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level. The results were subsequently presented and used
in a national policy seminar on December 12, 2013, head-
ed by the Chairman of the Environmental Commission of
the Parliament of Tajikistan Mr. Makhmadsharaf Khakdo-
dov. He acknowledged that the project has contributed to
forming the position of Tajikistan towards the Minamata
Convention. The project also featured on the main public
television channel and in several newspapers.
Two outreach publications: Mercury: Time to Act97 and
Mercury: Acting Now,98 explaining the urgency of the
global action on mercury have been developed on the re-
quest of the UNEP Chemicals Branch. They made a sig-
nificant impact on the outcome of the last round of the
negotiations on the Global treaty on mercury, which has
culminated in the formal adoption of the Minamata Con-
vention on Mercury as the international law in October of
2013. As of today 94 countries have signed the conven-
tion and 1 has already ratified it.
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Reported on the impact of
two mercury publications
Extract from a message received from Tim Kasten,
Deputy Director DTIE (former Chemicals Branch Head)
UNEP
“The publication “Mercury: Time to Act” was an impor-
tant contribution for governments as they embarked on
the conclusions of the negotiations on the Minamata
Convention on Mercury in January 2013. The technical
information in the publication was presented using at-
tractive illustrations and layouts thereby displaying clear
and precise information on mercury sources, environ-
ment and human effects of mercury pollution, and pos-
sible actions to reduce mercury emissions and releases.
Its sequel “Mercury: Acting Now!” formed an integral
part of the information package at the Diplomatic Con-
ference, where 92 Parties signed the Convention. The
Publication demonstrated how the UNEP Global Mer-
cury Partnership has supported governments in ad-
dressing the key issues of the Minamata Convention on
Mercury. Providing such concrete examples of what is
possible demonstrated the importance to countries of
the early ratification of the convention.
I have received positive feedback from many govern-
ments and other stakeholders on the two publications
which UNEP developed with the support of GRID-Aren-
dal.”
21 January 2014
97.
98.
Documents/Publications/Mercury%20Acting%20Now.pdf
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Influencing the environ-
mental policy of Tajikistan to reduce mercury pollu-
tion
Extract from a letter received from Mr. A.S. Mirzoyev,
Chief Sanitary Physician, Deputy Minister of Health
Protection
“On behalf of the Ministry of Health Protection of the
Republic we express gratitude to the executors of the pro-
ject for the responsible, active performance aimed at the
protection of health of the population of the Republic [of
Tajikistan] from mercury contamination.”
1 July 2013
Extract from a letter received from Mr A. Dzhuraev, Di-
rector of the National Centre for the Stockholm Con-
vention on POPs and Chairman of the Environment
Agency, Dushanbe
“The project made a major contribution to the imple-
mentation of the government decision on the collection
and disposal of waste mercury-containing lamps. It has
stimulated the creation of special collection points for
waste lamps in Dushanbe, provided with incentives for
the replacement of mercury-containing lamps with en-
ergy-efficient lamps. It has also created policy improve-
ments by facilitating the approval of tariffs for waste
lamps at the city landfill by the Antimonopoly Commit-
tee. Suggestions and recommendations of the project will
be included in the updated version of the National Action
plan for Stockholm Convention due to be completed in
2014.”
26 September 2013
At the request of the Chemicals Branch of the UNEP
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, GRID-
Arendal and Zoï Environment Network have started
developing a GEF proposal ‘Development of mercury
inventory and national mercury management approach
in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan’. Partners have
conducted a feasibility study of the sources of
mercury contamination in the three countries, and the
Project Identification Form (PIF) for a medium-size
GEF project99 has been prepared with the national ben-
eficiaries100 and submitted by UNEP to the GEF Secre-
tariat. The project has been fully endorsed by the three
governments.
99. The project costs are USD 1.05 million spread over 2 years
100. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of
the Republic of Belarus; Ministry of Environmental Protection
of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ministry of Ecology and Natural
Resources of Ukraine