The BRS Secretariat will participate in the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP-6) to be held from 3 to 7 November 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The BRS Secretariat, which participates in the meeting as an observer, will monitor and contribute as appropriate to the deliberations of the Minamata Convention COP-6 regarding a number of items on the agenda that are relevant to the BRS conventions, including:
- Item 5: International cooperation and coordination: The COP will consider the cooperation and coordination between the Minamata Convention and the BRS conventions on a broad range of programmatic and administrative issues to advance shared goals on addressing pollution;
- Item 4(d): Waste: The COP will consider, among other things, the decision of the Basel Convention COP-17 to update the technical guidelines on mercury wastes to reflect the threshold for mercury wastes established in decision MC-5/10;
- Item 4(a): Mercury supply sources and trade: The COP will examine measures to control mercury supply and trade, including illegal trade of mercury and trade of mercury compounds. Among the possible outcomes, the COP may request cooperation with other MEAs, including their compliance committees, to support Parties in preventing and combating illegal trade of mercury.
The BRS Secretariat will also take part in various events, such as knowledge labs, to showcase the technical, policy and awareness raising work done under the conventions that contributes to the Minamata Convention’s goals. It will further contribute to discussions on the benefits of, and possible approaches to, strengthening cooperation among MEAs and with other bodies to address the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
BRS engagements at the COP-6:
- Monday, 3 November, 13:15 - 14:30, Special Event: “Driving Effective and Inclusive Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury”, Room A
- Tuesday, 4 November at 18:00 – 18:45, Knowledge Lab: “InforMEA in Action: Supporting Minamata Convention Implementation through Digital Tools and Legal Transparency”, Location: Space A, Level 0
- Thursday, 6 November, 14:00–14:45, Knowledge Lab: “Informing Integrated Chemicals Management: Data Needs and Experience from Mercury”, Location: Space B, Level 0
- Friday, 7 November, 14:00–14:45, Knowledge Lab, “Mercury Wastes Management in countries: latest advances and experience in protecting human health and the Environment”, Location: Space A, Level 0