Highlighted
16th InforMEA Steering Committee: Multilateral Environmental Agreements take a stronger role
Knowledge management officers from more than 20 multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), UNEP, and partners met in Geneva from 12 to 14 October.
Webinar: Managing Mercury-containing Medical Devices - Closing the Waste Pathway
Organized in the context of the GEF 10716 medical devices project, the session on 3 November (11:00-12:30 CET) focuses on managing mercury-containing medical devices once they are taken out of use.
19th Online Webinar: Enhancing collaboration and communication among mercury analytical laboratories
Register for the webinar on Friday, 23 October (19:00–19:45 UTC+9), aimed at strengthening networking among mercury laboratories and introducing basic mercury science.
ICMGP 2026 concludes with a focus on science and global efforts on mercury
The 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) closed on 9 October 2026 in Hyderabad, India, bringing together scientists and policymakers to address mercury pollution.
UNEP story: Mercury has long sickened and killed. Could the tide finally be turning?
Learn more about the journey to tackle mercury pollution, the progress made under the Minamata Convention, and the work still ahead to protect people and the planet.
Minamata Online connects chemicals, waste and biodiversity ahead of CBD COP 17
The 6 October session focused on key developments in the lead-up to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17).
Minamata Convention joins UN governing bodies network
For the first time, the Minamata Convention Secretariat participated in the annual meeting of the United Nations Governing Bodies Secretariats (UNGBS), hosted by WIPO in Geneva on 1–2 October 2026.
Photos: Minamata Convention at the ICMGP 2026
Explore photos of the participation of the Secretariat at the 17th International Conference
Remarks: Monika Stankiewicz at ICMGP 2026
Opening remarks by Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary, at the 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP), held in Hyderabad, India, from 4 to 9 October 2026.
About the Minamata Convention
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is the most recent global agreement on environment and health, adopted in 2013. It is named after the bay in Japan where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-tainted industrial wastewater poisoned thousands of people, leading to severe health damage that became known as the "Minamata disease."
Since it entered into force on 16 August 2017, Parties have been working together to control the mercury supply and trade, reduce the use, emission and release of mercury, raise public awareness, and build the necessary institutional capacity to #MakeMercuryHistory