UNEP Mercury and Other Metals Programme

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UNEP Mercury and Other Metals Programme
European Regional Consultation Meeting For the
8th UNEP Global Civil Society Forum 23 October
2006
Brenda Koekkoek Programme Officer, Mercury and
Other Metals Programme Chemicals Branch, United
Nations Environment Program
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Overview of UNEP Mercury other Metals Programme

• Mercury
• Background and mandate
• Programme activities
• Lead and Cadmium
• Background and mandate
• Current Status

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Mercury continues to be used
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and there is global demand.
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A global assessment of mercury was initiated in
2001.

• Initiated by UNEP Governing Council at its 21st
  session in February 2001
• Responded to concerns that national/regional
  actions were not sufficient to address Hg
  pollution
• Assessment concluded that sufficient evidence of
  significant global adverse impacts from Hg to
  warrant further international action

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Further Governing Council Decisions have
strengthened the mercury programme.

• 23rd Session (2005)
• Reiterated the conclusions of the GMA report on
  the global adverse impacts of Hg on health and
  environment
• Reiterated its decision that national, regional
  and global actions should be initiated ASAP
• Urged all countries to adopt goals and take
  actions to identify exposed populations and
  reduce anthropogenic Hg releases

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UNEP Mercury Programme

• The Governing Council requested UNEP to initiate
  technical assistance and capacity building
  activities to support the efforts of countries.
• Main elements of the programme include
• Assisting countries to understand and address Hg
  problems, through
• Building inventories of uses and releases
• Identifying populations at risk
• Developing communication and outreach to at-risk
  populations
• Initiating actions to reduce uses and releases of
  Hg, including promoting Hg-free products,
  technologies and processes, using environmentally
  friendly alternatives

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Mercury partnerships

• UNEP has been requested to implement partnerships
  between Governments, IGOs, NGOs and private
  sector, in a clear, transparent and accountable
  manner, as one approach to reducing risks to
  human health and environment from Hg
• UNEP working with Governments/stakeholders to
  compile and report needs identified to execute
  partnerships and assist in mobilization of
  resources in support of the partnerships
• Mercury small grants programme has been initiated
  to assist developing countries and countries with
  economies in transition to mobilize resources to
  implement projects (up to USD 50,000)

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Partnerships have been initiated in a number of
key areas

• Hg reduction in the chlor-alkali sector
• Hg reduction in products
• Hg management in artisanal/small-scale gold
  mining
• Hg control from coal combustion and
• Hg air transport and fate research.

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Lead and cadmium Background

• UNEP was requested to develop reviews of
  scientific information on lead and cadmium in GC
  Decision 23/9 III in 2005, focusing on issue of
  long-range environmental transport

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Lead and Cadmium scientific reviews

• Developed in a transparent process
• UNEP called for submissions from Governments,
  IGOs, NGOs
• UNEP established an open-ended working group to
  review and finalize report, first meeting took
  place from the 18-22 September 2006
• The Working group prepared technical summaries of
  the key findings of each review to inform
  discussions at the 24th session of Governing
  council in February 2007
• Considered to be a useful summary of current
  science and other topics relevant to lead and
  cadmium.
• Outline hazardous properties, exposures and
  effects of lead and cadmium the extent to which
  the metals undergo intercontinental, regional,
  national and local transport sources of
  releases production and uses issues in
  developing countries levels and time trends in
  air and deposition human exposure routes and
  effects impacts to the ecosystem and data gaps.

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UNEP working to facilitate discussions on
further actions to address Hg in preparation for
24th GC

• 3 main products being prepared
• Reporting on progress, including partnership
  activities
• Finalizing a report summarizing supply, trade and
  demand information for Hg, for consideration by
  the Governing Council in February 2007
• Finalizing scientific reviews on lead and cadmium
  (key findings to be presented to UNEP GC, no
  options)
• UNEP soliciting input from Governments, IGOs,
  NGOs in development of these materials

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Some key venues in lead up to GC

• Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety from
  25-29 September 2006, Budapest
• The Budapest Statement issued on Mercury, Lead
  and Cadmium (attached).
• Sets momentum for UNEP GC to consider
  establishing a global mercury use and/or release
  reduction goal.
• European Commission International Mercury
  Conference from 26-27 October 2006, Brussels
• Policy makers, industry representatives, NGOs,
  and scientists expected to participate

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Further information
http//www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/ http//www.che
m.unep.ch/Pb_and_Cd/ Bkoekkoek_at_unep.chemicals.
ch