28 January 2015
Pacific Islands Prioritize Mercury Waste Management
story highlights

Addressing the first ever sub-regional workshop on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Prime Minister of Samoa Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi emphasized that the sound management of waste and chemicals is crucial for protecting human health and the environment in small island developing States (SIDS).

David Sheppard, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Director General urged all countries that have not already done so, to begin ratify the convention as soon as possible.

unep-sprep23 January 2015: Addressing the first ever sub-regional workshop on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Prime Minister of Samoa Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi emphasized that the sound management of waste and chemicals is crucial for protecting human health and the environment in small island developing States (SIDS). David Sheppard, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Director General urged all remaining countries to begin ratify the convention as soon as possible.

The workshop, which took place in Apia, Samoa, on 19-21 January 2015, was organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and aimed to support Pacific islands in early ratification and implementation of the Convention. Representatives from the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu attended the workshop.

The Prime Minister lamented the current lack of data regarding mercury levels, particularly in Pacific fish, and other limitations to managing mercury and other hazardous wastes, due to lack of adequate institutional and border controls. He noted that Samoa was one of 87 countries to sign the Minamata Convention in Japan in October 2013, and said Samoa and other Pacific islands are dependent on fishing and tourism, both of which require clean and uncontaminated oceans. He called on UNEP, SPREP and other UN agencies to assist Pacific island countries to ratify and implement Minamata commitments and to promote synergies among the other four chemical and wastes-related conventions. [SPREP Press Release]

related posts