Fifth round of negotiations successfully concluded
The Mercury Convention's fifth and final round of international negotiations have been concluded in Geneva. Approximately 900 delegates from over 140 states took part in the negotiations. The convention mandate was given in February 2009 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme. Almost fours years later an ambitious and a global legally binding instrument has been developed to reduce the use of anthropogenic mercury and harmful mercury emissions.
The heavy metal mercury is spread worldwide through the atmosphere via air emissions. It enters the food chain via water in rivers and seas. Those in developing countries are particularly at risk, for example through consumption of fish. However, people in Europe are also exposed to mercury emissions. One major reason why this global convention was necessary is the damage that even small quantities of mercury can cause to the human nervous, digestive and respiratory system, particularly in children.
The drafted convention contains elements relating to reducing the harmful effects of mercury emissions in the areas of mercury trade and supply, products containing mercury and from industrial processes and facilities. Regulations have also been put in place for the treatment of mercury as waste and the storage of mercury. In addition to this, measures have been laid down in the convention for small-scale gold mining with a view to protecting workers. Unlike other chemical conventions, the international community is in agreement on the establishment of a monitoring panel to ensure implementation of and compliance with the convention. This panel will be operational as soon as the Mercury Convention enters into force.
Though the convention does not mean an end to the use of mercury in all areas, it is an important step in reducing the environmental and health risks of mercury emissions. The convention enters into force once 50 states have ratified it. Once ratified it will ban the opening of new mercury mines. The convention will be called the 'Minamata Convention' and will be opened for signature in October 2013 in Japan. The convention calls to mind the mercury spill in Japan in the 1950s and aims to prevent something like this from ever happening again.