President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to seek parliamentary consideration to join the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Cabinet deliberated on a paper on the subject proposed by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy at a recent Cabinet meeting session, leading to the decision.
As part of the treaty's implementation, equipment containing mercury will be identified, phased out, and replaced with safer models. Safety standards for the environment and public health will also be promoted, along with adherence to the disposal guidelines. The treaty will receive financial support under its implementation and will be a significant step in reducing the harm that mercury causes to the environment and people's health.
In 2013, the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted by the global community under the auspices of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The treaty aims to protect the environment and human health from anthropogenic emissions and releases of toxic heavy metals. It regulates the entire life cycle of mercury – its supply, trade, use, emissions, releases, storage, and management of waste and contaminated sites. So far, 147 countries have ratified the treaty, and since 2017, the Maldives has attempted to ratify this convention.