Mercury negotiations: Outcomes of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC3) Fernando Lugris Ministry of Foreign Affairs December 2011
Why global actions on mercury? Widely used and released from a number of sectors globally. Long known for its toxicity to human health and the environment. - Neurotoxicity - Developmental toxicity Subject to long-range transport in the environment, crossing and polluting across international borders. Unique waste management issue as it is an element, and can neither be created or destroyed
Governments set UNEP s priorities for mercury work through the Governing Council 2001: Call to develop global assessment of mercury 2003: Call to initiate national, regional and global actions 2005: Called for partnerships between Governments, IGOs, NGOs and private sector to reduce risks 2007: Recognition that efforts were inadequate. Further longterm international action required: - reviewed options of voluntary measures and new or existing legally binding instruments - strengthened role of partnerships
Mercury Historic results at UNEP Governing Council 25, February 2009 Governments agreed upon: Decision to launch negotiations on an international mercury treaty to deal with world-wide use, emissions and discharges of mercury. Accelerated voluntary action on mercury with the Global Mercury Partnership as one of the key delivery vehicles.
The Future Mercury Treaty Negotiations began at INC 1 from 7-11 June in Stockholm and will finish by February 2013. 5 Negotiating meetings (INCs) are anticipated between now and 2013. INC4 is scheduled to be held in Punta del Este, Uruguay in June 2012 Will include both binding and voluntary measures.
Intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) The INC was given a detailed mandate by the Governing Council, including a number of provisions to be included in the instrument INC1 in Stockholm, in June 2010, considered the range of issues to be included INC2 in Chiba, Japan, in January 2011, considered draft elements of the instrument & requested the secretariat to prepare a draft text for consideration at the third session, based on statements made at INC2 and written submissions to the secretariat INC3 was held from 31 October to 4 November 2011 at the United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters at Nairobi
Mandate of the INC to develop a suitable and comprehensive approach to control Hg Provisions are to: Specify objectives of the instrument; Reduce: - supply and enhance the capacity for storage; - demand for Hg in products and processes - international trade in mercury; - atmospheric emissions; Address Hg-containing waste & remediation of contaminated sites; Increase knowledge through awareness raising and scientific information exchange; Specify arrangements for capacity-building and technical and financial assistance; Address compliance.
Third session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC3) Attended by more than 500 delegates representing more than 120 Governments as well as IGOs, NGOs and other participants Other meetings held during this session: - Technical briefing on Sunday 30 October - Expanded technical exhibition and demonstration talks on technical topics - Press information session on the impacts of mercury in Africa
Substantive discussions at INC3 The session considered all sections of the draft text Detailed discussions in contact groups on: - Products and processes - Artisanal and small-scale gold mining - Emissions and releases - Storage, waste and contaminated sites - Finances and technical and implementation assistance - Information exchange - Some final provisions referred to the legal group for consideration
Outcomes of INC3 New draft text prepared by INC3 on: - Artisanal and small scale gold mining - Storage, waste and contaminated sites - Information exchange - Some final provisions Committee agreed to a programme of intersessional work Source: K+S Entsorgung, Germany Source: UNIDO
Intersessional work Secretariat to incorporate new text from contact groups into draft text for INC4 Co-chairs of group on financing and technical and implementation assistance to prepare a proposal for Articles 15 and 16 of the draft text, with advice from a limited meeting of experts nominated by each regional group Co-chairs of group on emissions and releases to prepare an approach for Articles 10 and 11 of the draft text Secretariat to prepare information on possible phase-out arrangements for products and processes, including ideas expressed during the session and consideration of relevant MEAs Secretariat to prepare a compilation of reporting obligations and action plans envisaged in the draft text along with a survey of reporting obligations in relevant MEAs
Intersessional work Governments are invited to submit their views on financing and technical and implementation assistance before 30 December 2011 Bureau members are requested to facilitate nomination of experts from their region by 15 December 2011. Contact Bureau members of your region for more information.
Progress to date Governments have considered the draft text of a mercury instrument Detailed consideration, including the preparation of new draft text has been done for artisanal and small-scale mining; storage, waste and contaminated sites; and the information section of the document. Policy discussions undertaken on financial assistance and technical and implementation assistance; emissions and releases; and products and processes. Programme of intersessional work between the third and fourth sessions planned to further develop possible approaches for these areas, as well as to provide additional information to support discussions on other areas.
INC4 The fourth session is being hosted by the Government of Uruguay Key to success at negotiations Opportunity to make progress on major outstanding issues particularly - Emissions and releases - Products and processes - Financial support and technical assistance - Storage, waste and contaminated sites