event details - Consultative Discussion on Pakistan’s Stance on Proposed Amendments at Minamata Convention on COP4.2

Background

In October 2013, Pakistan became a signatory to Minamata Convention on Mercury. Later in December 2020, the agreement was ratified, and Pakistan became 126th Party for this Convention that came into force for it on 16th March 2021 . This convention was the first global environment agreement which currently aims to protect the environment and human health from anthropogenic emissions and release of mercury and its compounds. Based on its unique properties, Mercury is being extensively used in number of applications including Industrial processes, extracting gold from ore and small-scale gold mining, and some Industrial Processes. Further, it is present in electrical switches, measuring and control equipment, energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and dental amalgam. It is also used in laboratories, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, including in vaccines as a preservative, paints, and jewelry. According to Article 21 of this Convention, each party through the Secretariat has to report to Conference of Parties (COP) on measures which have been taken by them for implementing the provisions. For this year, COP4.2 (second segment of COP4) is scheduled to be held from 21st to 25th March in Bali, Indonesia. In Pakistan, the focal point for this convention is the Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan which can provide its interventions after relevant consultations from all stakeholders. Under Article 26 of the convention, any party can propose amendments in the convention and those amendments shall be adopted at COP. At COP4.2, three different Amendments will be discussed: • African Lighting Amendment (ALA): ALA targets a phaseout of fluorescent lighting by 2024/2025 • European Amendments (EA): EA targets an addition of mercury containing products in the phaseout list (Annex 1-Part 1). These products include Zinc batteries, linear fluorescent lamps, etc.

Secondly, the amendment also provides some targets for dental amalgam till 2024. • Canada and Switzerland Amendment (CSA): CSA has proposed to add few new items in the phaseout list of 2025. These items include tire balancers and wheel weights, photo films and papers, propellants, and etc. Under this theme, SDPI in collaboration with Clean Lighting Coalition (CLiC) has conducted market research and policy analysis to assist the relevant stakeholders in their stance for each amendment.

Scope and Objectives

This consultative discussion aims to bring together all relevant stakeholders from Public and Private sector to provide their interventions on Pakistan’s Stance towards all relevant Amendments. It further aims to highlight key mercury containing processes and products particularly in health and electronic Industry. The consultation aims to discuss and suggest Pakistan’s stance on the Amendments proposed at COP4.2 through discussion with all relevant stakeholders on: 1. Current market status of mercury-based Lighting Products in Pakistan, and what could be the socio-economic impacts of adopting African Lighting Amendment (ALA) at both National and Global scale. 2. Market status of medical equipment containing Mercury, use of Dental Amalgam, and analyze what interventions can be made for gradually phasing them out. 3. Amendments of “European Union” and “Canada & Switzerland”