VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia has affirmed its commitment to environmental diplomacy for phasing out the use of mercury while hosting the fourth Conference of Parties (COP-4) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

The conference is taking place virtually from November 1 to 5, 2021.

The commitment to reducing and handling mercury needs environmental diplomacy at a global level, director general of toxic and hazardous waste control at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, said. She is also the president of COP-4.

“So, we want to show that Indonesia is able to play its role in global diplomacy,” she said at a press conference following the opening of COP-4 here on Tuesday.

As the host of COP-4, Indonesia should show the world that it is serious about solving a myriad of mercury-related problems, she said.

The election of Indonesia as the host of the conference is also a manifestation of international recognition of its achievement in reducing and phasing out the use of mercury, she added.

According to Ratnawati, Indonesia has succeeded in lowering the use of mercury by 374.4 kilograms in the lamp and battery industry and 710 kilograms in the energy sector,s particularly thermal power plants.

The use of mercury in the health sector has also declined by nearly 4,700 kilograms and in the small scale gold mining sector by 12.4 tons, she informed.

“The other confirms Indonesia’s leadership in solving global environmental issues,” she remarked.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international pact aimed at protecting humans and the environment from the impact of mercury. Indonesia will host COP-4 to Minamata Convention virtually in two stages: the convention is being held virtually from November 1 and 5, 2021, and will take place face-to-face in Bali from March 21-25, 2022.

The convention aims to encourage the reduction and eradication of Minamata disease caused by acute poisoning and persistent exposure to high levels of mercury.

The Minamata Convention is named after the Japanese city of Minamata, which experienced a severe, decades-long incidence of mercury poisoning after industrial wastewater from a chemical factory was discharged into Minamata Bay. (antaranews)