Mercury

Global considerations in UNEP

The UNEP Governing Council concluded, at its 22nd session in February 2003, that there is sufficient evidence of significant global adverse impacts from mercury to warrant further international action to reduce the risks to humans and wildlife from the release of mercury to the environment. The Governing Council decided that national, regional and global actions should be initiated. A number of such actions at international level were subsequently launched by the UNEP Chemicals division in its Global Mercury Programme. The Governing Council continued its considerations of the mercury issue at its 23rd assembly in 2005, and decided, among other things, to strengthen the mercury programme with more activities, and to assess, at the 24th session of the Governing Council in February 2007, the need for further action on mercury by considering a full range of options, including the possibility of a legally binding instrument, partnerships, and other actions.

More information:

The UNEP mercury website. These pages provide information about the UNEP Governing Council debate concerning mercury, about the UNEP Global Mercury Programme, and a wealth of information on mercury-related environmental considerations in a global perspective, including the 2002 Global Mercury Assessment: http://www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/