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Zero Mercury Campaign

Elena Lymberidi-SettimoProject Manager 'Zero Mercury Campaign', European E nvironmental BureauInternational Co-coordinator, Zero Mercury Working Group

UNEP Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) for Europe, Panel discussion: “Healthy People on a Healthy Planet”,13 November 2015, Brussels

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• The European Environmental Bureau– Over 150 member EU NGOs standing for environmental justice,

sustainable development, participatory democracy. Our aim is to ensure the EU secures a healthy environment and rich biodiversity for all

– Zero Mercury Campaign (2004): Goals to eliminate mercury uses, releases, trade and exposures.

– Co-coordinates Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG)

• The Zero Mercury Working Group– More than 90 NGOs from over 50 countries around the world formed in

2005, by EEB and Mercury Policy Project (MPP-US)

– Goals to eliminate mercury uses, releases, trade and exposures and early ratification and implementation of the mercury treaty

– Support both national and global initiatives

Mercury Pollution: Global Problem Warranting International Solution

• 3-5 fold Hg increase since pre-industrial times- and climbing!

• Due to its long range transport, Hg pollution can’t be effectively reduced through national policies alone

• Primary exposure risk for pregnant women, children & populations dependent on fish & mammals

• Inhalation other major exposure risk, primarily from artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM)

-Highly toxic

-Causes damage to the nervous system, particularly harmful to the development of unborn children.

-Bio-concentrates and Bio-magnifies

-Travels long distances through the atmosphere, with no respect for national or regional boundaries

-Contaminates both the European and global food supplies at levels posing a significant risk, threatening people and future viability of fish

The Minamata Convention on Mercury

--Only multi-lateral environmental agreement adopted in past decade

--Adopted in October 2013 in Japan--Currently 128 countries have signed

on and 18 have ratified--Treaty’s objective is ‘to protect the

human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds”

http://www.mercuryconvention.org

Key Elements of the MinamataConvention Include:

• Cutting emissions from priority air sources through best available techniques, environmental practices (BAT/BEP)

• Reducing global supply by:– banning mercury mining – storing surplus mercury– limiting trade

• Phasing out mercury uses in products and processes• Reduce mercury use in artisanal & small scale gold mining• Managing mercury wastes• Enhancing global reporting and monitoring• Linking the Convention’s financial mechanism (GEF) to future

compliance by the parties, a first under an MEA.

“Interim period” until treaty ratification critical to jump -starting implementation

Government preparations for treaty implementation

Development of guidance and technical standards• BAT for air sources• Guidelines for storage and waste management• Guidance for ASGM action plans• Reporting forms on mercury use and trade

Organization of expert bodies as needed

EU level: background and needs

o Public consultation on the ratification by the EU of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, August-November 2014.

o Legal gap analysis , March 2015

o Complementary Assessment of the Mercury Export Ban, June 2015

o Roadmap on the Ratification and Implementation of the MinamataConvention on Mercury, September 2015

o Mercury legislative package long awaited, subject to delays---/---

� EU proposal for revised mercury regulation should g o beyond the minimum requirements of the Convention

� EU ratification behind schedule, needed to allow al so for individual MS ratifications

� EU delay in ratification will likely result in dela y in Convention entering into force, contrary to the leadership role EU has taken over last decade

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Work of Governments During Interim Period Until Treaty Enters into Force

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• Seek financial aid as relevant (MIA projects, GEF)• Conduct use, and emissions inventories• Identify implementation needs

• Develop and enact legislation• Ratify the treaty!• Carry out mercury reduction

activities along the lines of the treaty

Fostering global NGO work on the ground

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NGOs will assist governments to : • Conduct use and emissions inventories• Ratify the Convention ASAP!• Identify implementation needs• Develop and enact legislation• Raise awareness

ZMWG wide, international, expert knowledge drawn from networkNGO support in helping developing countries overcome difficulties ZMWG developed a treaty ratification guidebook for developing countriesZMWG assisted UNEP in treaty ratification workshops (2014-15) around globe

Thank you for listening and to everyone working towards a zero mercury future!

www.zeromercury.org