Mercury is a toxic metal that can damage the brain, lungs, kidneys, and immune system.
It is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women. Mercury pollution often results from industrial activities, including small-scale gold mining, and can travel long distances through air and water.
Citizens of Minamata in Japan suffered for decades from mercury poisoning after a chemical factory began discharging large amounts of contaminated water into the city’s bay in the early 1930s.
Devastating impact
Fish and shellfish contaminated with mercury and those who ate them experienced devastating symptoms ranging from tremors to hearing problems, paralysis and death.
Pregnant women passed on serious disabilities to their unborn children, including blindness, deafness, and severe mental disabilities.
Ultimately, public outcry led to an international treaty, the Minamata Convention, which came into force in 2017 to curb mercury emissions and use of the metal, and prevent more such tragedies from occurring.
As part of the Convention, delegates from governments, the UN, intergovernmental agencies, civil society, indigenous peoples and youth meet every two years to review progress and drive new action.
Globally, up to 20 million miners work in artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations, which experts say are often unregulated and unsafe.
The sixth conference opened in Geneva on Monday, with delegates hoping to accelerate the phase-out of products that still contain mercury, such as batteries, light bulbs and cosmetics, and reduce emissions from factories and other sources.
They will also discuss ways to improve support to countries that need help to meet their commitments, including financing and technical advice.
Laying the foundation
Speaking at the opening, Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), highlighted the progress made in helping countries understand the magnitude of mercury use and emissions, “laying the foundation for effective action.”
Ms. Mrema also noted that it is the 20thth anniversary of the UNEP-led Global Mercury Alliance, which brings together nearly 300 public and private sector partners to raise awareness of the need for global action on mercury.
The group has helped countries develop national action plans to eliminate the use of mercury (extremely dangerous to miners’ health) in small-scale gold mining operations.
