Project for promoting the Minamata Convention on Mercury by making the most of Japan's knowledge and experiences
Background
Growing concerns about mercury risk have resulted in the adoption and enforcement of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (the Convention), which is one of the newest multilateral environmental agreements aiming at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and the release of mercury and mercury compounds.
In October 2013, the Diplomatic Conference on the Convention was convened in Kumamoto City in Japan, with a ceremonial opening in Minamata City, to formally adopt the Convention and open it for signature. It entered into force in August 2017 and the Parties to the Convention must abide by the provisions stipulated in the Convention text.
UNEP is implementing a Japan-funded project called “Project for promoting the Minamata Convention on Mercury by making the most of Japan's knowledge and experiences” to support its member States in the implementation of the Convention. The project makes a special focus on the area of information exchange, awareness and education, and research, development and monitoring. A comprehensive programme is designed to strengthen enabling capacity, build on the resources in and around Minamata, and employ technologies held by institutions in Japan.
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Project Information
- Project for promoting Minamata Convention on Mercury by making the most of Japan’s knowledge and experiences.
- Project Implementation Plan
- Annual progress report: July 2019 – June 2020.
- Annual progress report: July 2020 – June 2021.
- Annual progress report: July 2021 – June 2022.
- Annual progress report: July 2022 – June 2023.
- Technical Advisory Group
Technical information
- Baseline survey for strengthening mercury analysis capacity in Asia and the Pacific, J-EC29 2021.
- Multimedia survey on mercury status at solid waste landfill facilities in developing countries to estimate human health and the environmental risks.
- Survey and analysis of mercury monitoring status in neighbouring countries and capacity strengthening supports FY2018.
- Survey and analysis of mercury monitoring status in neighbouring countries and capacity strengthening supports FY2019.
- Co-benefit situation for mercury and CO2 emissions from energy sector in Minamata area, J-EC30 2022.
- Mercury waste management session, 3RINCs 2022.
Training packages
The Project developed two training packages on mercury monitoring and mercury inventory and flow analysis.
Training package for mercury flow analysis to identify and monitor national mercury situation in its entire life cycle
- Annex A – Mercury inventory data source overview (23kB)
- Annex B – The Minamata Convention on Mercury (33.8MB)
- Annex C – Mercury issues and how mercury flow analysis can contribute (39.8MB)
- Annex D – Mercury source categories (27.9MB)
- Annex E – Mass balance principle and examples on the process, sectoral and societal level (20.7MB)
- Annex F – Steps in mercury mass flow development (78.6MB)
Training package for mercury monitoring to enhance national capacity to generate internationally comparable scientific data
- Annex A - Physical and chemical properties, usage, and environmental behaviours (25.9 MB)
- Annex B - Atmospheric survey and analysis (manual active sampling method) (194 MB)
- Annex C - Solid sample (soil, sediment, and biota) survey and analysis (166 MB)
- Annex D - Water sample survey and analysis (127 MB)
- Annex E - Human biological sample analysis (58.5 MB)
- Annex F - Methylmercury analysis (52.2 MB)
- Annex G - Mercury monitoring and the Minamata Convention (24.4 MB)
- Annex H - Quality management (72.8 MB)
- Annex I - Laboratory safety and environmental management (41.4 MB)
Laboratory proficiency testing on mercury
The Project is organizing laboratory proficiency testing for public laboratories and laboratories in universities that undertakes mercury for monitoring, survey, or research purposes.
- 1st round of mercury laboratory proficiency testing (2021-22)
- 2nd round of mercury laboratory proficiency testing (2022-23)
Call for expression of interest.
Monitoring data
- Maki Station, Latitude: 37°48’33” N, Longitude: 138°51’09” E, Altitude: 52 m, Japan
- Mercury exposure level for citizens in Palau due to high-level fish consumption in daily diet.
Project Review
General mercury information
Events and activities
- Online Training Programme #3 Laboratory management for mercury survey and monitoring.
- Minamata Online 2022 Strengthening mercury research capacity in developing countries.
Contact
For more information about the Japan Mercury Project, please contact japanmercuryproject@un.org
