Events

The Global Mercury Partnership and its two areas of work on mercury in products and waste management, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, organized a webinar on Monday 18 December 2023.

The First meeting of the Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products project stakeholders group took place online on Tuesday 28 November 2023.

Skin lightening products often contain potentially harmful ingredients, including steroids, hydroquinone and toxic mercury compounds, that not only damage the skin but can lead to serious health concerns.

Using cosmetics to inhibit the body’s production of melanin, leading the skin to appear lighter, is a centuries-old practice that continues in many parts of the world today. However, consumers are often unaware that these products contain a host of harmful chemicals including mercury, causing skin rashes and discoloration, scarring, nervous, digestive and immune system damage, as well as anxiety and depression.

Interested in knowing more about the Minamata Convention and biodiversity, mercury pollution and its impacts on wildlife, or existing approaches to sustainable conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems? Join our virtual event on Thursday 12 October.

Join the Movement for Environmental Justice!

In a world grappling with environmental crises, marginalized groups like Indigenous Peoples are the unsung heroes of sustainable development. Their wisdom, traditions and values hold the key to our planet's future. But lurking at the heart of their struggle is the menacing specter of MERCURY.

The Global Mercury Partnership and its Area of work on Mercury in Products, in collaboration with the Clean Lighting Coalition and the Zero Mercury Working Group with the support of the Government of Switzerland organized an online session on the transition to mercury-free lighting scheduled on Thursday 31 August 2023.

The Partnership Area on Mercury in Products, in collaboration with UNEP United for Efficiency (U4E) and the Clean Lighting Coalition, with the support of Switzerland organized the in-person workshop, on 19-20 June 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland.

In the context of its support for the implementation of the Minamata Convention, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved  the project Accelerate implementation of dental amalgam provisions and strengthen country capacities in the environmental sound management of associated wastes under the Minamata Convention, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) respectively as implementing and executing agencies, with targeted technical assistance from the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, and participation of three countr

The Mercury in Products Area of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership held its annual meeting on Tuesday 25 April 2023 in an online setting.

The meeting was be an opportunity to exchange on latest activities, ongoing projects and upcoming events, including in the context of the Partnership Area. The event also featured the introduction of new co-leads.

Provisional Agenda

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project, Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and co-executed by The World Health Organization (WHO) and Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) with technical support by the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership.