In the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-5) to the Minamata Convention, the decision MC-5/17 recognized the potential for generating co-benefits through coherent implementation of both the Minamata Convention and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This landmark decision underscores the importance of addressing mercury pollution in the context of global biodiversity and charts a tangible course for advancing the objectives of the Minamata Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and other biodiversity-related conventions as collectively reflected in the GBF.

The effects of mercury on biodiversity

 

Inorganic mercury can be transformed by bacteria into a highly toxic form called methylmercury, which is taken up by microorganisms and plants and accumulates in the food web. In aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, mercury bioaccumulates and biomagnifies throughout the food chain, meaning that organisms, especially the bigger ones, contain higher concentrations than do the surroundings, ultimately harming species and human consumers with large quantities of mercury being ingested.

Birds and migratory species, such as marine mammals, carry mercury across long distances, as far as the Arctic where many species are already under threat from climate change and other drivers of biodiversity loss. Due to emissions and releases from human activities, mercury can now be found in the most remote areas, including at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic point on the planet.

 

 

Interlinkages with biodiversity

 

At COP-4, the decision MC-4/12 took note of the study entitled “Interlinkages between the chemicals and waste multilateral environmental agreements and biodiversity” while emphasizing that the implementation of the Convention contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and to addressing the triple planetary crisis. COP-5 acknowledged mercury pollution as a direct driver of global biodiversity loss and recognized the opportunities for the implementation of both the Minamata Convention and the GBF in a mutually supportive way.

COP-5 urged the integration of mercury action into biodiversity projects, the promotion of research on mercury's impact, and the alignment of mercury reduction in national strategies with the GBF. It also noted the absence of indicators for highly hazardous chemicals in the Kunming-Montreal's monitoring framework, and encouraged information dissemination and improved coherence among environmental agreements. To further support these synergies, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention released "Mercury and biodiversity", a publication that explores opportunities for generating co-benefits through coherent implementation of the Minamata Convention and the GBF.

 

Meet the expert

 

Should you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, at monika.stankiewicz [at] un.org.