The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted on Thursday, 10 October 2013 at 11:11 am in Kumamoto, Japan, following decades of increased awareness regarding the toxicity of mercury and mercury-related compounds. The journey
started in the seaside town of Minamata, Japan, where scientists identified in 1956 a long-term discharge of methyl mercury into Minamata Bay as the cause of Minamata Disease, and includes the launch of negotiations for a legally-binding instrument on mercury after a decision by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council in February 2009. After four years of negotiations, the journey concluded with the adoption and signing of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.