Programme Cooperation Agreement 2012 – 2013

level. The results were subsequently presented and used in a national policy seminar on December 12, 2013, head- ed by the Chairman of the Environmental Commission of the Parliament of Tajikistan Mr. Makhmadsharaf Khakdo- dov. He acknowledged that the project has contributed to forming the position of Tajikistan towards the Minamata Convention. The project also featured on the main public television channel and in several newspapers. Two outreach publications: Mercury: Time to Act 97 and Mercury: Acting Now, 98 explaining the urgency of the global action on mercury have been developed on the re- quest of the UNEP Chemicals Branch. They made a sig- nificant impact on the outcome of the last round of the negotiations on the Global treaty on mercury, which has culminated in the formal adoption of the Minamata Con- vention on Mercury as the international law in October of 2013. As of today 94 countries have signed the conven- tion and 1 has already ratified it. SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Reported on the impact of two mercury publications Extract from a message received from Tim Kasten, Deputy Director DTIE (former Chemicals Branch Head) UNEP “The publication “Mercury: Time to Act” was an impor- tant contribution for governments as they embarked on the conclusions of the negotiations on the Minamata Convention on Mercury in January 2013. The technical information in the publication was presented using at- tractive illustrations and layouts thereby displaying clear and precise information on mercury sources, environ- ment and human effects of mercury pollution, and pos- sible actions to reduce mercury emissions and releases. Its sequel “Mercury: Acting Now!” formed an integral part of the information package at the Diplomatic Con- ference, where 92 Parties signed the Convention. The Publication demonstrated how the UNEP Global Mer- cury Partnership has supported governments in ad- dressing the key issues of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Providing such concrete examples of what is possible demonstrated the importance to countries of the early ratification of the convention. I have received positive feedback from many govern- ments and other stakeholders on the two publications which UNEP developed with the support of GRID-Aren- dal.” 21 January 2014

SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Influencing the environ- mental policy of Tajikistan to reduce mercury pollu- tion Extract from a letter received from Mr. A.S. Mirzoyev, Chief Sanitary Physician, Deputy Minister of Health Protection “On behalf of the Ministry of Health Protection of the Republic we express gratitude to the executors of the pro- ject for the responsible, active performance aimed at the protection of health of the population of the Republic [of Tajikistan] from mercury contamination.” 1 July 2013 Extract from a letter received from Mr A. Dzhuraev, Di- rector of the National Centre for the Stockholm Con- vention on POPs and Chairman of the Environment Agency, Dushanbe “The project made a major contribution to the imple- mentation of the government decision on the collection and disposal of waste mercury-containing lamps. It has stimulated the creation of special collection points for waste lamps in Dushanbe, provided with incentives for the replacement of mercury-containing lamps with en- ergy-efficient lamps. It has also created policy improve- ments by facilitating the approval of tariffs for waste lamps at the city landfill by the Antimonopoly Commit- tee. Suggestions and recommendations of the project will be included in the updated version of the National Action plan for Stockholm Convention due to be completed in 2014.” 26 September 2013 At the request of the Chemicals Branch of the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, GRID- Arendal and Zoï Environment Network have started developing a GEF proposal ‘Development of mercury inventory and national mercury management approach in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan’. Partners have conducted a feasibility study of the sources of mercury contamination in the three countries, and the Project Identification Form (PIF) for a medium-size GEF project 99 has been prepared with the national ben- eficiaries 100 and submitted by UNEP to the GEF Secre- tariat. The project has been fully endorsed by the three governments.

99. The project costs are USD 1.05 million spread over 2 years 100. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus; Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine

97. http://www.grida.no/publications/mercury/ 98. http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/ Documents/Publications/Mercury%20Acting%20Now.pdf

47