The twenty-fifth session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 16 to 20 February 2009. The session will hold consultations at ministerial level on emerging policy issues under the themes of Globalization and the Environment , and International Environmental Governance . The documents of the 25th session are available here

Chemicals management, including mercury and waste management, are on the meeting agenda. At the meeting, it will be decided whether a global legally binding instrument on mercury will be developed. Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, from the Zero Mercury Working Group, states that ”Now it is time for the GC [Goverining Council] to finish the work that it started and begin actions to establish a global treaty on mercury. Only through a treaty will we see sufficient reductions in global mercury emissions, supply and demand.”

The Council/Forum will consider also consider the following issues:

 Strengthening the scientific base and strengthening the financing of the UNEP

 Small island developing States

 Support to Africa in environmental management and protection

 South-South cooperation in achieving sustainable development

 Updated water policy and strategy of the UNEP

 Review of the long-term strategy on engagement and involvement of young people in environmental issues

 Programmes for the development and periodic review of environmental law (Montevideo Programmes III and IV).

HEAL has ongoing involvement in the elimination of mercury through the UNEP process. We have actively participated in European stakeholder meetings and contributed to the European Civil Society Statement for Governing Council.

For more information on mercury:

• see the previous HEAL article that describes Overwhelming support for global legally binding instrument on mercury

• HEAL’s Stay Healthy Stop Mercury campaign raises awareness of the immediate health threats of mercury, and proposes alternatives and solutions for reducing exposure

• HEAL’s Mercury & Health page highlights the health dangers of mercury and recent scientific updates in the field.

• European Environmental Bureau’s Zero Mercury campaign outlines national and international developments in Mercury reduction policies.

• Health Care Without Harm’s Mercury campaign includes a mercury-free health care website and four regional workshops on alternatives to mercury in health care in South East Asia, South America, Southern Africa, and South Asia.