Minamata Convention COP-4: Bureau schedules virtual meeting for November, in-person in 2022
The Bureau of the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury has reached an agreement on the format for COP 4, which was originally scheduled to take place in Bali, Indonesia, from 1 to 5 November 2021.
In a letter signed by the COP-4 President, Ms Rosa Vivien Ratnawati and the Executive Secretary of the Convention, Monika Stankiewicz respectively, dated 30 April 2021 to inform Parties and observers, said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation and related travel restrictions prevent the organization of the COP in its usual format.
The letter read in part “With reference to the COP-3 decision on the date and venue of COP-4, the Secretariat and I are pleased to inform Parties and observers that the Bureau of the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury has reached agreement on the format for COP-4, which was originally scheduled to take place in Bali, Indonesia, from 1 to 5 November 2021. Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation and related travel restrictions prevent the organization of the COP in its usual format.
“More specifically, the Indonesian Government will not allow large-scale gatherings, including an international conference, until the end of 2021 due to the travel and social distancing restrictions introduced in response to the pandemic. During the fourth meeting of the Bureau, held on 3 March 2021, the Bureau members were invited to consider alternative options for convening COP-4 in consultation with their respective constituencies.
“As the President of COP-4, I confirmed the availability of Indonesia to host an in-person meeting in Indonesia during the first quarter of 2022. After considering possible options and in consultation with National Focal Points from all regions, the Bureau decided, at its fifth meeting held on 14 April 2021, to organize COP-4 in two segments: a first segment to be conducted online within the period of 1 to 5 November 2021 and a second segment to be conducted in-person in the first quarter of 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The timing of the two segments will allow to keep momentum in decision-making and to avoid potential overlap with other international meetings in the remaining quarters of that year.
“The exact date of the inperson segment of the COP-4 will take into account, among others, the timing of the resumed in-person session of UNEA-5 from 28 February to 2 March 2022 and the special session of the UNEA-5 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme on 3 and 4 March 2022.
The online segment of COP-4 will include consideration of the Convention’s programme of work and budget for biennium 2022-2023 and a few time-sensitive items. During the second segment of the COP, which will also be under the Indonesian Presidency, the Conference of the Parties will consider and/or resume consideration of all remaining items of the meeting. Indonesia is confident that it will be possible to organize an international conference in Bali in the first quarter of 2022. Indonesia is committed, in collaboration with the Secretariat, to undertake all necessary safety measures to ensure safe participation in the in-person segment of COP-4 in 2022.
“Indonesia and the Secretariat will continue to monitor the evolution of COVID-19 related restrictions as they may further impact the organization of the in-person segment of the COP, keeping the Bureau abreast, and will prepare contingency planning as required.”
The Bureau said the Secretariat will organize online regional preparatory meetings as well as additional technical and/or other sessions, as appropriate, to allow Parties to adequately prepare for the online segment of COP-4. It added that preparatory meetings are also foreseen to organize prior to the in-person segment in 2022.
