The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-6) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 7 November 2025.
For more information, including meeting documents and news, visit the website of the Minamata Convention Secretariat.
UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity and pollutants, including mercury, released to the air, water, soil and the ocean. On this page find all the events organised by UNEP at the Minamata COP-6.
Special Event - The planetGOLD Programme – Learnings and Looking Ahead | UNEP, UNIDO, UNDP, Conservation International
🗓️ Tuesday 4 November | ⏰ 13:15–14:45 | 📍 Room A | More information
The Global Environment Facility-funded planetGOLD programme works in partnership with governments, the private sector, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities with the objective of eliminating mercury from the supply chain of gold produced by ASGM. The programme recently completed a cross-programmatic assessment of its first phase (2018-2025), which comprised nine country-level projects as well as a global coordination project.
The event will present and discuss observations and lessons learned from that analysis, touching on best practices and challenges for formalization, technology transfer, and improving miner access to finance and markets, and will look ahead to the next phase of the programme.
Knowledge Lab - Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals: Global voices and solutions to reduce demand for mercury and skin lightening | UNEP, Global Mercury Partnership, WHO, BRI
🗓️ Wednesday 5 November | ⏰ 14:00–14:45 | 📍 Room 3, Level -1 | More information
Mercury in skin lightening products threatens health, the environment, and human rights, yet harmful beauty norms drive their use. This panel unites governments, advocates, and the private sector to share solutions—from public education and policy change to ethical consumer engagement.
This event will highlight the urgent need to address mercury in skin lightening products (SLPs) as a multidimensional issue—impacting public health, environment, and social equity. Join us to spotlight the risks, challenge discriminatory beauty standards, and elevate global voices working to end mercury and colorism-fueled cosmetics.
Knowledge Lab - Advancing Gender-Inclusive Solutions in ASGM | World Bank, planetGOLD
🗓️ Thursday 6 November | ⏰ 14:00–14:45 | 📍 Room 3, Level -1 | More information
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining affects women and men in different ways. Join the planetGOLD programme and the World Bank’s Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Programme for an engaging Knowledge Lab focused on gender-responsive approaches in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
During the event, hear from planetGOLD Bolivia and from AEHPMP projects in Ghana and Tanzania as they share tools, strategies, and stories of partnering with women miners to improve opportunities and working conditions through training and technical support.
Knowledge Lab - Fostering the integration of chemicals pollution into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs): latest tools and countries’ perspectives | UNEP, Biodiversity Research Institute
🗓️ Thursday 6 November | ⏰ 14:00–14:45 | 📍 Room 4, Level -1 | More information
The world faces a triple planetary crisis, with biodiversity loss fueled by pollution and waste mismanagement. Mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) contaminates ecosystems and species such as fish and seafood. UNEP, its partners and Multilateral Environmental Agreements – including Minamata Convention on mercury and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are working in synergy to support a sound implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity.
This event will: i) present recent guidance for a durable step by step integration of pollution into NBSAPs; ii) share countries’ perspective and notable highlights from national piloting of the guidance; and iii) collect the audience feedback.
Knowledge Lab - Informing Integrated Chemicals Management: Data Needs and Experience from Mercury | UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution
🗓️ Thursday 6 November | ⏰ 14:00–14:45 | 📍 Space B, Level 0
Effective chemicals management across their life cycle—from production and use to disposal—relies heavily on robust, accessible, and integrated data. Mercury, through the Minamata Convention, serves as a valuable case study in how data can inform policy, guide national action, and support international cooperation. Tools such as mercury monitoring, Minamata Initial Assessments (MIAs), and National Action Plans (NAPs) have demonstrated the power of data-driven approaches in advancing sound management and protecting human health and the environment.
However, many work streams across chemicals and waste still face significant data gaps, fragmented monitoring systems, and limited cross-sectoral integration. Building on the experience gained from mercury management, this event will explore how lessons learned can be applied to broader chemicals governance, including the development of integrated data systems and digital platforms.
The session aligns with the objectives of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, the Global Framework on Chemicals, and UNEA Resolution 6/9. It will bring together stakeholders from government, science, and civil society to discuss data needs across sectors, showcase successful cases and frameworks, and foster collaboration to strengthen data systems and digital solutions for inclusive, transparent, and science-based decision-making.
Special Event - Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals: where policy meets art | UNEP, Global Mercury Partnership, WHO, BRI, Graduate Institute
🗓️ Thursday 6 November | ⏰ 18:15–20:15 | 📍 Graduate Institute | More information & Registration
Millions of people worldwide use skin-lightening products. Beyond the health and environmental risks, skin lightening cosmetics also fuel racism and colorism. Despite these products violating both national laws and international regulations and bans under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, they are still widely sold, increasingly so online, slipping through regulatory cracks and putting countless peoples’ health and lives at risk. Join us for a powerful dialogue at the intersection of policy and art—challenging toxic beauty standards and calling for an end to harmful chemicals, such as mercury in cosmetics.
This event will feature voices from the United Nations, government leaders, and influential artists who will share stories, solutions, and a vision for ending mercury and colorism-fueled cosmetics. The event will include the screening of Timpi Tampa, a Senegalese film that uses humor to dismantle toxic beauty standards and celebrate diversity and a conversation with the film’s director.
Knowledge Lab - Mercury Wastes Management in countries: latest advances and experience in protecting human health and the Environment | UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, BRS Conventions Secretariat
🗓️ Friday 7 November | ⏰ 14:00–14:45 | 📍 Space A, Level 0 | More information
The improper management of mercury added-products wastes poses significant risks to human health and the environment worldwide. Countries are implementing activities and projects to strengthen their capacities to manage mercury waste in an environmentally sound manner, for example when they dispose of mercury containing products upon becoming waste. Some examples are the implementation of projects respectively aiming at phasing down and phasing out the use of dental amalgam, mercury containing medical devices and lighting sources.
The event will provide updates on the work on the environmentally sound management (ESM) of mercury waste under the Basel Convention and present training tools on the coordinated implementation of the Basel and the Minamata conventions regarding mercury waste thresholds under the Minamata Convention. It will also raise awareness of the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Basel and the Minamata Conventions national authorities in the countries implementing ESM of mercury wastes, with concrete case studies from projects.
Photographic Exhibition – Humanæ of Angélica Dass | UNEP Global Mercury Partnership
🗓️ 27 October - 16 November | 📍 Quai Gustave-Ador, Geneva More information
A powerful photographic exhibition will be on display on the lakeshore of Geneva from 27 October to 16 November 2025 on Quai Gustave-Ador.
Humanæ of Angelica Dass is a reflection on the color of the skin, attempting to document humanity’s true colors rather than the untrue labels “white”, “red”, “black” and “yellow” associated with race. Challenging stereotypes and narrow beauty ideals, the exhibition reinforces that mercury has no place in cosmetics and calls for beauty standards that embrace uniqueness and diversity, not toxic chemicals.
