By: Camryn Lewis

We started our day bright and early at 8 am to get in the van and head to the town of Gruyères, a small medieval town nestled in the Pre-Alp mountains. With an hour to explore, we found several small boutiques/gift shops, cafes, a castle, and even cows! The town has managed to preserve a lot of history, as we found what seems to be a fortress untouched at the edge of town. While the town is named after the famous cheese, Gruyère, it wasn’t advertised or even really prevalent in any of the shops that we visited, which I found interesting.

Then we made our way to La Maison De Gruyère for a tour guiding us through the cheese making process. We were given a headset with audio detailing the history and facts about how cheese is made. They also gave us a packet of three cheeses (6 months, 9 months, and 12 months old) to test taste as we made our way through the establishment. The flavors ranging from 6 to 12 months old were shockingly different, and demonstrated how much aging the cheese truly affects the taste. We’ve included a taste testing video in our fun stuff section for anyone interested in our cheese tasting review! After walking through hallways with pictures of the cows, plants local to the area, and different instruments used to make cheese, we entered a room with big glass windows looking in on the cheese making factory.

For around an hour we were able to watch the fromagers make the cheese from scratch, starting in entirely liquid form and being put into molds to be aged. It started with the milk mixture (milk, cultures, and rennet added for curdling purposes) being mixed in a huge vat. The curd is heated and cut by long silver knives that go around the entire vat. All of the curd drains from the vats into smaller individual molds that have previously been prepared with casings/moldings. Using what appears to be large dust pans, the fromagers scoop out the foam that has accumulated on the top of the cheese curd after being transported from vat to mold. They are then marked, the rest of the casing is put on top of the cheese, and the entire line of molds flips over to then repeat the process for the second vat. The process was long, with many intricate steps and seemingly large and heavy machinery. I truly had no idea how cheese was made in an industrial setting, so seeing the process up close was definitely an eye opening experience.

We then ate at the restaurant within the cheese factory, Le restaurant de la Maison de Gruyère. They had a variety of options featuring the Gruyère cheese, including hamburgers, fondues, risottos, and much more! The food was delicious  and overall it was a nice ending to our morning excursion.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the Maison Cailler awaiting our next tour and taste testing experience. Our group was led through different rooms recounting (through audio) and demonstrating (with animatronics) the history leading up to the success of Cailler and Swiss chocolate making. There was so much to learn, from how chocolate became popular, to the stories of the people who grow and farm the cocoa beans, to how the chocolate is actually made from cocoa beans to a packaged product. Thankfully, we also had the opportunity to see chocolate being made from start to finish, as well as taste test their most popular chocolates. After learning about the history and tasting for ourselves, we made our way to the gift shop where we ended our experience at Maison Cailler.

This trip has been an incredible opportunity to learn more about the dynamics of science and policy in the field. We’ve had the chance to watch negotiations in real time, meet with delegates and other youth groups, and absorb so much information through knowledge labs, all while exploring all that Switzerland has to offer. I truly believe these three excursions were the perfect way to close this trip and I look forward to more life-changing experiences like this one in the future!

By Liana d’Amore

First Stop: Gruyères

Today, on our last full day here in Geneva, Switzerland, we decided to venture out into our taste buds’ dreams. We started off our day a little startled because of a misunderstanding with the bus driver but we didn’t let that affect us from having an amazing day. Once we boarded our bus we went to our first stop of the day. A medieval town called Gruyères. However, on our way to our first stop which was an hour away, we saw the most impressive views I have ever seen. The combinations of the green hills with the mountain ranges in the background was breathtaking, it didn’t even feel real. Once we got to Gruyères, we walked around and stopped by a souvenir shop where I got a Christmas ornament for my mom to add to her worldwide collection of ornaments. Then, our group split up and I went with the group that decided to go into the castle. We started our non-guided tour by going to the lookout where the views were amazing. Then when we decided to go into the castle, we accidentally like good engineers, reverse engineered our way inside by going in through the exit and out through the entrance. The rooms were gorgeous with giant murals which some where painted others had rugs on the walls. The windows also had stained glass sections which where so pretty. The castle also had a pretty garden in the front. After our tour we stopped at a little cafe for a coffee and then we headed back to the bus ready for our next adventure.

Second Stop: Cheese Factory

We made our way to our second stop of the day, the cheese factory, where we got to taste three different cheeses and see the production and where we had lunch. After an exquisite lunch we got back on our bus with destination, the Caillere Chocolate Factory .

Third Stop: Caillere Chocolate Factory

Our third and last stop of the day was the Caillere Chocolate Factory where we tried an inmense variety of chocolate and we saw and learned not only the history but how it is made as well. The most interresting part was when we learned how to eat chocolate in six easy steps.

1. Look. The shininess can tell you a lot about the chocolate
2. Hear. Each type of choclate sounds different when you crack it!
3. Smell. You can smell the cacao
4. Feel. While it’s in your mouth you can feel it melting
5. Taste. Eat it and see how it tastes in your mouth
6. Aftertaste Sad because it is over but the taste remains in your mouth!

We had the opportunity to tour various parts of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) today, learning about the groundbreaking research conducted here. This facility is known worldwide as the largest particle accelerator (Large Hadron Collider), and for the discovery of the Higgs Boson, the isolation of antimatter, and the birth of the world wide web. On the tour, we saw the first experiment at CERN, the “antimatter factory”, and the data center. 

The next stop on the tour was the antimatter factory. A number of experiments were based in this building, all revolving around understanding the properties of antimatter. All tests began with the formation of antimatter from normal matter. This is a rather involved process, since antimatter will annihilate within nanoseconds after formed when in the presence of normal matter. CERN, by completing formation processes in a vaccum, is currently able to keep antimatter stable for around 60 mins (one of their most notable accomplishments). The formation process begins with a proton exiting the accelerator and getting fired into an iridium target. Once the particle hits the target, protons and antiprotons are generated. Protons are filtered out by magnetic fields, and the antiprotons move on to the deceleration process called ELENA. The extra low energy antiproton ring (ELENA) using techniques such as quadrupoles to decelerate particles, shown in the photo.  

There are three main experiments currently running using antimatter: GBAR, ASACUSE, and Alpha-g. The Gravitational Behavior of Antihydrogen at Rest (GBAR) experiment seeks to understand how antihydrogen atoms fall in response to gravity. The first step in this experiment is to create the antihydrogen, consisting of one antiproton and antielectron (positron). The antiproton from ELENA interacts with the positrons generated for the experiment. These interactions result in antihydrogen, charged antihydrogen, and excess positrons. These species are filtered by magnetic fields, isolating the charged antihydrogen (which contains an extra positron) for analysis. Once entering the free fall chamber, a laser removes the excess positron and the antihydrogen goes into free fall. This movement is then recorded for analysis. 

The atomic spectroscopy experiment and collisions using slow antiprotons (ASACUSA) seeks to determine the mass of the antiproton for comparison to a normal proton. To accomplish this, researchers make antiprotonic helium by replacing one of the electrons with an antiproton (which has a negative charge). Lasers are then used to excite the antiproton, moving it from the ground state to an excited state. When the antiproton returns to ground state, energy is released in the form of light. The exact amount of energy released is recorded, and can be related to the mass through a series of equations. 

The alpha-g experiment also seeks to understand the effect of gravity on antihydrogen particles, but accomplishes this in a different way. Stable antihydrogens are enclosed in a vertical atom trap. Both ends are opened and the direction (up or down) of particle movement is recorded. This information also helps to determine the gravitational behavior, g, for antimatter. From these experiments, they found that around 80% of the antihydrodens went down, similar to previous understanding about normal hydrogen.

The last stop of the tour was the data center. We learned about the evolution of data storage at CERN, from expensive (> $100,000 CHF!) 10GB disks to ~$150 CHF 2TB drives. We also got to  hear a little bit about cooling and electricity practices. The guide mentioned that they buy most of their power from France, sourced in part from nuclear power plants. 

That largely concluded the tour, which was a great opportunity to learn about scientific advances at CERN (and more generally, the field of particle physics). After lunch, a couple of us stopped by a museum-of-sorts at CERN to learn about the accelerator itself.

By Rylee Smith

Afternoon Plenary

This evening, plenary began at 4:30pm. There were not many observers in the room or countries represented at this time. I found this odd, but a contact group for Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining was occurring at the same time. 

This plenary was short, adjourned after 35 minutes of confirming adoptions to the CRP. Adoptions included CRP.16: Activities to address health concerns of women and children in the biennium 2026-2027: Submission by Secretariat, CRP.14.Add1: Draft updates to the guidance on the identification of individual stocks of mercury or mercury compounds exceeding 50 metric tons and sources of mercury supply generating stocks exceeding 10 metrics tons per year, CRP.14.Add2: Draft updates to the appendices to the guidance on completing the forms required under article 3 related to trade in mercury, and Agenda item 7: Dates and venue of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties. .  

In regards to CRP.16, accommodations have been accepted for budget 2026-2027, where a few countries raised concerns of non-discrimination from authority figures and a gender action plan that calls for a ranging perspective on gender vulnerability including disabled and youth communities. In regards to Agenda Item 7, consensus decided to go back to the original text proposed by the Secretariat in Document 24. 

Both the Indigenous Peoples draft, and UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.3 – Mercury waste: Submission by Australia and Japan, are ongoing and going well according to the COP-6 President. Both will be brought into the plenary session tomorrow morning to be adopted. 

The COP-6 President held a working lunch meeting with Argentina, The Bahamas, European Union, The United States, The United Kingdom, and Uganda to consult on CRP.15 agenda item 4 (b): iv – Extensions for exemptions. Progress was made to grant India, Thailand, and Bangladesh exemptions to extensions requested. Both India and Bangladesh submitted a request to extend the exemptions pursuant to paragraph 6 of article 6 (UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.6 & UNEP/MC/COP.6/CRP.11), I did not find a request submission from Thailand under the working documents on the COP-6 website. 

After an adoption was confirmed, the room would clap, signifying the significant progress of COP-6! 

Knowledge Lab – GEF-UNDP Experiences on the Elimination of Mercury from Consumer and Healthcare Products

Both Ghana and Ecuador presented on pilot projects, opportunities, and challenges in phasing out mercury-containing products. Ghana’s key findings show that anthropogenic sources are the most significant contributors to mercury pollution, specifically the use of thermometers and sphygmometers, which they want to phase out completely. Ghana plans on reducing UPOPs and mercury releases from the health sector by introducing best environmental practices (BEPs and non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies. Ghana also plans on creating more efficient and safe collection and storage infrastructure for existing mercury waste. 

Ghana is seeking to introduce intersectional collaboration to create healthcare waste management (HCWM) systems, along with long-term financial planning and sustainable financing mechanisms to create long-term financial stability across the country to support HCWM systems. Alongside these efforts, Ghana wants to develop the curriculum in hygiene schools and also offer comprehensive training for existing healthcare workers and technical staff on operation and maintenance on new mercury-free devices. Discussing existing gaps, Ghana emphasised financial limitation/constraints, insufficient long-term financial investment, awareness and behavior change of the consumer mindset, limited public and professional awareness, and enforcement and monitoring of mercury-containing products. As illegal mercury trade persists in Ghana, upgrades to monitoring mercury imports and improving enforcement methods are necessary. By showing past success of pilot projects, a clear pathway to integrate procurement policies and national healthcare products can be walked.

Ecuador has similar challenges with an emphasis on challenges and results from pilot projects currently in place. Ecuador faces most challenges with mercury added products including, lamps, batteries, thermostats, cosmetics, and electrical devices. These products are not manufactured in Ecuador but imported which has increased the necessity for a national action plan. Results from their current pilot projects include 180.63 kg of avoided mercury (excluding ASGM sectors), 112 kg from electrical-equipment elimination, 24 kg from replacing medical devices in public hospitals, and 26 kg via EPR guidelines on LED maps. Ecuador stressed the need to change the consumer mindset by introducing primary school, university, and public campaigns, partnerships with importers and retailers to control mercury imports, and community pilot projects for lamp collection and disposal systems. 

At the end of both presentations, there was a symbol I’ve been trying to understand since we visited the U.N. I bought a circular pin with multiple colors and found out it represents ‘The Global Goals’ in overcoming the world’s mercury challenges. 

Although I didn’t know the meaning of the pin when I bought it, I’m glad I did and was shown what it means. The COP-6 convention has further shown me how negotiations and global cooperation is important to reduce mercury pollution challenges. It is extremely important that we all work together to comprehensively solve the global issues on mercury that people may be affected by daily.

Contact Group on Technical Matters

After much discussion around dental amalgam, addition to part 1 of Annex A was adopted and is to be phased out by 2034!

Most notably, after a very long time of negotiating, the world alliance for mercury free dentistry NGO representatives hugged one another. Their accomplishments alongside parties’ efforts and compromise could be felt around the room, finally a future of mercury free dentistry for ALL is visible!

Global Political Views on The United States of America

I have also been keeping an eye out on the news presented in Geneva about the United States as we continue down an unsure and unstable path. On Tuesday, while walking around, the group and I bumped into a bookstore advertising a book about censorship in America with an illustration of Trump talking to himself on the cover in the front window. 

With increasing censorship from the media within the U.S, I have found it valuable to gain as much knowledge as possible while abroad on the world’s understanding and views on the United States.

On Monday evening, Mark and I turned on the television in the hotel and while channel surfing, came upon footage of the United States military air striking water vessels in the Caribbean Sea. I didn’t even realize this was happening until we saw the news. It left a distasteful and urgent call to action within my body and mind, I have constantly been talking and thinking about it since.

Alongside this, today while making way to the afternoon sessions of the COP, I saw a newspaper about Mamdani’s win in the NYC mayoral race! I was shocked to see this in international news and as I picked up the copy to begin translating words, I noticed that Switzerland openly calls the genocide in Gaza for what it is. The United States still does not recognize the actions occurring in Gaza as a genocide. 

It has been interesting to view the U.S from an outside perspective and I hope to keep finding uncensored news and media once back in the states. 

Tour of Palais des Nations

After our amazing discussion with the United States’ delegates at the convention, some of us had the opportunity to tour the Palais des Nations (Palace of Nations), which is the home office of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland. Fortunately, the palace is right by the conference center where the convention is held, so we were very fortunate to be able to visit while also being engaged at the convention in one day.

Before entering the plaza for our tour, we stopped at the main square outside, where we saw the overview of the whole building, the UN sign, the broken chair, and the rows of all the national flags that are a part of the UN across the globe.

For some background history, the building was originally designed to serve as the headquarters of the League of Nations, an organization founded after World War I to promote peace and international cooperation. The construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1938, with contributions from architects from various nations. After World War II, when the League of Nations was disbanded, the building was transferred to the newly formed United Nations in 1946 and became its European headquarters. Over the years, the building was expanded to accommodate an increasing number of UN offices and conferences. Today, the Palais des Nations remains a vital hub for diplomacy and international relations, hosting major conferences and housing several UN agencies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

To start our tour, our guide, Sonia, took us to the main assembly room, where she explained its importance as the central meeting place for major international conferences and UN sessions. Due to privacy rights, we were not allowed to photograph the interior of the room since there was a meeting that was taking place. However, we were able to look through the windows, and it was fascinating to see the number of people representing different nations in one room. After the assembly room, we walked to the annex on the back side of the building. This room was much larger than I expected, with back windows facing Lake Geneva and the city, creating a beautiful view. Additionally, in the annex, there is a podium in the center that the UN uses to record media and other official content. For the rest of the tour, Sonia brought us to several different conference rooms that the UN uses for its meetings.

Salle X (Room 10) was the first conference room that Sonia took us to. For context, this room was designed by Aleksandrs Birzenieks from Latvia. It was donated to the Palais des Nations by the Republic of Latvia in 1938. The room has a combination of green walls and ceilings, golden-yellow furniture, and black floors and doors. Latvia renovated the room in 1993 to commemorate its 75th anniversary of independence by donating new furniture, including a conference table and seating, allowing the room to be used for meetings and receptions. It was fascinating to sit in this room, surrounded by the green walls, the elegant wooden table, and the comfortable chairs.

Salle VIII (Room 8) was another notable conference room that Sonia took us which I thought was interesting. It was designed by Jacob Petersen from Denmark. The main wall features an impressive world map in marquetry, with figures representing different regions. The artist used the natural patterns of the wood to resemble the different animals. The projection screen is discreetly placed behind a removable marquetry panel to preserve the room’s main decoration.

Additionally, since this room had microphones and headsets, Sonia talked about how the UN uses translation for all representatives to hear in their own language. For the main languages (English, Spanish, French, and Russian), they have two translators each who rotate every 30 minutes during meetings. For other languages (Chinese, Arabic, etc.), they have only one translator, so it is much more difficult to translate in those languages. However, the UN is currently working on how to use artificial intelligence for future translation to give everyone full translation, which I believe is a very smart idea, with how much artificial intelligence has impacted today’s age.

Finally, we got a view of the palace courtyard through the large windows, which allowed us to appreciate just how large and beautiful the building was. After our tour ended, we went outside, where we could see the exterior of the building before exiting the complex and returning to the convention. Overall, we found the tour of the Palais des Nations to be a fantastic experience. It provided us with a better understanding of the history and international significance of the United Nations in Geneva.

Evening Contact Group Meetings

After our dinner from Domino’s, we attended the evening contact meetings after the afternoon plenary. There were two that took place: Technical Matters (left photo) and Artisanal & Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) (right photo).

Starting with the technical matters, the main issue that was being discussed was the phase-out deadline for vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production. Due to the conference room paper (CRP) on VCM production, the phase-out deadline was listed as 2032, indicating that all parties need to prohibit all VCM production that utilizes mercury to reduce emissions. To start, China was the main country that had a huge complaint about the deadline, as they wanted to extend it. However, Norway and the United States (and other parties) all wanted to force the deadline to be 2030, giving China less time to reach the deadline. This would put more pressure on China to start focusing on VCM alternatives. Unfortunately, China did not agree to move the deadline, stating that its current regulations would prevent it from meeting it. The United States had a huge problem with China’s statement since China already has three full facilities that are using mercury-free VCM alternatives. This shows that it is feasible for China to meet the deadline since they are already starting to make changes. Overall, this was a huge debate between China vs. Norway, the United States, and other parties on deciding the optimal phase-out deadline for VCM.

On to ASGM, the main issue that was being discussed was the language being used in the CRP. Brazil was the country that drafted the CRP strictly for ASGM, so the meeting was mainly between other parties questioning and convincing Brazil to change the language being used. Unlike the technical matters, this contact group meeting had fewer parties attending and was less tense. The United States was the first country to start debating the language. From meeting the United States’ delegates in the early afternoon, it was fascinating to see how Andrew Clark (U.S. Chief for Chemicals, Air Quality, & Waste and U.S. alternative delegate) was able to convince Brazil and other parties to agree on his recommended changes to the CRP. In addition to the United States, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the European Union were other parties that joined in advising changes. Fortunately, Brazil was very optimistic and open in revising its own CRP and was willing to listen to other parties’ perspectives on ASGM. Because of that, this meeting went very smoothly as all attending parties were able to finalize revisions to the CRP.

Conclusion

Visiting the Palais des Nations and attending the evening contact group meetings made this afternoon truly special. I feel fortunate to have gained so many insights in one afternoon, and I’m excited for our upcoming visit to CERN and our final day at the convention.

Until next time, Landon York

Introduction

This morning, after sightseeing around the city of Geneva, we headed home to get ready for the day. Today, we had a meeting planned with the United States delegation for the Minamata Convention during the lunch break.

United States Delegation Meeting

At the meeting with the United States Delegation, we began by learning about each delegate’s role and what they hoped to accomplish at the Minamata Convention. After their introductions, we shared a bit about our course and why we were attending the conference. Shortly after the meeting began, we were asked not to take notes since the conversation was considered off the record, but it was still incredibly informative. We learned about each delegate’s career path and how they ended up in their current positions, which I found especially interesting because none of them initially studied or started out in the fields they now work in. It was impressive to see how their careers evolved into high-level roles within the State Department. The delegates also discussed what the United States hopes to achieve at the convention and reflected on the progress made during the first two days. They expressed confidence in the direction of the negotiations but acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to be done. They mentioned that the U.S. is pushing hard toward other parties, believing that meaningful agreements can be reached that will benefit everyone. Andrew Clark, the Acting Head of Negotiations, explained that during negotiations, the U.S. recognizes that every country has valid reasons for the positions they take. He shared a story about a delegate from Colombia who said they appreciate working with the U.S. because they understand and respect those differing perspectives. After hearing about their experiences, goals, and negotiation strategies, we asked as many questions as time allowed and received thoughtful, detailed answers. Meeting with the U.S. delegation was a fascinating experience that gave us a firsthand look at how international conventions operate and how our country approaches diplomacy and negotiation.

Afternoon Plenary Session

After the US delegation meeting, most of the class went on to tour the Place de Nations; meanwhile, some of us stayed for the afternoon plenary session. During the plenary session, I found it interesting to see how many different perspectives came up during the negotiations. Some countries were focused on making the goals more realistic or securing financial support for developing nations, while others wanted to refine technical details, like mentioning artificial intelligence and transparency in the text. What stood out most to me was how much discussion centered on changing just one word from “requests” to “invites.” It seemed small at first, but it turned into a real debate about meaning, tone, and obligation. In the end, the change was adopted, showing that even the smallest edits can symbolize progress and cooperation when it comes to international decision-making.

Informal Negotiations

After the plenary, I was sitting in, along with some others, an informal negotiation. In these negotiations, the focus is less on the concepts or laws behind the proposals and more on the exact wording of each draft. Each paragraph is read, and the meeting leader goes around asking each country whether they approve it as is or want to propose changes. Any suggested edits must be agreed upon by all parties, or they are set aside for further discussion. Surprisingly, even a single word can spark intense debate because of its potential meaning or legal implications. From what I’ve observed, major players like the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom tend to dominate the conversation, offering more suggestions and debating openly, likely not just from their resources and influence, but also their experience in these negotiations. Much of the discussion revolves around word choice, from the subtle differences between UK and US English to concerns that certain wording could allow a country to ban products like skin-lightening creams. Countries also sometimes suggest edits to accommodate others or build consensus. Overall, the negotiations are meticulous, and over time, I’ve noticed the United States increasingly guiding the flow of the meeting.

Formal Words

Overall, today was another great experience at COP-6. From learning more about the United States and its negotiation tactics from US delegates, to sitting in on an informal negotiation setting, today was full of eye-opening and incredible learning experiences. I am looking forward to seeing the progress made tomorrow.

We started the day bright and early, hoping to catch Geneva’s sunrise, and headed up to the hotel rooftop only to find the city covered in thick fog that hid the sun entirely. It wasn’t the breathtaking view we had imagined, but watching the city slowly come to life through the mist had its own quiet charm. After returning to the hotel to get ready, we enjoyed an early breakfast to gear up for a day of exploring. Our first stop was the Reformation Wall in Parc des Bastions at the University of Geneva, a striking monument honoring the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. From there, we walked to Pointe de la Jonction, where the Rhône and Arve Rivers meet, usually creating a dramatic visual contrast, though the fog kept the colors from standing out. While we weren’t discouraged, we continued on to the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, a beautiful botanical garden where we wandered among diverse plant species from around the world and explored several small observatories. By the time we left, we had experienced a little bit of everything history, nature, and the unique energy of Geneva before returning to the hotel to get ready for the Convention and our meeting with the United States Delegation.

Strolling the city with no aim and no expectations was a great experience because we were able to see more of the city than we could have if we had planned something out. Going with the flow and asking random locals for places to go and things to see made a great experience and made it easier to accomplish so much in one morning.

By Kiera Bonner

Early Start

On our second day attending the Minamata Convention, we got started bright and early before the plenary session working with the Chemical & Waste Youth Platform run Mercury Youth Task Force to begin finalizing the draft of our Global Youth Declaration on Mercury. Led by advocate Shannon Lisa, we, along with many other members of the group, collaborated to complete the introduction for the declaration. Everyone had a lot of great additions to make in the statement, and we had many discussions on different variables of mercury’s effect on human health all over the world within several distinct groups. Once the introduction was completed, it was time to work on the intervention member Diana Tapie was to announce that afternoon at the plenary session. The intervention was speaking for the mistreatment and violation of rights of millions of women, children, and Indigenous people as a whole, to call for acknowledgement of the enabling illegal gold mining processes—a main cause for these problems they face.

Other Happenings

While we were busy concluding our submission for youth voices to be heard, the halls of COP 6 were nothing short of tense. In one room, the Bureau was working together to prepare for the long day ahead and advise President Osvaldo Álvarez on any issues that may arise along with those which had already made themselves known. Following the Bureau meeting was the bustling of 6 different regional groups— JUSCANNZ, African Regional, Asian and Pacific Group, Eastern European Group, GRULAC Region, and the European Union—breaking off to discuss the issues at hand of the day and possibly come to a general agreement or mutual understanding of interventions to be made at the plenary.

As every day in the convention goes, at 10:00 AM all groups and delegates gather for the morning session of the plenary meeting. Since the first contact group meeting occurred last night, the session began with a recap of the events that took place and the point which the meeting had concluded. At this time, the issue of mercury-added products was the main point of discussion in the Contact Group on technical matters. A phase-out date for imports and exports had yet to be agreed upon, and there was a conclusion to keep both the 2030 and 2034 deadline until a consensus could be reached. Proceeding this discussion was the decision to continue the conversation after the afternoon session at 6:00 PM.

Morning Plenary

Once reviews of the previous day had concluded, the topics proposed and requested by specific parties were brought up. In particular, the requests for extensions and exemptions by Bangladesh and Thailand, and the options for future actions regarding trade in mercury compounds proposed by Canada, Australia, Norway, and Japan. As each subject had significant effects on everyone involved in the convention– and most people on the planet– both sparked long, charged interventions from all speaking parties.

Bangladesh and Thailand, along with the complete support of India, had requested exemptions for at least 6 mercury-added products, which were supposed to be a part of the phase-out. The point was made that alternatives were not accessible enough, and they had not had enough time to do the proper research to deem anything as an absolute reason to eradicate the products in question. There were several groups who disagreed with their reasonings, believing the amount of global research done had been enough to prove proper alternatives, including Sierra Leone who spoke on behalf of the entire African Region and IPEN. As a result of their disagreements, the president (who had previously expressed his wish to keep the contact groups at a minimum) announced there to be a “Friends of Presidents” Group to draft a proper way to achieve the desired exemptions. 

The proposed future actions were based around the fact that there weren’t enough regulations on mercury compounds as there were with elemental mercury. To combat this, a CRP was written to propose the establishment of an online expert group between COP 6 and COP 7 to continue working towards the identification of additional mercury compounds. A majority of participants declared their support for these ideas and the CRP or at least the aspirations of the CRP. However, there was some issues coming from India since they wanted more concise guidelines and the timelines were not favorable to their current abilities. As a result, they insisted on a Contact group which they unfortunately did not end up getting.

The morning session did not follow the set schedule for the day, and there were several objectives behind once the final item was addressed before lunch. There have been many moments this convention so far which President Osvaldo Álvarez has expressed his exasperation on parties taking more time than they are welcome to and I feel like that might have been the funniest part of the morning!

Lunch Break:

After the morning Plenary session of the Minamata Convention, our group was starving and eager to explore Geneva’s food scene. I decided to stop at “Pacha Kebab,” where I ordered some type of spicy steak sandwich that turned out to be absolutely delicious. The rest of the group went to “Tasty Chicken Spot,” and after trying some of their leftovers, I can confidently say their food was just as tasty. We enjoyed our meal by the water, soaking in the atmosphere, when we realized we could take a boat ride on Lake Geneva. So, we did just that. We hopped on the boat and had an incredible time cruising across the beautiful lake, surrounded by views of the gorgeous mountains in the distance.

Afternoon Plenary Session:

After our eventful lunch break, we returned to the afternoon Plenary session of the convention, where the main topic of discussion was Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) and its link to mercury pollution. The session was filled with passionate interventions from countries around the world, all emphasizing the urgent need to reduce and eventually eliminate mercury use in gold mining. Brazil opened the discussion with their CRP, and other countries followed, making comments on this as well as the draft decision by the Secretariat.

Colombia opened the discussion by highlighting how mercury pollution has severely affected lakes and rivers, particularly in the Amazon region. Their message was clear: we must protect the Amazon’s ecosystems and the communities that depend on them and work together to eradicate all illegal and mercury-based mining practices. Indonesia supported this sentiment, firmly supporting the removal of mercury from ASGM activities.

Representatives from the European Union noted that mercury use in ASGM continues to rise, with this year seeing the highest levels of mercury emissions to date. They expressed strong support for the Minamata Convention’s goals but also raised some concerns about the draft proposal presented by Brazil. In response, Ecuador voiced their support for implementing Article 7 and showed interest in working collaboratively with Brazil to refine their draft resolution.

Other nations shared their ongoing efforts as well. The Philippines announced they are developing a National Action Plan (NAP) to phase out mercury by 2027, linking this work to the need for tighter mercury trade controls. Pakistan shared that they plan to launch a project by December 2025 aimed at eliminating the socioeconomic risks tied to ASGM. Similarly, Suriname and Mexico both emphasized the deep social and economic impact of small-scale gold mining, noting that complete elimination is complex, but stronger regulation could make a meaningful difference.

Many countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United States, reaffirmed their commitment to a world free from mercury pollution. The U.S. delegation went further, stressing that ASGM is now the largest global source of mercury emissions and warning that profits from illegal mining can finance criminal and terrorist organizations.

Several African nations also took the floor. Zambia and Nigeria discussed their national efforts to implement mercury-free methods, though they acknowledged challenges such as limited technology and funding. Botswana and Uganda reaffirmed their alignment with Africa’s regional position and commitment to the Convention’s goals.

Beyond the national statements, civil society groups also made powerful interventions. The Children and Youth International organization called for more inclusion of young people in decision-making and urged all parties to speed up efforts to remove mercury from ASGM, and did an amazing job in her intervention! The Women’s Caucus asked governments to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into National Action Plans. Meanwhile, organizations such as Zero Mercury, IPEN, and the Environmental Research Organization all emphasized the global scale of the problem and called for stronger tracking systems for both mercury and gold to close existing loopholes.

The President concluded the session by announcing the establishment of a contact group to continue discussions and refine the proposals.

Overall, this session highlighted how deeply interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges are within the ASGM issue. I found it inspiring to see so many countries and organizations come together, all aiming for the same goal: a world free of mercury pollution. It reminded me that real change takes cooperation, persistence, and a shared commitment to protect both people and the planet.

Contact Group:

Halfway through the Plenary, we attended a Technical Matters Contact Group meeting that was a continuation from the previous day. The discussion this time centered around the phase out of mercury use in dental amalgam, which turned out to be one of the most passionate and debated topics of the day.

The meeting began with Switzerland adjusting the text to a consolidated version to help guide the discussion. Right away, there were differing opinions. The United States expressed concern that setting strict limits could affect patients who might still need mercury-based dental materials for specific medical reasons. On the other hand, several advocacy groups like Say No to Mercury and the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry strongly pushed for a complete and immediate end to mercury use in dental products. Say No to Mercury’s message was clear and heartfelt, stating “We cannot continue to poison people for profit.”

A major point of debate revolved around choosing a phase out date, either 2030 or 2034. Ghana spoke passionately in favor of the 2030 date, emphasizing that there is already scientific data showing safe and effective alternatives exist. They argued that the world has had enough time to prepare and that five more years would only delay necessary progress. Bangladesh agreed, noting that countries have already had eight years to act and will still have five more before 2030 arrives.

Other countries, however, urged caution. The United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union supported keeping the 2034 date, saying that removing it now might be premature. India wasn’t comfortable committing to any date yet, arguing that not all countries have the capacity to transition. The United States said they were personally ready for a 2030 phase-out but understood that some nations may need more time, so they were open to extending it to 2034.

The debate became increasingly intense as groups and countries began huddling together in side discussions to find common ground. It was fascinating to watch the delegates gather in small circles, whispering and negotiating, trying to reach a compromise that everyone could accept.

Saudi Arabia supported the 2030 deadline but agreed that there should be exemptions for specific medical needs. Meanwhile, countries like Brazil argued that there’s no reason to wait because alternatives to mercury amalgam are already available, and the longer we delay, the more damage is done to people and the environment.

In the end, the discussion didn’t reach a final decision, but it showed just how complex global policymaking can be. Although, after the UK, US, Ghana, and other countries huddled together, there seemed to be some progress and cooperation made due to the UK’s strong stance on not being ready for the 2030 deadline. Even when everyone agrees on the goal, to eliminate mercury, there are still tough questions about how fast and under what conditions that transition should happen.

For me, it was one of the most interesting sessions to observe. Seeing the mix of science, policy, and human emotion play out in real time gave me a deeper appreciation for how much work and collaboration go into these international agreements. The process isn’t easy, but it’s encouraging to see so many voices from around the world working toward a safer, mercury free future.

Knowledge Lab:

Once the contact group concluded, we wrapped up the day with a wonderful Knowledge Lab presentation by two Japanese high school students titled “Learning from the Past Experience and into the Future: from Minamata High School.” They shared their perspectives on studying the history of Minamata and the Minamata disease while growing up in the very place where it all happened. Their presentation was very insightful, and they handled questions from the audience with confidence. I was especially impressed by their ability to present in front of such a large international crowd and smoothly toggle between English and Japanese throughout their talk.

Looking Ahead:

I’m really looking forward to Day 3 of the Minamata Convention, excited to see what new discussions, ideas, and experiences await as we continue learning about global efforts to protect people and the planet from mercury pollution!

By Kevin Guerrero

COP 6 of the Minamata Convention commenced at the Centre International de Conferences Geneve (CiCG) where the conference of the parties filled seats we occupied the previous afternoon. The secretariet headed by President of COP 6 Osvaldo Perez with exceutive members such as Monika Stankiewicz COP 6 Excecutive secretary started the morning session with brief introduction of the formatting necessary to proceed with the COP 6 and its objectives. President Osvaldo Perez delivered said objectives with Minimata’s founding principles of addressing current mercury production, industries that produce mercury-containing products and the reducing maritime/terriestrial mercury production. A strong 153 member Minamata Convention fosters an obligation to “learn from yesterday” with strong technolgical and research collaborations between regions. As members of the party articulated their opening remark states began talking about their individual region’s and state’s obligations.

Todarova’s 2025 COP 6 Syracuse Representatives

Item 3: Rules of procedure and financial rules for the Conference of the Parties:

• Rules of procedure with the election of members and setting the agenda for COP 6 of the Minamata
• Financial side of the Minamata convention with discussion on the Global environmental fund (GEF)

Financial GEF and Special Funding:

Special Trust Fund were acknowledged as vital in fostering developing parties to meet their obligations and the overarching goals of the Minamata Convention. As is tradition, donor states such as Canada, EU, and Japan were recognized for facilitating the operational and technical capacities necessary to implement convention goals while promoting an insistence on continued/expanded funding from all able parties. This fundemental objective was seen in the arguments for Iran for fair GEF funding and from africa for their continual development combatting mercury emission objectives as the most involved region in the Minamata’s conversation thusfar.

Matters of Discussion:

Discussion of the Annex A in regards to the proposed amendments to ban dental amalgams outright with current projects assuming that 90% member states will have phased it out by 2030. This topic of discussion encompassed various factors and opinions that consolidated into the formation of a contact group. VCM followed similar processes alongside eliminating mercury from whitening cosmetics in regions such as Africa. The dialogue follows similar opinions ranging from draft acceptance from the United Kingdom to conditional acceptance with certain conditions or targets achievable before acceptance.

Throughout the conversation strong opinions where shared from countries like Iran who urged tolerance in immediate dental amalgms limitations and the expectations for developing/trasition economies to adapt to annex changes. Several countries such as China, Norway, and Ghana articulate a more reserved response to exemptions and deadlines to achive these goals, regardless most member states emphasize their commitment to a cleaner and mercury-free future.

Observers were also part of this such as the European network for environment medicine, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, and the NRDC. Observers played a essencial part in reorienting and emphasizing the humanity that these decision will benefit and the obligations humans have to the environment.

Contact Group:

The establishment of a contact group to start work after afternoon starting at 7 pm by president Osvaldo Perez highlighted a determination to rectify grievances and disagreements for COP 6. This contact group headed Zambia representative and claudia dumitru of the Romanian delegation to facilitate the group as experienced co-chairs previously having been presidents of the Minamata COP. Contact groups are shaping up to be a fundamental pillar for COP 6, and with effective and trusted leadership displayed with no party objections for their appointments this COP will see an effective and progressive collaboration towards combatting mercury emissions.

Syracuse University saw a familiar face in Robert F Kennedy Jr’s recorded video as seen below!

COP 6 saw the additions of new parties Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, St. Vincent and Baruta, Serbia, Ukraine emphasizing the collaboration and unity necessary to address the worldwide mercury emissions. Israel will be the newest addition to the minamata convention starting in COP 7 in 2027.

This COP day 1 highlights leaders that are forming for the systemic and regional change such as Sierre leone, Mexico, and the US/EU with representations that consolidate opinions and interests for a smooth deliberation of opinion to the secretariet. The true belief in revising economic aspirations and maintain policies built towards collective effort is formatted in a way for these leaders to promote perspectives at forum and thereby, respect, integrity, and collective decisionmaking.

Our night ended with reception by the Swiss Federal Council, the state council of the republic and canton of Geneva and the Executive Council of the city of Geneva. I was fortunate to connect with the various party representatives and youth panel members about previous Minamata COP’s and about the artesian and small scale mining’s role in mercury emissions. Experience fostered my understanding on the perspectives shared through this convention’s members to achieve national interest with sustainability goals albiet it went longer than I anticipated.

A food spread

Entirely grateful for the oppertunity to be present and aware of much deliberation and progress in the first offical day of the COP 6 Minamata Convention

Best regards
Kevin R Guerrero