The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP-5), held in Geneva from 30 October to 3 November 2023, adopted 21 decisions to keep protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury.
“We really have an obligation to contribute to ensuring the health and well-being of our future generations by reducing human exposure to mercury. Let’s not forget that we are here to make mercury history”, said outgoing COP President Claudia Dumitru.
The conference attracted more than 800 participants and 900 online viewers.
In its first decision, the COP noted the importance of involving Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, to reduce and eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
For the second time, Parties amended annexes to the Convention with new phase-out dates for certain batteries, switches, relays and fluorescent lamps. A new requirement was agreed to advance the phase-down of dental amalgam and, as of 2025, no mercury level will be allowed in cosmetics.
Other decisions included guidance for controlling mercury releases to land and water, efforts to control mercury emissions to the atmosphere and the establishment of threshold for wastes contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds.
COP-5 adopted a gender action plan and a digital strategy to guide the work of the Secretariat. Considering the recommendations of the Implementation and Compliance Committee, the COP also agreed on amendments to the national reporting format and updates to its guidance.
The next meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP-6) will convene in Geneva from 3 to 7 November 2025 under the Chilean presidency.
