Environment
Minamata Convention on Mercury
October 10, 2013
1. About the Minamata Convention
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a legally binding instrument to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Following the successful completion of the intergovernmental negotiations held in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2013, Japan will host a Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption and opening for signature of this Convention in Kumamoto and Minamata from 9 to 11 October 2013.
2. Japan’s Contribution
Based on the experiences of Minamata Disease, which caused health damage and environmental destruction by mercury, Japan has led the discussion of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with a strong belief that measures against mercury pollution should be globally strengthened and that similar health damage and environmental destruction should never be repeated again.
3. The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the “Minamata Convention on Mercury”
Japan expressed its willingness to host the diplomatic conference on the occasion of the second session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee held in Chiba in January 2011. Japan wholeheartedly welcomes the successful conclusion of the negotiations and is ready to contribute to the early entry into force of the Convention through our experiences and knowledge, capitalizing on lessons learned from our past, as well as the successful Diplomatic Conference from 9 to 11 October 2013.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a legally binding instrument to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. Following the successful completion of the intergovernmental negotiations held in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2013, Japan will host a Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption and opening for signature of this Convention in Kumamoto and Minamata from 9 to 11 October 2013.
2. Japan’s Contribution
Based on the experiences of Minamata Disease, which caused health damage and environmental destruction by mercury, Japan has led the discussion of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with a strong belief that measures against mercury pollution should be globally strengthened and that similar health damage and environmental destruction should never be repeated again.
3. The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the “Minamata Convention on Mercury”
Japan expressed its willingness to host the diplomatic conference on the occasion of the second session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee held in Chiba in January 2011. Japan wholeheartedly welcomes the successful conclusion of the negotiations and is ready to contribute to the early entry into force of the Convention through our experiences and knowledge, capitalizing on lessons learned from our past, as well as the successful Diplomatic Conference from 9 to 11 October 2013.
