24.5 C
Lagos
Sunday, October 13, 2024

St Kitts and Nevis ratifies Minamata Convention

- Advertisment -

Seven days after a rash of ratifications triggered the Minamata Convention on Mercury into force, the Government of St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby making the twin island nation the 53rd future Party to the Minamata Convention.

Timothy Harris
Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis

History was made on Thursday, May 18, 2017 when the global treaty came into force, having garnered the required 50 ratifications.

On that day, the EU and seven of its member States – Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden – deposited their instruments of ratification at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing to 51 the current number of future Parties.

As a result, on August 16 2017, the Convention, which aims at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds, will become legally binding for all its Parties.

The 1st Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP1) will gather governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations from around the world in Geneva from September 24 to 29, 2017.

The Minamata Convention is said to be the first new global Convention on environment and health adopted for close to a decade. It addresses the entire life cycle of mercury, considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top 10 chemicals of major health concern, which threatens the environment and health of millions.

Latest news

Must read

Ensuring support for people-centric and equitable just transition pathways

The second dialogue under the United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work...

Association seeks deployment of space technology for climate change

The World Space Week Association (WSWA) has called on...
- Advertisement -spot_img

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you

×