Minamata COP-4 opens as leaders call for cooperation to make mercury history
The first segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4) takes place online from 1 to 5 November with over a thousand participants and an ambitious programme of work.
Under the presidency of Indonesia, the first segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4) is taking place online from 1 to 5 November 2021. More than 1,000 representatives from governments, intergovernmental organizations, UN bodies, academia, and civil society, are participating in the plenaries, working groups and several side events.
At the opening ceremony, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, underlined that “the work to make mercury history cannot be carried out only by a single country. Each of us needs do their part based on respective national circumstances and conditions. I can assure that it is not an easy task but also it is not impossible: as long as we have the conviction and remain loyal to our global commitment, together we can gradually reduce and eliminate the use of mercury as mandated by our Convention”.
She added: “Here in Indonesia, as the host of COP-4, we are trying our outmost efforts to facilitate member parties to resolve pressing issues such as Effectiveness Evaluation and National Reporting, and encourage understanding and collaboration amongst member parties to have a smooth and fruitful conference”.
Her remarks were followed by Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, who highlighted that the Convention’s work this week and in the months ahead “will define some of the bold and urgent steps we must take to make our planet healthy again. It will also contribute to building positive momentum towards the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of UNEP at the UN Conference on the Environment held in Stockholm in 1972”.
She also took the opportunity to “encourage other countries to join soon and make the Minamata Convention a truly global endeavour. Together, we can find sustainable alternatives to mercury and contribute to healthier people and a healthier planet”.
From Jakarta, Indonesia, Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, stated in her speech that “this week`s meeting is a celebration of the global commitment to putting mercury pollution to an end, built on the tragic history of people whose health has been affected by mercury and on the recognition that people throughout the world continue to be put at grave risk due to mercury exposure”.
She added: “Importantly, it is also opportunity for you, the Parties, to advance the work under the Convention, and when doing so, to embrace the strong voices from civil society and indigenous peoples”.
After the opening ceremony, Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, President of COP-4 officially opened the proceedings of the meeting. The President said: “Despite numerous challenges related to the pandemic, we, as the Minamata Convention family, have been working hard to remain creative and innovative, as we fully understand that no action is not an option. Elimination of mercury at global and national levels should continue”.
She stressed that “it is our collective obligation to contribute to ensuring health and wellbeing of our future generation by phasing out mercury. Despite all challenges, I believe that, this week, we can take important steps which contribute to our concerted efforts to create a free-mercury world”.
Development of the meeting
During the plenary sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the official meeting documents will be discussed in order for the COP to make decisions on matters such as an ambitious work programme for the next year, as well as to advance in Convention processes, including strong implementation support to parties in conjunction with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) next replenishment cycle, the effectiveness evaluation of the Convention, and preparing for the first full national reporting on the implementation of the Convention.
Beyond the plenary: Online side events
A number of online side events open to the public open to the public will discuss specific and regional issues in the framework of the Convention. They are open for registration, and some of the highlights will be:
Monday, 1 November, 19h00–20h15 CET: The Minamata Convention Financial Mechanism: Supporting parties to implement their obligations; opening remarks by Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO and chairperson
Tuesday, 2 November, 17h45–18h45 CET: Art Break – Minamata, the film: In Conversation with Andrew Levitas and Minami
Wednesday, 3 November, 17h45–18h45 CET: UNEP and Minamata: Journey towards a Mercury-free Planet
