Pilot Projects on Strengthening Inventory Development and Risk Management-Decision Making for Mercury: A Contribution to the Global Mercury Partnership

2 Overview of Presentation International context International project objectives Project phases and key methodology/concepts Project implementation details

International concerns over mercury (Hg) UNEP Governing Council Decisions Global Mercury Assessment SAICM Provisions PRTRs as a tool for SCM and right-to-know Three pilot projects in Latin America ( ): Chile, Ecuador, and Panama Contribution to the creation of partnerships for Hg risk reduction Implemented in collaboration with UNEP Funds provided by US EPA 3 International Context

4 International Project Objectives Strengthen capacities to identify and measure Hg emissions and transfers Generate data on mercury use and emission patterns, including point and diffuse sources Explore the institutionalization of annual reporting of Hg emissions through a PRTR Strengthen skills to identify and assess risk management options to reduce Hg emissions Test and further develop guidance materials aimed at assisting governments in identifying and reducing Hg emissions

Project Activities 5 Guidance and training material development (UNITAR, UNEP, EPA) National Chemicals Profile Identification and estimation of diffuse Hg emissions (based on market study, product inventory, etc) Identification and estimation of point source Hg emissions Capacity Assessment and Concept Note to Institutionalize Emissions Inventory/ PRTR for Hg National Workshop - Institutionalizing PRTR for Hg and possibly other chemicals - Risk Management Training and development of a risk management plan for Hg National Level International Level Data/Information CollectionInstitutional Analysis UNEP Tool Kit UNITAR PRTR/Hg Guidance UNEP/UNITAR Guidance on Risk Management

6 Phase 1: Hg emission inventory Activities to institutionalize within a PRTR Development of a Hg Emissions Inventory Report including emissions from point and non-point sources Development of a Capacity Assessment Development of a Plan of Action: includes strategic considerations for countries on how to institutionalize Hg reporting within a PRTR will consider, as appropriate, a Hg-containing products inventory as supporting tool for Hg emissions estimation Organization of a skills building workshop on PRTRs (as appropriate)

Key Features of a PRTR Catalogue/database of the nature and quantity of releases and transfers Data collected from point sources of pollution, such as factories; as well as from diffuse sources, such as agricultural operations or transportation activities Typically covers releases to air, water, and land as well as wastes transported to treatment and disposal sites 7

Periodic collection of information to allow tracking of trends over time Use of common identifiers for chemicals, facilities, and locations to facilitate comparison and aggregation of the data Computerization of the information for ease of analysis Dissemination of the information to government policy makers and the general public 8 Key Features of a PRTR

May include mapping the data to discern the proximity of pollution sources to population centres or to ecologically sensitive areas (highlighting potential health or environmental impacts and effectively targeting management efforts) Trends in the data can reveal the progress being made by individual facilities or industrial sectors in reducing waste and minimizing pollution, or for identifying opportunities for improvement Tool for promoting efficient and effective policies for environmental protection and sustainable development 9 Key Features of a PRTR

10 Key Features of a PRTR

11 Phase 2: Preparatory capacity building Draft Hg risk management plan Preparatory Capacity Building Workshop for Developing a Hg Risk Management Plan Participation of national stakeholders Development of a draft National Risk Management Plan for Hg

12 Phase 3: Institutionalize a Hg PRTR Adopt a Hg risk management plan Organization of a National multi-stakeholder workshop To discuss and endorse: the plan to institutionalize a Hg inventory within a national PRTR the National Risk Management Plan for Hg

13 Rationale for Project Activities Hg Inventory Development Provides initial information on Hg emissions and uses not available before PRTR Provides regular information on emissions (e.g. once a year) Integrates Hg inventory data and may improve information gathering processes Allows monitoring effectiveness of selected risk management measures (Risk Management Plan)

14 Rationale for Project Activities Hg Risk Management Plan Based on available information (inventory, capacity assessment) Provides specific measures for Hg risk reduction (legal, economic, etc.)

15 Technical Workshop for the Latin American Pilot Countries (Ecuador, June 2007) Knowledge management event Technical experts from project countries and external participants Will discuss methodologies to estimate point and non point sources Tool kit will serve as a basis Will provide an initial discussion about a methodology to develop a Risk Management Plan for Hg

16 UNITAR Guidance and Support to Project Countries Guidance Documents: “Integrating Mercury Pollution Information into a National PRTR System: Institutional and Other Strategic Considerations” “Developing a Risk Management Plan for a Priority Chemical” Other relevant international guidance (e.g. UNEP’s Tool Kit) Participation of UNITAR and international experts in national workshops and events Provision of comments on project documents UNITAR Project Help Desk

17 Project Funds and Organization 30,000 USD per country Project duration of 1.5 years Implemented by the Ministry of the Environment in each country Project coordination through a National Multi-Stakeholder Coordinating Committee, including: Government Departments Private Sector and Industry Non-Governmental Organizations Universities and Research Organizations Other interested parties

18 For More Information Programmes in Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Governance UNITAR