Will Mercury Treaty Go Far Enough?

Geneva — IPEN and other non-governmental organizations expressed growing concerns today that an international mercury treaty, currently being negotiated in Geneva, is unlikely to reduce mercury emissions, and may even result in increased mercury pollution. IPEN is a coalition of non-governmental organizations representing 700 public-interest organizations in 116 countries.

“We hope that many of the provisions in this treaty can still be improved, but as it stands now the treaty offers only vague or no options for controlling emissions from the world’s worst sources of mercury pollution. Without a more deliberate effort to curb these sources, we can anticipate that global mercury pollution will likely continue to increase,” said Dr. Joe DiGangi, IPEN Senior Science and Technical Advisor.