Hg Partnership Newsletter Oct2009

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THE FIRST MEETING OFTHE GLOBAL

MERCURY PARTNERSHIP ADVISORYGROUP (HG PAG)TOOKPLACEFROM31 MARCH 2 APRIL 2009 INGENEVA. THE HG PAG COMPRISES25 MEMBERSANDWASESTABLISHEDTOENCOURAGETHEWORKOFTHEPART-NERSHIPAREASCONSISTENTWITHTHEOVERALLGOALOFTHE PARTNERSHIP.

THE HG PAG ISTOMEETANNUALLYWITHTHENEXTMEETINGPLANNEDFORSEPTEMBER 2010.

The meeting showed that over-

all interest in the UNEP GlobalMercury Partnership is strong.The positive results at theGoverning Council, particu-larly the commendation of thePartnership for its achieve-ments and the clear messagethat interim activities are to bestrengthened during the mer-cury treaty negotiating process,encouraged the group to a newlevel of commitment.

Discussions included consid-

erations of how to encouragethe work of partnership areas,improve linkages between re-lated partnership areas, as wellas how the work of the Partner-ship could inform discussionsof the intergovernmental nego-tiating committee. There werealso discussions on the needfor increased resources for allpartnership areas.

The Hg PAG identified the im-

portance of the mercury stor-age issue and welcomed theoffer of the Zero Mercury Work-ing Group to serve as an interimlead on mercury storage andsupply issues. The willing-ness of the Natural ResourceDefense Council to serve as aco-lead for the artisanal andsmall scale mining partnershiparea was also welcomed by theGroup.

The main outcome of the meet-

ing includes a report on activi-ties of the partnership (2007-2008) and a draft report onoverall progress.

Further information may befound at: www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/partnerships/ PAG1_meeting/Partnership_Adviso-ry_Group_Meeting_2009.htm

ABOUT THE UNEPABOUT THE UNEPGLOBAL MERCURYGLOBAL MERCURYPARTNERSHIPPARTNERSHIPThe UNEP Global Mercury

Partnership is a voluntaryinitiative where government,

non-government, public and

private entities have agreed to

work together in a systematic

way to achieve the goal of the

Partnership. The overall goal

is to protect human health

and the global environment

from the release of mercury

and its compounds by mini-

mizing and, where feasible,

ultimately eliminating globalanthropogenic mercury re-

leases to air, water and land.

The UNEP Global Mercury

Partnership complements

and supports the implemen-

tation of UNEP Governing

Council Decision 25/5.

The partnership areas spread

across all major sectors of

mercury related work.

THESE BEING:

Business plans for the part-

nership areas are available

at:

WWWCHEM.UNEP.CH/MERCURYWWW.CHEM.UNEP.CH/MERCURY

Mercury Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group

At its 25th session, the UNEP Governing Coun-

cil agreed to elaborate a legally binding instru-

ment on mercury, and asked UNEP to convene

an intergovernmental negotiating committee

with the mandate to prepare a legally bind-

ing instrument on mercury, commencing itsing instrument on mercury, commencing itswork in 2010. To prepare for the work of thework in 2010. To prepare for the work of theintergovernmental negotiating committee (INC),intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC),

the Governing Council established an ad hocthe Governing Council established an ad hocopen-ended working group, to hold one meetingopen-ended working group, to hold one meetingin the second half of 2009, to discuss the nego-in the second half of 2009, to discuss the nego-tiating priorities, timetable and organization oftiating priorities, timetable and organization ofthe intergovernmental negotiating committee.the intergovernmental negotiating committee.The meeting will be held in Bangkok from 19 toThe meeting will be held in Bangkok from 19 to23 October 2009.23 October 2009.

UNEP DTIE CHEMICALS BRANCH

CHEMICALS BRANCH, DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND ECONOMICS

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

UNEP GLOBAL MERCURY PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER

First Meeting of the Partnership Advisory GroupFirst Meeting of the Partnership Advisory Group

October 2009NO 1

ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE GOLD MINING;

MERCURY IN PRODUCTS;

MERCURY RELEASES FROM COAL COMBUSTION;

MERCURY CELL CHLOR-ALKALI PRODUCTION;

MERCURY AIR TRANSPORT AND FATE RESEARCH;

MERCURY WASTE MANAGEMENT;

MERCURY SUPPLY AND STORAGE (NEW APRIL 2009).

Meeting documentation is available at: www.chem.unep.ch/mercury .Meeting documentation is available at: www.chem.unep.ch/mercury .


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Coal is a significant source of mercuryCoal is a significant source of mercurypollution and one which poses a ma-pollution and one which poses a ma-jor challenge for the global community.jor challenge for the global community.UNEP has been fortunate in receivingUNEP has been fortunate in receiving1million from the European Commis-1million from the European Commis-sion to work on projects in major coalsion to work on projects in major coalusing countries.using countries.

UNEP has initiated activities in China and

Russia as part of this projectand is working with the

coal partnership area

to achieve several

goals related to the

project. First, emis-

sion inventories are

being developed

for large coal fired

plants. In order to de-

velop information that

is as accurate as possible,

the inventories will be devel-oped through a bottom up approach, based

on plant and coal specific data. Second, a

Process Optimisation Guidance document

(POG) is being prepared to demonstrate to

states and operators of coal-fired plants

the most appropriate and cost-effective

methods for mercury reduction at coal fired

plants. Examples of strategies lined outin the POG include the optimisation

of existing multi-pollutant control

systems; coal switching and

blending; and other specific

control strategies such as bro-

mine or sorbent addition.

The POG will be translated and

disseminated to governments

and relevant industry leaders,

including through a series of work-

shops in participating countries.

UNEP is currently working to secure activi-

ties in other major coal using countries for

this project.

In support of the waste management part-In support of the waste management part-nership area, UNEP Chemicals Branch isnership area, UNEP Chemicals Branch isexecuting the project Management ofexecuting the project Management ofMercury and Mercury-Containing Waste.Mercury and Mercury-Containing Waste.The project, funded by the NorwegianThe project, funded by the NorwegianGovernment, started in December 2008Government, started in December 2008and will run until early 2010. The proj-and will run until early 2010. The proj-ect aims to reduce releases of mercuryect aims to reduce releases of mercuryinto the environment and reduce the ex-into the environment and reduce the ex-posure of workers and communities toposure of workers and communities tomercury and mercury-containing waste.mercury and mercury-containing waste.Participating countries in this global proj-

ect are Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile,Pakistan, and the Philippines. The project

provides an opportunity to test the appli-

cability of the Draft Technical Guidelines

on the Environmentally Sound Manage-

ment (ESM) of Mercury Waste developed by

the Open-ended Working Group under theBasel Convention.

Project activities include

the analysis for mercury

in hair samples and

some foodstuffs, to

determine human

exposure, as well

as in environmen-

tal samples to help

understand potential

contamination with mer-

cury in these countries.

An inception workshop was

held in Cambodia, 4-6 March 2009

where participating countries and other

experts agreed on the work plan and the

timetable.

National, sectoral training workshops ac-cording to national priorities are being held

in second half on 2009.

This project will be complement-

ed by a project implemented

by the Secretariat of the Basel

Convention through the Basel

Convention Coordinating Cen-

ter in Uruguay involving four

countries from the Latin Ameri-

can region.

Further information can be found at :Further information can be found at :http:/ / www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/http:/ / www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/Sector-Specific-Information/ Waste_Sector-Specific-Information/ Waste_management_project.htm or frommanagement_project.htm or [email protected]@chemicals.unep.ch

NEP lobal Mercury Partnership Newsletter Bulletin 1 October 2009age

Mercury emissions from coal partnership area

Waste management partnership area

Of the

around 6,000

tonnes of mercury entering

the environment annually, some

2,000 tonnes comes frompower

stations and coalfires in homes. In

the atmosphere or released down

river systems, the toxin can travel

hundreds and thousands of

miles.

MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM COAL

The coal partnership area aims to pro-

mote the clean and efficient use of coal,

minimising mercuryemissions along with

emissions of other major pollutants such

as particulates, sulphates and nitrates. It

also evaluates emissions of mercuryfrom

coal use around the world.

Lead:

International EnergyAgencyClean Coal Centre

(IEA CCC) LesleySloss

ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE GOLD MINING (ASGM)

The ASGM partnership area promotes a target of a 50

percent reduction in mercurydemand in ASGM bythe

year 2017. To achieve this, the partnership area seeks

to eliminate the practice of whole ore amalgamation

and promotes other changes in ASGM mining and pro-

cessing techniques to achieve measurable reductions

in mercuryreleases.Co-Lead:

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Ludovic Bernadaut

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Susan Keane

MERCURY WASTE MANAGEMENT

The objective of the waste partnership is to minimize

and, where feasible, eliminate unintentional mercury

releases to air, water, and land frommercurywaste by

following a lifecycle management approach. Part of

the overall approach is to strengthen the capacityof

developing countries and countries with economies

in transition to deal effectivelywith mercurywaste.

Lead:

Government of Japan Professor Tanaka


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New mercury supply and storage partnership area

ermany

he ASGM partnership area is workingThe ASGM partnership area is workingn two regional projects that have beenon two regional projects that have beenunded through the Strategic Approachfunded through the Strategic Approacho International Chemicals Managementto International Chemicals Managementuick Start Programme. The first is inQuick Start Programme. The first is insia with focus on Cambodia and theAsia with focus on Cambodia and thehilippines and the second is in SouthPhilippines and the second is in Southmerica with focus on Peru and Bolivia.America with focus on Peru and Bolivia.

They are 18 month projects that are de-

signed to secure government commitment

in addressing ASGM. In doing so, the gov-

ernments involved will develop multi-stake-

holder strategic plans for mercury reductions

in ASGM, building upon on-going activity to

address mercury and artisanal mining and

building capacity for regional collaboration

for addressing ASGM. With limited opportu-

nity for coordination within the multi-stake-holder community involved, this project is an

opportunity to coordinate future actions in a

focused and more sustainable way. Towards

the end of 2010 regional conclusion work-

shops will take place to foster outreach and

present lessons learned.

The projects are getting started with incep-

tion workshops set for November/December

2009. UNEP is acting as the executing agen-

cy with the national governments responsi-

ble for the main coordination at a national

level (i.e. planning, organization of work and

workshops, national plan). Other stakehold-

ers from the partnership, will be taking part

in the project.

The United States of America is in the pro-cess of funding a similar

project in French speak-

ing West Africa.

At the April 2009 Hg PAG meeting, theAt the April 2009 Hg PAG meeting, theZero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG)Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG)was identified as the interim lead for awas identified as the interim lead for aproposed partnership area onproposed partnership area on mercurymercurysupply and storagesupply and storage. Michael Bender, a. Michael Bender, aZMWG co-coordinator and director of theZMWG co-coordinator and director of theU.S.-based NGO Mercury Policy Project/U.S.-based NGO Mercury Policy Project/Tides Center, agreed to serve as interimTides Center, agreed to serve as interimchair.chair.A government chair or co-chair is being

sought to support the new supply and stor-

age partnership area. A business plan has

been drafted and was distributed to part-

ners and other stakeholders in September

2009 for input. The plan provides a com-

mon, cohesive structure for activities relatedto mercury supply and storage. It recognizes

that mercury supply and trade are priority

areas for the upcoming INC deliberations to

prepare a legally binding instrument on mer-

cury. Accordingly, the proposed business

plan targets activities that will provide input

into the INC process

and help achieve the

target of 50% global

supply reduction by

2013. A first meet-

ing of this new part-

nership area will be

scheduled soon.

A number of related activities have beeninitiated in this area, including the UNEPstorage projects in Asia and South America(supported by the Government of Norway) aswell as the Kyrgyzstan primary mercury min-ing project (supported by the Governmentsof Norway, Switzerland and the USA).

NEP lobal Mercury Partnership Newsletter No 1 October 2009Page

ASGM regional partnership project in Asia and South America

.

MERCURY-CONTAINING PRODUCTS

The objective of thepartnership area is to phase out and eventually elimi-

nate the use of mercury in products and to eliminate mercury releases dur-

ing manufacturing and other industrial processes through the promotion

of environmentally sound production, transportation, storage, and dis-

posal procedures. Key product areas identified include: batteries, dental

amalgams, measuring and control (largely medical sector), electric andelectronic switches,flourescent lamps, cosmetics.

Lead:

United States Environmental Protection Agency Maria Doa

MERCURY AIR TRANSPORT AND FATE RESEARCH

The partnership area seeks to increase global understanding of inter-

national mercury emissions sources, fate and transport by: acceler-

ating the development of sound scientific information to address un-

certainties and data gaps in global mercury cycling and its patterns;

enhancing sharing of such information among scientists and between

themand policymakers; providing technical assistance and training,where possible, to support the development of critical information.

Lead:

Italian Institute for Atmospheric Pollution Nicola Pirrone

Photo/UNID


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HOW TO JOIN THE GLOBALHOW TO JOIN THE GLOBALMERCURY PARTNERSHIPMERCURY PARTNERSHIP

To become a partner, interested entities or individuals should sub-mit a letter to UNEP signifying their support for the UNEP Global

Mercury Partnership and their commitment to achieving its goal.They should specify how they will contribute to meeting the goal ofthe UNEP Global Mercury Partnership.

Such letters should be submitted to:Head, UNEP Chemicals Branch, DTIE11-13, Chemin des AnmonesCH-1219 ChatelaineGeneva, SwitzerlandFax:(+41 (22) 797 3460E-mail:[email protected]

In submitting this letter, UNEP asks partners to complete a regis-tration form. Participation to the UNEP Global Mercury Partnershipwill be confirmed by UNEP through letter of confirmation. Your let-

ter of support will be posted on the UNEP Chemicals Website.

Registration form can be found:www.chem.unep.ch/MERCURY/Sector-Specific-Information/Current_partners

As of 24 September 2009, there are 46 partners.

GLOBAL MERCURY PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSGLOBAL MERCURY PARTNERSHIP PARTNERS(as of 24 September 2009)(as of 24 September 2009)GOVERNMENTSGermany, Italy, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Switzerland, United States of America

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONSEuropean Commission; United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO);World Health Organization (WHO)

NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONSAssociation for Responsible Mining (ARM); Artisanal Gold Council; Balifokus; Centre deRecherche et dEducation pour le Dveloppement (CREPD); DayHospital Institute for Devel-opment & Rehabilitation (DHIDR - Egypt); Earthworks; Ecologic/ Grupo Parques NacionalesPanam/ Alianza Contaminacin Cero; Health Care Without Harm; Informer, Sensibiliser,Eduquer sur les Polluants Organiques Persistants en Cote d Ivoire (ISE-POPS-CI); Inter-national Commission on Geosciences for Environmental Management (GEM), a comissionof the International Union of Geosciences (IUGS); Natural Resources Defense Council(NRDC); Pollution Control Association of Liberia; Pro-BiodiversityConservationists in Uganda(PROBICUO); Responsible JewelleryCouncil; The moneystone; Uganda Network on Toxic FreeMalaria Control (UNETMAC); World Chlorine Council; FDI World Dental Federation; WorldMedical Association (WMA); Zero MercuryWorking Group

OTHERSARCADIS US Inc.; Environmental Visual Artist; Illinois Institute of TechnologyHerek L. Clack;IEA-Clean Coal Centre; Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental TechnologyatWestern KentuckyUniversity; Macquarie University; Mine Research; Niksa EnergyAssociatesLLC; OIKON-Institute for Applied Ecology; Reaction Engineering International; Sang-Joon Yoo;State KeyLaboratoryof Coal Combustion-Huazhong Universityof Sciences and Technology;Tsinghua University; TV Rheinland Immissionsschutz und Energiesysteme GmbH; VosteenConsulting GmbH

The products partnership area is designed to provide economic and edu-

cational benefits to partners and the general public by promoting com-

mercially competitive and environmentally sound solutions for reducing

the use of mercury-containing

products. In addition, the prod-

ucts partnership area seeks to

identify, reduce, and eliminateglobal mercury releases asso-

ciated with mercury-contain-

ing industrial processes and

promotes the environmentally sound collection, recycling, or disposal

of mercury-containing products and wastes. While such topics also will

be addressed by other partnership areas, including the mercury waste

management partnership

area, it is important to apply

a lifecycle and cross-cutting

approach to the effects ofmercury in the production,

use, and disposal of mercury-

added products.

UNEP lobal Mercury Partnership Newsletter Bulletin October 2009age

Mercury in products partnership area

MERCURY CELL CHLOR ALKALI PRODUCTION

The keystrategies promoted in this partnership area to achieve the overall partnership

objective include: preventing the construction of newmercury-cell chlor-alkali produc-

tion facilities; encouraging conversion of existing facilities to non-mercuryprocesses;

reducing or eliminating mercury releases, including waste fromconversion to non-mer-

cury processes; and promoting environmentally-sound options for storage of surplus

mercurygenerated bythe conversion, phase-out, or closure of existing mercury-cell chlor-

alkali facilities. The chlor-alkali partnership area promotes a reduction in mercurydemand

of 29%(fromthe current projections) to 250 tonnes annuallyby2015.

Lead:United States Environmental Protection Agency Martin Dieu

UNEP promotes sustainable development by catalysingUNEP promotes sustainable development by catalysingvital global actions and building national capacity for thevital global actions and building national capacity for the

sound management of chemicals through informationsound management of chemicals through informationexchange, training, and capacity building.exchange, training, and capacity building.

UNEP Chemicals provides secretariat support to theUNEP Chemicals provides secretariat support to theUNEP Global Mercury Partnership and the negotiationsUNEP Global Mercury Partnership and the negotiationsfor the global legally binding instrument on mercury.for the global legally binding instrument on mercury.Enquiries and editorial correspondence should be sentEnquiries and editorial correspondence should be sent

to the Head, UNEP Chemicals.to the Head, UNEP Chemicals.

Documents

Hg Partnership Newsletter Oct2009