4 March 2009 | Luca Del Buono

 

Defying expectations, world environmental ministers agreed today to begin negotiating a treaty to control global mercury pollution.

The decision represents the consensus of the more than 140 countries gathered for the 25th UNEP1 Governing Council meeting.

"This consensus is a huge breakthrough," said Elena Lymberidi – Settimo of the European Environmental Bureau and the Zero Mercury Working Group.

"The treaty will ensure that the EU and other countries of the world make a serious commitment to reduce global mercury emissions, supply and demand."

The treaty will include actions to reduce mercury supply, its use in products and processes, and atmospheric mercury emissions, which will ultimately reduce human exposure to mercury globally.

The preparations for negotiations on the global treaty will start later this year, with discussions beginning in earnest in 2010 with a view to wrapping up by 2013.

"Developing a treaty is a critical first step towards solving the global mercury crisis", said Michael Bender of the Zero Mercury Working Group,

The agreement was made possible by a dramatic shift in the U.S. position by the Obama administration, which now supports the creation of a legally binding agreement. The Bush administration had stubbornly opposed any legally binding measures.

Richard Gutierrez of the Philippine NGO Ban Toxics noted, "We are optimistic that the global community is now well on its way towards establishing a treaty to control mercury pollution and effectively safeguard the fish we eat from this poison."

A study released by the Zero Mercury Working Group this month highlighted the dangers from eating mercury-laden fish, now much more widespread than previously thought.

Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that makes its way up the food chain into humans, and puts developing foetuses and young children at risk.

Please click here for further information on the Zero Mercury campaign

Source: Press release

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