment or ask questions in preparation for COP-4.2. In-person regional preparatory meetings were held on 19 and 20 March 2022.

During COP-3, the Conference of the Parties elected Rosa Vivien Ratnawati (Indonesia) as the President of COP-4. Rosa Vivien Ratnawati is the Director-General for Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste and Hazard. Since 2018, she has actively participated in all the meetings and negotiations at the BRS (Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm) Conventions and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. In November 2019, she was appointed as the President of the COP-4 Minamata Convention on Mercury. You can read her full biography here.

The Programme of Work activity factsheets, submitted to COP-4 as information document UNEP/MC/COP.4/INF/22, have been updated by the Secretariat based on the COP-4 decisions and are available here.

For information on the first segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, its highlights and online events, please click on the link below.

Bali Declaration

The Bali Declaration on combating illegal trade in mercury was introduced by the Indonesian Presidency of the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting as a non-binding political declaration. The Indonesian Presidency held several briefing sessions on the declaration prior to both segments of the fourth meeting and welcomed comments on the draft text from registered delegations. The Indonesian Presidency drew attention to the declaration during the opening plenary of the in-person segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Bali, Indonesia, and invited parties to the Convention and other delegations to support it. The text of the declaration was finalized and launched by the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Ms. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, during a special event organized after the opening plenary of the in-person segment of on 21 April 2022. The declaration received expressions of support from regional groups and delegations. It is set out in annex III to the COP-4 meeting report.

Documents

 
Schedule

Schedule of Work for COP-4.2

Official Meeting
13:15 - 14:45

Bali time
Briefing Session on the Bali Declaration on Combatting Illegal Trade in Mercury
Pecatu 3+5 Room
15:00 - 18:00

Bali time
COP-4.2 Plenary: Afternoon Session
Bali Nusa Dua Hall

Item 4: Matters for consideration or action by the Conference of the Parties
(i) Effectiveness evaluation
18:00 - 22:00

Bali time
Contact Group on Annexes A and B
Singaraja 1
19:00 - 22:00

Bali time
Contact Group on Effectiveness Evaluation
Singaraja 2
10:00 - 13:00

Bali time
COP-4.2 Plenary: Morning Session
Bali Nusa Dua Hall

Item 1: Opening of the meeting Item

Item 2: Organizational matters
(b) Organization of work
(c) Election of Officers for the intersessional period and the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties
(d) Report on the credentials of representatives to the fourth meeting Item

Item 3: Rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties: consideration of rule 45

Item 4: Matters for consideration and/or action by the Conference of the Parties
(k) Financial Rules

Item 4: Matters for consideration or action by the Conference of the Parties:
(a) Mercury-added products and manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used:
     (i) Review of annexes A and B;
     (ii) Information on dental amalgam;
     (iv) Proposals for amendments to annexes A and B
10:00 - 13:00

Bali time
COP-4.2 Plenary: Morning Session
Bali Nusa Dua Hall

Reports of contact groups

Item 4: Matters for consideration and/or action by the Conference of the Parties
(h) National reporting
(g) Implementation and Compliance Committee Item

Item 4: Matters for consideration and/or action by the Conference of the Parties
(e) Financial resources and mechanism
     (i) Global Environment Facility
     (ii) Specific International Programme to Support Capacity- Building and Technical Assistance
     (iii) Review of the financial mechanism
15:00 - 18:00

Bali time
COP-4.2 Plenary: Afternoon Session
Bali Nusa Dua Hall

Item 4: Matters for consideration and/or action by the Conference of the Parties
(a) (iii) Customs codes;
(b) Artisanal and small-scale gold mining
(c) Releases of mercury
(d) Mercury waste: consideration of the relevant thresholds
Lunch Time Event
13:00 - 14:00

Bali time
The Bali Declaration Ceremony
Bali Nusa Dua Hall

The Government of Indonesia seeks support from parties to the Minamata Convention to the Bali Declaration on Combatting Global Illegal Trade of Mercury. This non-binding political declaration has undergone two out of three written consulting stages and is due to be concluded at COP-4.2. A launching ceremony will take place on Monday 21 March 2022 in the Plenary Room at lunchtime from 13h00–14h00 local time (UTC+8).
13:15 - 14:45

Bali time
GEF High-Level Panel Discussion: Integration to end the use and emissions of mercury
Pecatu 1+2

This panel discussion will explore integration to address mercury in multiple sectors, how the Convention's implementation promotes integration, and how we can build projects and programs at the national level to integrate more fully. It will be moderated by Chizuru Aoki, Lead Environmental Specialist at GEF, and will feature the following confirmed panelists: Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO and chairperson, Carlos Martin-Novella, BRS Deputy Executive Secretary, and Monika Stankiewicz, Minamata Convention Executive Secretary.
18:30 - 19:30

Bali time
GEF Reception
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel

Within the framework of Minamata COP-4, the CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Carlos Manuel Rodriguez will host a reception to meet and discuss issues on the environment, GEF’s role and the ongoing GEF-8 replenishment.
Newsroom
Intersessional Work

Intersessional work and Submissions for COP4

At its third meeting, the Conference of the Parties agreed on a number of action items to effectively implement the Minamata Convention and prepare for the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which was ultimately held in two segments: a first segment was conducted online within the period of 1 to 5 November 2021 and a second segment was held in-person within the period of 21 to 25 March 2022 in Bali, Indonesia.

In some areas, submissions are invited by parties and other stakeholders, while in other areas submissions are expected through the members of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties. The details of calls for information can be found in the Executive Secretary’s letter dated 13 December 2019 and its attachment. In view of the coronavirus pandemic situation, some of the deadlines were extended as explained below.

An overview of the calendar of the meetings that were planned for COP4 intersessional period is available here.

Review of annexes A and B

COP3 decided to establish an ad hoc group of experts on the review of annexes A and B to the Convention, to prepare a document in which it will enrich and organize the information on the uses of mercury and on non-mercury alternatives referred to in the submissions from the Parties.

1. Information on the uses of mercury and on non-mercury alternatives

Parties were invited to submit information on the uses of mercury and on non-mercury alternatives as set out in (a) and (b) below by 31 March 2020.

(a) Information on mercury-added products and on the availability, technical and economic feasibility, and environmental and health risks and benefits of non-mercury alternatives to mercury-added products, pursuant to paragraph 4 of Article 4 of the Convention;

(b) Information on processes that use mercury or mercury compounds and, on the availability, technical and economic feasibility and environmental and health risks and benefits of mercury-free alternatives to manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used, pursuant to paragraph 4 of Article 5.

The following submissions have been received. Submissions received by 15 April are also be posted below. Further submissions were received by July 31 (see point 3 below). As agreed by the ad hoc group of experts, parties were recommended to use the available templates (here) for further submissions.

Non-parties and others were invited to provide further information on the use of mercury and on non-mercury alternatives referred to in the submissions by the Parties by 30 April 2020. The following submissions were received by 15 May. Further submissions were received by July 31 (see point 3 below). As agreed by the ad hoc group of experts, bon-parties and others were recommended to use the available templates (here) for further submissions.

2. Measures or strategies implemented by Parties

Parties that notified the Secretariat at the time of their becoming a Party to the Convention that they would implement various measures or strategies to address products listed in part I of Annex A to the Convention are to report on the measures or strategies they have implemented, including a quantification of the reductions achieved by 30 June 2020. The following submission was received.

3. Work of the ad hoc group of experts

Parties were invited to nominate members of the ad hoc group of experts through the Bureau members by 31 March 2020. The list of nominated members is available here.

The group had its first on-line meeting on 7 May. The group decided to receive submissions of information from Parties, non-parties and other stakeholders until 31 July 2020.  The group will continue to discuss further plans including the invitation of observers at the next on-line meeting.

At its second on-line meeting on 3 June, the group decided to hold separate group-calls on different categories of products and processes, covering all categories included in Annexes A and B. The group will discuss details on how to arrange these group-calls at the next meeting. Observers will be invited to respective group-calls, and the secretariat will reach out to selected observers.

At its third on-line meeting on 1 July, the group discussed about the schedule of work including arrangements of separate group-calls. The group will meet again in mid-July to further discuss about the detailed schedule of work.

Online information sessions were held on 7 July 2020 to present the progress of the intersessional work including review of Annexes A and B and to call for submission of information. The presentation from the Secretariat and recorded video of the session are available here.

4. Outcome of the work of the group of experts (30 April 2021)

The following report summarizes the outcome of the work of the ad hoc group of experts on review of Annexes A and B.

The submitted and supplemented information, organized in a tabular format indicating the sources of information, is presented in the following compilation documents. As of 30 April 2021, by which the report on the work of the group was due, some additional information on mercury-added products, particularly on lamps, was still to be provided by experts or to be incorporated into the documents. The group further worked to organize such additional information into the compilation document by 30 June 2021, which is to be made available to the Conference of the Parties as an information document. (Updated on 24 August 2021)

Dental amalgam

COP3 encouraged Parties to take more than the two required measures in accordance with part II of Annex A to the Convention to phase down the use of dental amalgam, and requested the Secretariat to collect information on the implementation of any such additional measures taken by Parties.

In addition, it requested the Secretariat to collect from Parties and others information pursuant to paragraph 7, Article 4 of the Convention, i.e. information including that related to the availability, technical and economic feasibility and environmental and health risks and benefits of the non-mercury alternatives to the product.

  1. Information on the implementation of any additional measures taken by Parties

Parties were invited to provide information on the implementation of any additional measures taken in accordance with part II of Annex A to the Convention by 31 January 2021.

Submissions from governments
  1. Information on non-mercury alternatives to dental amalgam

Parties and others were invited to provide information including that related to the availability, technical and economic feasibility and environmental and health risks and benefits of the non-mercury alternatives to dental amalgam by 1 July 2020. The following submissions have been received. Upon the request from some Parties, the deadline for this submission was extended until 15 August 2020.

Submissions on the review of Annexes A and B from Argentina and Colombia, available above, also contain information on dental amalgam

Submissions from governments
Submissions from other organisations

Customs codes

COP3 requested the Secretariat to continue its work in collaboration with the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership Mercury in Products Partnership area and involving relevant experts to;

(a) Draft a guidance document that includes:

(i) For the mercury-added products listed in Annex A to the Convention, a list of possible customs nomenclature codes of more than six digits that could be used by Parties;

(ii) For mercury-added products not listed in Annex A to the Convention, a compilation of examples provided by national experts of customs nomenclature codes of more than six digits currently in use by Parties; and

(iii) Examples of good practice where the use of customs nomenclature codes at the national level has been supplemented by the use of other control tools for the purpose of implementing trade provisions, such as those found in Article 4 to the Convention.

(b) Provide an assessment of whether the subsequent development of six-digit harmonized codes would be a useful complement to the outcome of the work undertaken under (a) (i) above for the mercury-added products listed in Annex A or under (a) (ii) above for mercury-added products not listed in Annex A. The assessment shall, where possible, include several examples of the use of such codes for both listed and unlisted mercury-added products, taking into account experience concerning such codes under other international environmental conventions.

Parties, non-parties and other stakeholders including relevant organisations were invited to identify experts familiar with the use of national customs codes to participate in the open-ended process by 29 February 2020. Two nomination have been received.

Identified experts were invited to submit information relevant for the work related to (a) (i)-(iii) above by 31 March 2020. The following submissions have been received from nominated experts. The Secretariat will work with the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership - Mercury in Products Partnership area to collect more information from parties and stakeholders.

A draft guidance document on the use of customs codes under the Minamata Convention has been developed as described above in response to Decision MC-3/3 on Customs codes and posted below on 18 June 2021.

Parties and other stakeholders were invited to submit comments on the draft, including any additional information on point (a) (i)-(iii) above, by 19 July 2021 to: mea-minamatasecretariat [at] un.org (mea-minamatasecretariat[at]un[dot]org). The guidance document is to be submitted as a COP-4 document.

Releases of mercury

COP3 requested the group of technical experts to continue to work by electronic means, with the possibility of one face-to-face meeting, in line with the road map set out in annex II to document UNEP/MC/COP.3/6, to produce a report including draft guidance on the methodology for preparing inventories of releases, the proposed categories of point sources of releases and a road map for the development of guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices.

Parties were invited to confirm the current members of the group of technical experts, nominate new members or replace members as appropriate, through the Bureau members by 31 March 2020. Bureau members were informed that the Secretariat would wait for the nominations until 15 April. The list of nominated members and observers is available here. Parties and other stakeholders were invited to submit existing information on the calculation of releases and on other methodologies for the estimation of releases from the source categories identified in UNEP/MC/COP.3/6. The following submissions have been received.

The group of technical experts works on-line to develop a report including draft guidance on the methodology for preparing inventories of releases, the proposed categories of point sources of releases and a road map for the development of guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices. The group agreed to post the draft general guidance for release inventories (PDF), noting that it will be updated after agreeing on the list of point source categories.

The draft report to be submitted to COP-4 (PDF and Word versions) was posted on the web on 25 June 2021. Please note that the group of technical experts is still to further discuss some wording, such as the reference to wastewater in the table of relevant release categories, at its meeting after the commenting period. Parties and other stakeholders were invited to submit comments on the draft by 23 July 2021 to: mea-minamatasecretariat [at] un.org (mea-minamatasecretariat[at]un[dot]org) . The draft is being revised taking into account the comments received, to be submitted as a COP-4 document.

Mercury waste thresholds

COP3 requested the group of technical experts to work further on thresholds for mercury wastes falling under subparagraph 2(c) of Article 11. It also requested the Secretariat, in cooperation with the ASGM partnership area, to seek comments from Parties and other stakeholders to improve the guidance on the preparation of national action plans for ASGM regarding management of tailings from such mining, with a view to presenting a revised version of the guidance for consideration and possible adoption by COP4.

Parties were invited to confirm the current members of the group of technical experts, nominate new members or replace members as appropriate, through the Bureau members by 31 March 2020. Bureau members have been informed that the Secretariat will wait for the nominations until 15 April. The list of nominated members and observers is available here. The group had its first on-line meeting on 12 May.

COP3 encouraged the parties and other stakeholders to contribute to the process of updating the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds by providing comments on the draft updated guidelines when invited to do so. The draft guidelines are available on the website of the Basel Convention as an information document UNEP/CHW/OEWG.12/INF/13 for the 12th Open-Ended Working Group of the Convention, for comments until 31 July 2020.

Parties and other stakeholders were invited to provide comments to improve the guidance on the preparation of national action plans for ASGM regarding management of tailings from such mining by 1 November 2020.

Effectiveness evaluation

COP-3 adopted decision MC-3/10: Arrangements for the first effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Secretariat has developed an overview of the provisions of the Convention and the guidance by the COP on effectiveness evaluation.

Work on the proposed indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention

Decision MC-3/10 includes the provisions on intersessional work on the proposed indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention included in annex I to the decision. Parties were invited to submit views on the indicators and the Secretariat is requested to compile those views in advance of COP-4. In consultation with the COP-4 Bureau, the Secretariat has prepared a plan on the modalities and timeline for providing and receiving commenting to assist parties in their work.

In line with the plan of work, an information session on proposed indicators was held on Thursday 17 September.

As next step in the plan of work, Parties and stakeholders were invited to submit initial views and responses to the Secretariat on the proposed indicators by 30 November 2020. All submissions received to date are collated in this online work space for indicators for consideration.

According to the plan of work, the Secretariat facilitated an exchange session on the received initial views and responses on Tuesday, 2 February (to present submissions and views), and on Thursday, 4 February (to reflect on submissions and views). To further support Parties in their consideration of the proposed indicators, the Secretariat was requested to prepare a compilation of the initial views submitted. The Secretariat also prepared a note on information resources as supplementary information.

Parties requested the Secretariat to facilitate an additional exchange session, which was held on Thursday, 4 March (13:00 to 15:00 Geneva time). All materials for consideration are accessible at the above mentioned online workspace. This additional exchange session was to enable clarifications on the views and responses submitted, additional questions that may have arisen, and other relevant information sharing and exchange on the proposed indicators. This opportunity to further exchange was also to assist Parties in their formal preparation of their views, as requested by MC-3/10. The deadline for submission to the Secretariat of views of Parties was Wednesday, 31 March 2021. 

Development of the guidance on monitoring to support the effectiveness evaluation

At its third meeting, COP requested the Secretariat to advance the work to support the effectiveness evaluation by securing services for drafting, among others, guidance on monitoring to maintain harmonized, comparable information on mercury levels in the environment (decision MC-3/10).

In response to the decision, the secretariat, in consultation with the Bureau of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, set out a process, as described in document UNEP/MC/COP.4/INF/12, to advance work to develop guidance on monitoring of mercury to support evaluation of the effectiveness of the Convention.

As a result, the draft “Guidance on monitoring of mercury and mercury compounds to support evaluation of the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention” was developed as contained in the annex to document UNEP/MC/COP.4/INF/12. The guidance consists of six chapters: (1) Introduction and objectives; (2) Comparable monitoring data and the effectiveness evaluation; (3) Atmospheric mercury monitoring; (4) Biota mercury monitoring; (5) Human biomonitoring; and, (6) Cross-media data management and analysis. It also has an executive summary, a list of references to the publications cited, and an annex containing an overview of a tiered approach to monitoring mercury in the environment and in humans.

A supplement to the main guidance document, entitled “Supplementary material – guidance on monitoring of mercury and mercury compounds to support evaluation of the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention” (UNEP/MC/COP.4/INF/25), has two parts: part A, containing an overview of existing monitoring programmes organized by matrix (air, biota and human biomonitoring), an overview of existing gaps, and a non-exhaustive list of standard operating procedures; and part B, which contains an overview of quality assurance and quality control procedures in laboratory analysis and data management and a draft template for the submission of monitoring data.

Furthermore, the secretariat also facilitated the development of technical documents on monitoring of mercury in and around sites of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), through in situ and remote sensing methods to support parties in planning and implementing measures pursuant to article 7 of the Convention, and provide additional support to monitoring efforts in the context of evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention. The latest drafts of the technical documents on mercury monitoring in and around ASGM sites are available here.

Work on other reports for effectiveness evaluation

The decision also requests the Secretariat to advance the work by securing services for drafting a trade, supply and demand report, which includes mercury waste flows and stocks, and an Article 21 synthesis report. While some initial work on a trade report was foreseen for the second half of 2020, most of the work was foreseen for 2021 (funding from the General Trust Fund was provided for 2021). Work has begun on the Article 21 Synthesis report following the submission of the first short national reports. The full national reports were due 31 December 2021, the outcome of which will feed directly into the Article 21 Synthesis report.

Consultations on the framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention

Since the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties in September 2017, the Conference of the Parties, the Parties, the ad hoc technical expert group and the Secretariat have undertaken work in various areas to give full effect to Article 22 on effectiveness evaluation.

During the deliberations on the agenda item on effectiveness evaluation at the online segment of COP-4 (COP-4.1), the Secretariat presented the work done intersessionally as mandated by the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties through its Decision MC-3/10, namely on (i) the proposed indicators, (ii) advancing the work on drafting guidance on monitoring, and (iii) advancing the work on the synthesis report on national reporting under article 21, and a report on trade, supply and demand (which includes mercury waste flows and stocks).

At the online segment of COP-4 (COP-4.1) the Secretariat also presented an overview, as contained in Document UNEP/MC/COP.4/18 of the work mandated and done since COP-1 and the remaining areas of work needed for the Conference of the Parties to put in place the framework and arrangements for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention, and to conduct its first evaluation.

Article 22, paragraph 1 states that the Conference of the Parties shall evaluate the effectiveness of this Convention, beginning no later than six years after the date of entry into force of the Convention and periodically thereafter at intervals to be decided by it.

In view of Article 22, paragraph 1, at the online segment of COP-4 (COP-4.1), the President recalled that, following the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties, some Parties had initiated informal consultation on the items that had remained unresolved at that meeting and which had not been subject to further work under Decision MC-3/10. The representative of Norway reported on these consultations and introduced a proposal by Norway and Canada on a framework for the first effectiveness evaluation as was set out in a conference room paper for the fourth meeting (UNEP/MC/COP.4/CRP.1).

Following the ensuing discussion, there was general consensus that it was worthwhile pursuing discussions on issues on which consensus had yet to be reached to help avoid delays and ensure that the deadline for the establishment of the first evaluation of the effectiveness of the Convention could be met.

The representative of the Secretariat informed participants at the online segment of COP-4 (COP-4.1) that the Secretariat would be in a position to invite written comments on the framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention, and arrange an online session to enable Parties to exchange views thereon in preparation for the resumed fourth meeting convening from 21 to 25 March 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The Conference of the Parties thus agreed to the holding of intersessional consultations organised in that manner. On 9 December 2021, the Executive Secretary sent a Communication to inform on the Secretariat’s plan of work to support the consultations on the framework in preparation for the resumed fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

In line with the plan of work, an information session was held on Wednesday, 15 December 2021.

Parties were invited to submit written comments on the framework by Thursday, 20 January 2022. The same deadline applied to stakeholders who may wish to provide input. The comments submitted are available in the online workspace on the framework.

On Tuesday, 25 January 2022 and Thursday, 27 January 2022, the Secretariat facilitated an online consultation session on the written comments received and provided the opportunity for additional comments to be made. The video recordings and presentations of the two parts of the session can be found here.

Thereafter, the Secretariat will compile the comments and input received in light of the consultations on the framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention, to support further consideration by the Conference of the Parties at the resumed fourth meeting under agenda item 4(i) on effectiveness evaluation.

Gender

The third Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (25-29 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland) decided to include gender as a focus area of the Convention’s Programme of Work for the biennium 2020—2021 (Activity 13). Thanks to the generous financial support of Sweden, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention has undertaken to develop a gender roadmap with the objective of mainstreaming gender within its programme of work.

The Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury invited Parties and interested stakeholders to submit, by December 13th, 2020, scientific, technical and policy information on gender and mercury following the indications on the Call for information on Gender and Mercury.

Information on integrating gender into national policies, plans, and actions, as well as material of a scientific or technical nature is sought, including studies, webinars and videos that explore: 

  • the impacts of mercury exposure on vulnerable groups, such as women and children;
  • gender-differentiated relationships in producing, using, working with, or otherwise engaging with mercury;
  • advocacy around controlling use and exposures;
  • gender relationship across all sectors – mining, energy, manufacturing processes, consumer products, such as cosmetics and other mercury-added products, and mercury waste management.

Previous intersessional work

Regional Meetings

Provision was made for in-person regional meetings on 19 (Africa and GRULAC) and 20 March 2022, as well as in the morning preceding plenary (which began at 10h00 sharp) during COP-4.2 for all regional groups, as follows:

Regional Group Days and Times Room
Africa • 19 March from 15:00 to 18:00 (Interpretation in English and French) 
• 20 March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 (Interpretation in English and French) 
• 21-25 March from 9:00 to 9:45 (before plenary sessions beginning at 10:00 sharp)		 Sinagarja 2
Asia-Pacific • 20 March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00
• 21-25 March from 9:00 to 9:45  (before plenary sessions beginning at 10:00 sharp)		 Pecatu 3+5
Eastern and European States • 20 March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00
• 21-25 March from 9:00 to 9:45  (before plenary sessions beginning at 10:00 sharp)		 Kintamani 1
LAC • 19 March from 15:00 to 18:00 (Interpretation in English and Spanish) 
• 20 March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 (Interpretation in English and French) 
• 21-25 March from 9:00 to 9:45 (before plenary sessions beginning at 10:00 sharp)		 Singaraja 1
EU • 21-25 March from 9:00 to 9:45  (before plenary sessions beginning at 10:00 sharp) Pecatu 1+2
JUSSCANNZUK • 20 March from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00
• 21-25 March from 9:00 to 9:45  (before plenary sessions beginning at 10:00 sharp)		 Kintamani 1

 

Delegates were also able to participate in the regional meetings through an online platform, by contacting the co-chairs of their regional group.

For more information on the regional meetings, please contact the secretariat at lara.ognibene [at] un.org 

Previous regional preparatory meetings

The online preparatory meetings were organized in February, with interpretation provided in 2 regions. The objective of the meetings were to give Parties in the regions the possibility to hear briefings, exchange views and consult each other on the items of the provisional agenda to be considered during the second segment of COP-4.

The dates of the online regional preparatory meetings in 2022 were, as follows:

A 2-hour training session for participants were offered twice in the following dates:

  • Tuesday 1 February (15h00-17h00 CET)
  • Wednesday 2 February (11h00-13h00 CET)
Pre-COP Side Events

As part of the on-going preparations for the second segment of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Minamata Secretariat organized a series of side events from 7-11 March 2022. Side events are an important platform at the Conference of the Parties for parties and stakeholders to exchange information on technical matters, policy development, Convention implementation, and other topics of importance to the COP, such as gender and human rights.

For the side events, some of the major topics that were covered included: the Specific International Programme: results and impacts of five project from around the world; implementation of the SDGs and achieving mutual benefits through cross-cluster collaboration, promoting the implementation of the Convention in the ECOWAS and SADC region; use of voluntary customs codes; role of science policy interface in strengthening the implementation of the Convention; community-based actions to combat mercury contamination, and others.

Pre-COP side events calendar

All sessions used the WebEx platform and were live streamed on YouTube.

MONDAY 7 MARCH 2022

Promoting implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury with a synergetic approach in the ECOWAS and SADC region
Monday 7 March, 11h00-12h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Mining data from National Action Plans for Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining
Monday 7 March, 12h30-13h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Community-based actions to combat mercury contamination: experiences and lessons learnt from UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme
Monday 7 March, 14h00-15h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Reducing mercury use in ASGM in Indonesia: Implementing Local Action Plans to address storage, trade, and monitoring
Monday 7 March, 15h30-16h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Evaluating health impacts from land-based pollution: Data gaps & proposed framework
Monday 7 March, 17h00-18h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2022

Role of Science Policy Interface in strengthening implementation of Minamata Convention
Tuesday 8 March, 11h00-12h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Implementing the SDGs and achieving mutual benefits through cross-cluster collaboration between biodiversity and chemical waste clusters
Tuesday 8 March, 12h30-13h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Eliminating mercury in lighting - A win-win for health and the environment
Tuesday 8 March, 15h30-16h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Diálogo intercultural sobre el Mercurio, la Minería, la Salud y los Derechos colectivos: Voz y propuestas de los pueblos indígenas de la Amazonia Brasileña, Colombiana, Peruana
Tuesday 8 March, 17h00-18h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH 2022

From Minamata to Bolivia and Indonesia - mercury contaminated sites and releases: human health, environment impacts and remedial measures
Wednesday 9 March, 11h00-12h00 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

Technical cooperation between Indonesia and Japan for the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
Wednesday 9 March, 12h30-13h30 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

Specific International Programme: achievements and impacts of five projects from around the world
Wednesday 9 March, 14h00-15h00 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

Can human biomonitoring, combined with fish consumption advice to pregnant women, help to control prenatal exposure to mercury? Insights from the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU)
Wednesday 9 March, 15h30-16h30 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

THURSDAY 10 MARCH 2022

Global Minimum Transparency Standard (GMTS) for hazardous chemicals in products – a tool for the protection of human health and the environment from toxic exposure, including mercury
Thursday 10 March, 11h00-12h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Mercury monitoring in the global environment: New initiatives
Thursday 10 March, 12h30-13h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Development and experience with the use of Voluntary Custom Codes
Thursday 10 March, 14h00-15h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Mercury-added skin lighteners widely available despite Convention obligations
Thursday 10 March, 15h30-16h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Phasing out dental amalgam: An emerging need to eliminate mercury in products
Thursday 10 March, 17h00-18h00 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

FRIDAY 11 MARCH 2022

Two events:
Part 1: Lesson-learned from the planetGOLD Indonesia project to address the national target on mercury reduction and elimination (read the full presentation)
(11h00-11h35 CET)
Part 2: Engaging the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) and Coal Energy Sector Towards a Mercury-Free Indonesia (read the full presentation)
(11h35-12h15 CET)
Friday 11 March, 11h00-12h15 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

Two events:
Part 1: Mercury contamination index to estimate the risk in public health from ASGM (read the full presentation)
Part 2: CSF's Mining Impacts Calculator: Addressing the Impacts of Illegal Gold Mining in the Brazilian Amazon
Friday 11 March, 12h30-13h30 CET. Watch the recording of the event.

Strengthening the management, storage and transport of mercury: Peru's world leading progress
Friday 11 March, 14h00-15h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Country progress and way forward in phasing down the use of dental amalgam
Friday 11 March, 15h30-16h30 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Accelerating the phase down of dental amalgam
Friday 11 March, 17h00-18h00 CET. Check the full presentation and watch the recording of the event.

Information for Participants

The information for participants document (released on 4 February 2022 and updated as of 24 February 2022) provided logistical and other general information about the meeting’s arrangements, specifically on health and safety protocols, the meeting venue, registration, accreditation, visa requirements, assistance to developing-country parties, visa requirements, accommodation, and transportation.

In addition, please check the Circular covering international arrivals in Bali, issued by the Government of Indonesia, 8 March 2022. And read the updated Indonesia guidelines for travel bubble - Minamata Convention (health measures).

Registration

Taking into account the ongoing pandemic measures, parties were encouraged to limit the number of their representatives present physically in Bali. To facilitate participation, provision was made to allow delegations from parties and observers to follow the proceedings of the meeting virtually (in viewer mode).

The names, titles and contact information of the designated representatives (including postal addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses) were communicated to the secretariat using the pre-registration platform that was available from 17 January 2022.

Furthermore, parties were requested to send to the secretariat an official nomination letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a note verbale from the Permanent Mission of the party to the United Nations Office at Geneva. Early registration was encouraged, sending pre-registration documents to MEA-MinamataMeetings [at] un.org as soon as possible. The deadline for pre-registration was 11 February 2022.

The completion of the registration process was subject to the submission of all required information and the nomination letter and subsequent confirmation by the secretariat. The secretariat evaluated the total number of pre-registered delegates and the maximum capacity of the meeting venue in compliance with COVID-related measures before confirming the registration of delegates. Delegates were invited not to make travel arrangements before receiving the registration confirmation from the secretariat.

Parties who had already submitted their official nominations for participation in both COP-4.1 and COP-4.2 did not need to re-submit their nominations for COP-4.2 if no change in the delegation list was required.

In the nomination process of delegates to the meeting, parties were strongly encouraged to ensure balanced gender representation within their delegations.

Assistance to representatives from developing country parties and parties with economies in transition

Financial assistance was potentially available to support the participation of one participant per eligible developing-country party and party with economy in transition.

The official nomination letter referred to above needed to indicate that the individual concerned was the delegate whom the Government had designated to receive financial assistance.

Pursuant to UN travel rules, strict adherence to the pre-registration deadline of 11 February 2022 was required for sponsored participants. It was not possible to guarantee support for, and organization of, travel for participants nominated after that date.

Instructions on travel arrangements for sponsored participants were issued following the confirmation of the registration by the secretariat. Air travel for sponsored participants were arranged according to the United Nations regulations and rules, via the most economical means in all cases.

Credentials of parties

In order to take part in decision-making at the meeting, parties must be accredited. Credentials for the head of delegation, alternate representatives and advisers were issued either by the Head of State or Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the case of a regional economic integration organization, credentials needed to be issued by the competent authority of that organization. Information regarding any change in the composition of the delegation needed to be submitted using the same procedure.

Samples of credentials are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The COP-4 Bureau, at its meeting of 16 June 2021, agreed on its approach for preparing the report on credentials for the two segments of COP-4. Bureau members agreed that if copies of credentials in good order were submitted instead of originals, they would accept such copies with the understanding that the originals would be submitted as soon as possible thereafter.

Parties were invited to submit original or electronic versions of credentials by Monday, 21 February 2022 to facilitate the clearance process. At the latest, credentials needed to be submitted to the secretariat no later than twenty-four hours after the opening of the meeting.

Parties who had already submitted their credentials for participation in both COP-4.1 and COP-4.2 did not need to re-submit their credentials for COP-4.2 but were welcome to update their credentials as needed.

Original credentials were sent to:

The Executive Secretary
Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
United Nations Environment Programme
Avenue de la Paix 8-14, 1211
Geneva 10, Switzerland

Electronic copies of credentials were sent to MEA-MinamataMeetings [at] un.org.

Observers

As per paragraph 6 of Article 23 of the Minamata Convention, any body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-governmental, that is qualified in matters covered by the Convention and has informed the secretariat of its wish to be represented at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties as an observer may be admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object.

Organizations approved to participate in the previous meetings of the Conference of the Parties did not need to resubmit such application for admission. See organizations listed in documents UNEP/MC/COP.1/INF/16, UNEP/MC/COP.2/INF/19, UNEP/MC/COP.3/INF/27 and UNEP/MC/COP.4/INF/28.

Organizations needed to submit to the secretariat by e mail: MEA-MinamataMeetings [at] un.org, at least two months prior to the opening of the meeting, an application for admission as an observer at meetings of the COP, including information demonstrating it is qualified in matters covered by the Convention. The secretariat screened the applications to check their completeness and conformity with the requirements of the Convention. Successful applications were submitted to COP-4.2.

Successful applications were submitted to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Further information with regard to the participation of observers in meetings of the Conference of the Parties may be found at: mercuryconvention.org/Meetings/Observers and through the invitation letter to the Minamata COP-4 sent to observers.

Additional information on observers

Rule 6 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties provides that the United Nations, its specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not party to the Convention and any entity operating the mechanism referred to in paragraph 5 of Article 13 of the Convention, may, upon the invitation of the President, participate in the proceedings of any meeting without the right to vote, unless at least one third of the Parties present at the meeting object. 

Rule 7 of the rules of procedure provides that any body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-governmental, admitted as an observer may, upon the invitation of the President, participate without the right to vote in the proceedings of any meeting in matters of direct concern to the body or agency they represent, unless at least one third of the Parties present at the meeting object. 

Upon invitation by the President, observers may present their statements orally. The number of oral statements to be delivered at the meeting depends on the time available. With respect to NGOs, preference were given to those speaking on behalf of groups of organizations or coalitions. Written statements could also be submitted in one of the official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish).

In view of the current extraordinary circumstances, observers had been encouraged to limit the number of representatives present in Bali to two per organization/observer country as part of a larger effort to ensure safety and compliance with COVID-19 measures. However, additional delegates could be registered by observers for online attendance at COP-4.2 to view the proceedings of the meeting. Online connection was provided to both plenary and contact groups. As per custom the contact group on programme of work and budget was for delegates of parties to the Convention.

Observers were invited to appoint a representative to speak on behalf of a group of organizations or coalitions who share a similar position on an issue of common interest.

Kintamani 3 room was booked at the venue to facilitate coordination amongst observer organizations.

For any observer representative who could test positive for COVID-19 upon their arrival and during the meeting, technical arrangements could be made to enable participation through online connection upon request.

Statements by individual observers could also be posted on the intranet page.

Should you need further information please contact Richard Gutierrez, richard.gutierrez [at] un.org.

Information for members of the media wishing to attend the second segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, from 21-25 March 2022 in Bali, Indonesia

Media professionals that represent bona fide media organizations (formally registered as a media organization in a country recognized by the United Nations General Assembly) were invited to attend the second segment of the Minamata Convention COP-4 taking place in Bali, Indonesia, from 21 to 25 March 2022. By following the accreditation process, each journalist was issued with credentials to enable access to the in-person sessions of plenary and side events or online access to follow the proceedings can also be granted.

For all COVID-19 related measures and requirements for entry into Indonesia please visit the Minamata COP-4.2 webpage Information for Participants. Each media organization could have no more than two registered delegates.

Media admittance follows the Guidelines for Media accreditation and access.

Accreditation was granted upon receiving valid press credentials, including each of the following:

  1. Completed Accreditation Form
  2. Letter of assignment on the official letterhead of a media organization signed by the publisher/assignment editor, editor-in-chief, or bureau chief, specifying the name and functional title of the journalist. Unsigned letters or e-mails will not be accepted;
  3. Photocopy of a valid press card/work pass; and
  4. Photocopy of passport/national ID card.

The above-mentioned documents were sent to the Minamata Secretariat through anna.garcia [at] un.org.

For additional information concerning media registration for the second segment of COP-4, please get in touch with the Secretariat through Anna García Sans, Communications and Knowledge Management Officer (anna.garcia [at] un.org).