The Minamata Convention on Mercury recognizes the interconnections between mercury pollution and biodiversity loss and underscores the need for coordinated action to protect ecosystems and human health. By implementing measures to control, reduce and eliminate mercury pollution, the Convention directly contributes to the conservation of biological diversity and aligns with broader global efforts to address the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Through decision MC-6/18, COP-6 welcomed the road map for enhancing co-benefits from implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030 (available in section III of document UNEP/MC/COP.6/20) and encouraged parties and other relevant stakeholders to carry out the actions suggested in the road map.
COP-6 also encouraged parties, and invites other Governments that have submitted notifications pursuant to paragraph 3 of article 7 on artisanal and small-scale gold mining, to make use of the technical support document prepared by the secretariat on integrating action to reduce mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining into national biodiversity strategies and action plans aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (UNEP/MC/COP.6/INF/27).
Parties are further encouraged to engage in the Bern process and actively promote cooperation and policy coherence among multilateral environmental agreements at the national level.
Parties, other governments and stakeholders in a position to do so are invited to provide funding to support the implementation of decision MC-6/18.
Intersessional work and Submissions for COP-6
Biodiversity
In decision MC-5/17, the COP encouraged Parties and invited other Governments and local and subnational governments, as well as relevant organizations and stakeholders, as appropriate, to:
Promote research on the impacts of mercury on biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services;
Reflect national mercury reduction and control targets in their revised or updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;
Share the experience gained to promote coordination and integration of biodiversity- and mercury-related priorities through policy development and implementation, including lessons learned and challenges faced;
Disseminate information on actions that can generate co‑benefits for the Minamata Convention and the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Secretariat was requested to support Parties and other stakeholders in sharing their experience and to compile and synthesize the information gathered and prepare a draft road map, including possible actions and indicators, to support Parties in demonstrating and maximizing the co-benefits arising from the implementation of the Minamata Convention and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.
Accordingly, the Secretariat has been undertaking the following activities:
Webinars for the National Focal Points to the biodiversity and chemicals and waste Conventions and other government officials have been organized (in April and September 2024) together with the CBD Secretariat and BRS Secretariat. A third webinar is being planned.
The draft road map mandated in decision MC-5/17 is being developed for submission to COP-6.
Draft technical document to guide integration of actions to reduce mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining into revised or updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. Parties and stakeholders are invited to submit comments and input using this form and email it to the Secretariat (mea-minamatasecretariat [at] un.org) by 24 July 2025.
