On 14 May 2025, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted a new Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law, the first international legally binding instrument to address environmental crime.
Explore the information note from the Green Customs Initiative, featuring contributions from the Minamata Convention secretariat, especially on the consent procedure for the import of mercury.
Explore the highlights of the participation of the Minamata Convention at the 2025 BRSCOPs, from high-level roundtables and bilateral meetings, to technical side events and key mercury outcomes.
At the 2025 BRS COPs, a side event highlighted the transformative potential of digital platforms like InforMEA in advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) through enhanced cooperation and information exchange.
In a step toward integrated global environmental action, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) hosted the first GEF–MEA Exchange on the margins of the 2025 Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) COPs in Geneva.
At the 2025 BRS COPs, a side event focused on mercury in products, including mercury waste, a typical area of synergies between the Minamata and Basel Conventions.
Highlights from the high-level side event “Integrating chemicals and waste management into biodiversity conservation – the power of synergies” at the 2025 BRS COPs.
I am writing to inform you about proposals to amend the Minamata Convention to be considered at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to be held in Geneva from 3 to 7 November 2025.
I have the honour to invite your Government to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) to be held from 3 to 7 November 2025, at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland.
Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz participated in the Environment Management Group (EMG) High-Level Roundtable, held during the 2025 BRS COPs under the theme “Strengthening action for change: Advancing integrated solutions for the implementation of the BRS Conventions.”
On 30 April, during the agenda item on International Cooperation and Coordination at the 2025 BRS COPs, the Minamata Convention Secretariat delivered a statement on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Monika Stankiewicz.
At the 2025 BRS COPs side event, global leaders highlighted the urgent need for a unified science-policy platform to tackle chemicals, waste, and pollution.