Mercury has been on the UNEP GC’s agenda since 2001. Governments are still failing to agree on global binding actions to solve this persistent problem. The Global Mercury Assessment of December 2002 accepted that mercury is present throughout the world environment, is persistent and is constantly being recycled. It showed that mercury exposure causes major harm to human health, and is highly toxic especially to developing nervous and cardiovascular systems.  In the form of methylmercury it readily crosses the placental and blood-brain barrier making foetuses, children and women of child-bearing age more susceptible to mercury exposure. The assessment underlined the need for global solutions since with long-distance transport, even countries which release little or no mercury and other areas far away from industrial activity, may be contaminated. For example, the Arctic has high mercury levels, although it is far from major release sites.

The developments of the UNEP Governing Council started being followed since the beginning of this campaign:

Preparations for the 23rd Governing Council, 18-15 February 2005, Nairobi, Kenya
Preparations for the 24th UNEP Governing Council, 5-9 Feburary 2007, Nairobi, Kenya
Follow up to the 24th UNEP GC
Developments in 2008
Developments in 2009
Developments in 2010

Developments in 2010

ZMWG preparatory work for the First session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, Stockholm, Sweden (INC1)

ZMWG Framework for a mercury treaty
June 2010

ZMWG observations on UNEP documents produced for INC 1
2 June 2010

ZMWG Though-started on Artisanal and Small scale gold mining (ASGM)
2 June 2010
and in ES

ZMWG fact sheet on mercury

ZMWG fact sheet on skin creams

ZMWG PROPOSED PARTIAL CONCEPTUAL TEXT FOR A GLOBAL MERCURY TREATY
March 2010 Working Draft (EN)

FR, ES, CHI, RU, Arab and PT, JP
18 March 2010

7-11 June 2010, INC1, Stockholm, Sweden

Fifty five representatives of NGOs, from 29 countries, participated at the Mercury INC 1, Stockholm, Sweden. An NGO preparatory meeting took place on the 5 June 2010. On the 6 June 2010 Technical Briefings were organised by UNEP, all presentations can be found here. In the afternoon, the ZMWG organised a demonstration and training of the NGOs on how to use a LUMEX monitoring instrument, to monitor mercury emissions in the air, with the help of an engineer from LUMEX.

A ZMWG exhibition booth was set up providing information on mercury in different products and processes (lamps, measuring devices, chlor-alkali, artisanal small scale gold mining etc) as well as our position papers. Pollution Probe's (Canada) booth exhibited the theme on mercury in products. IPEN had a booth on their Mercury Free Campaign.

Two films on how mercury is freely traded in the New Delhi market , as well as one on Mercury use in hospitals in India, was produced by Toxics Link under the Zero Mercury Campaign and projected at the ZMWG exhibition booth during the week. A powerpoint presentation made by CACP (Japan) on the Minamata disease and mercury in Japan was also projected during the week.

During the week the ZMWG Say.... aaaHg!!! action took place - governmnent delegates had the possibility to measure mercury in their breath mainly coming from dental amalgams containing mercury, by using the LUMEX - portable mercury monitoring instrument.

During the meeting the NGOs presence was very evident. Statements were given in a coordinated, complementary manner by the NGOs' network representatives and received very positive feedback. Below you can see statements made by the Zero Mercury Working Group as well as Joint statements.

ZMWG statements/Press releases

7 June
Joint Press release - ZMWG, IPEN , SSNC
Opening Statement
Indigenous NGOs opening statement
Joint (ZMWG+IPEN) statement on Objectives
8 June
Joint (ZMWG+IPEN) statement on Treaty Structure
Statement on Finances and Compliance
Statement on Compliance and Reporting
9 June
Statement on Supply
Statement on Demand
Joint (ZMWG+IPEN) statement on Waste and contaminated sites
10 June
Statement on Storage
Statement on mercury in Atmospheric Emissions
ICC statement on emissions
Statement on Awareness raising and information
CEPHED statement
11 June
CACP statement on Minamata
Joint (ZMWG+IPEN) final statement
ZMWG final Press release

Photo Gallery
Lumex NGOs training 1 , 2
The ZMWG exhibition booth
Say....aaaHg! ZMWG action 1 , 2 , 3

The participation of 132 countries’ reaffirmed the importance and international commitment to address the global mercury problem. We hope that this first round of discussions covering all issues will open the way to more substantive discussions on legally binding control measures in order to minimise and, where feasible, eliminate mercury from use, supply and emissions globally.

During the meeting countries expressed their views on potential targeted control provisions on mercury issues such as supply; storage of excess mercury; use of mercury in products and processes; artisanal small scale gold mining; trade; atmospheric emissions of mercury; waste and contaminated sites; as well as on compliance, finances, capacity building and technical assistance and awareness raising. Countries and regions also expressed their opinions on how discussions should unfold during the coming INCs.

We now look forward to engaging in focused discussions in areas such as supply, trade and storage of surplus mercury where substantial progress can be made. UNEP has now been tasked to draft options on measures to reduce supply, demand and emissions, to be discussed at INC 2, Tokyo, Japan, January 2011.

Developments in 2009

VICTORY!!! A GLOBAL AGREEMENT ON MERCURY

PR: World governments support breakthrough agreement on mercury
[20 February 2009]

Final draft text of the agreement hereThe 25th UNEP Governing Council  took place in Nairobi, Kenya , 16-20 February 2009.  In preparation for that the 10th  Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF) took on teh 14-15 February, Nairobi. 

Sixteen NGO representatives, from 14 countries from around the world and covering all regions,   participated to the above mentioned meetings. 

Information on the two meetings can be found at 

10th, UNEP Global Civil Society Forum, 
14-15 February  2009, Nairobi, Kenya

25th UNEP Governing Council
16-20 February 2009, Nairobi, Kenya

The NGOs had prepared and circulated a proposal for a GC Decision on mercury . Please find this below in  EN, FR, and ES

A Preparatory NGO Strategy working group was organised by EEB/ZMWG on Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th February 2009 , in Nairobi . In parallel the NGOs participated in relevant parts of the Global Civil Society Forum which took place on the same dates (14-15/2), in preparation of the GC.

As a result of the NGO strategy meeting three documents were formalised:

-          A proposal for a GC Decision on mercury in  EN, FR, and ES 

-          A submission of the ZMWG, information document on desired outcome for the 25^th session of the UNEP Governing Council

-          Quick Views of Zero Mercury Working Group, on GC 25, developed in EN, FR and ES

At the opening of the meeting, EEB on behalf of the NGOs delivered the opening statement.

The proceedings of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (document UNEP/GC.25/17) in English is available on the UNEP website: http://www.unep.org/gc/gc25/ . The document has “advance” watermark pending the completion of the translation into all official languages of the United Nations.

Following UNEP Decision 25/5 as above an Open Ended Working Group (OEWG 3) on Mercury was held on 19-23 October 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand.

In preparation for the OEWG 3 an NGO meeting was held on the 17 October 2009, Bangkok, Thailand.

27 NGOs attended the meetings and gave valuable input to the discussions.

The following Zero Mercury Working Group Quick Views on a successful OEWG 3 on mercury was agreed among NGOs and circulated to the governement representatives. The ZMWG quick views were also translated in Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and French

At the opening of the meeting, EEB on behalf of the ZMWG/NGOs delivered the opening statement

The NGOs welcomed the outcome of the meeting with a press release on the 23 October 2009.

On 16-17th November 2009 a joint WHO-UNEP Experts Consultation of the "Future Use of Dental Restorative Materials" is foreseen to take place. The meeting is in response to UNEP GC 25/5 mandate to continue the existing work under the Global Mercury Partnership particularly in the areas of reducing mercury in products and processes and raising awareness of mercury-free alternatives, reducing mercury supply and enhancing storage capacities, and providing information on sound management of mercury.

Over 70 non-governmental organisations from around the world signed and addressed a letter to the meeting , calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish a schedule to phase out the use of dental mercury fillings as soon as possible.

  Developments in 2008

The 10th Special Session of UNEP GC, took place in Monaco,  20-22 February 2008

The item related to mercury in this session was the follow up on the progress report after the First UNEP Open ended Working Group on Mercury (OEWG1), November 2007- Bangkok. EEB represented the Zero Mercury Working Group with general support of the Global Civil Society Forum and the NGOs who were there. The NGO intervention at the Committee of the Whole can be found here.

As expected the Progress report from OEWG 1 was acknowledged and no further changes were made.

The Decisions adopted by the Tenth Special Session of The Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum and the Summary of the President of the Discussions of Ministers and Heads of Delegation at the Tenth Special Session of the Council/Forum that took place in Monaco, February 2008, can be found here.

The proceedings of the GC/GMEF at its  10th Special Session, that took place in Monaco, 20-22 February 2008, can be found here.

As usual, just before the GC meeting , the Global Civil Society Forum took place - the Report of the 9th. Global Civil Society Froum (GCSF) held in Monaco can be accessed at http://www.unep.org/civil_society/GCSF9/pdfs/Report-GCSF9-2008.pdf

An Overarching Framework for the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership has been developed in response to UNEP Governing Council Decision 24/3 Paragraph 27.  UNEP actively consulted with governments and stakeholders on the framework as mandated under UNEP Governing Council Decision 24/3 paragraph 27, including through the Meeting of partners and other stakeholders on the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, Geneva, 1-3 April 2008. 

A delegation of NGOs attended the above mentioned meeting and played a catalytic role in reaching agreement on the framework. 

ZMWG comments on the UNEP report on Atmospheric Emissions of mercury: Inventory, Sources and Transport,  the AMAP UNEP Report on Sources of mercury to the Atmosphiere: technical Background Document, and Mercury Fate and Transport in the Global atmosphere: measurements, models and policy iimplications produced by the Fate and transport partnership.
[10 August, 2008]

2nd UNEP Open Ended Working Group on Mercury, 6-10 October 2008, Nairobi, Kenya

Sixteen NGO representatives, from 14 countries from around the world and covering all regions, including one NGO representing also the Indigenous peoples, participated to the 2^nd UNEP Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group on Mercury, 6-10 October 2008, Nairobi, Kenya including 2 EEB member organisations. 

A Preparatory NGO Strategy working group took place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2008 , in Nairobi.

On Saturday 4 October 16.00-18.00, a Seminar on Socio-economic Costs of continuing the Mercury Pollution , Nairobi, was organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers. 

All documents for the UNEP meeting are available at 
UNEP Meeting documents for the 2^nd Ad hoc Open-Ended Working Group on Mercury
http://www.chem.unep.ch/mercury/OEWG2/Documents.htm

The report from the meetings can be found here.

Follow up to the 24th UNEP GC - 2007

NGOs received a letter from UNEP asking for comments on the mercury partnerships on 4 June 2007.

On the 25-26 June 2007, EEB, MPP and HCWH participated at the UNEP Exploratory meeting on mercury partnerships in Geneva. Summary slides were produced by UNEP but NO formal report is foreseen to be produced.

9 July 2007, Zero Mercury Working Group comments on the planned content of the atmospheric emissions report required under the UNEP Governing Council 24th meeting Decision 24/3, paragraph 24., were sent to UNEP

17 July 2007, NGOs letter to UNEP, in response to UNEP’s request for comments on strengthening mercury partnerships, per the UNEP Governing Council Decision 24/3.

The EEB/Zero Mercury Working Group organised an NGO meeting on global mercury strategies, 11 November 2007, Bangkok, Thailand in preparation for the First Open Ended Working Group(OEWG) on Mercury , 12-16 November, Bangkok, Thailand.

Organisational details
The NGO meeting took place on Sunday 11 November 2007, 8:30-14.00, at the Prince Palace Hotel, Meeting Room: Palace 2 - 14th floor

Background documents
1. NGOs proposal/input to 24 GC,  29 January 2007
2. UNEP 24-3 Decision , 9 February 2007
3. UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/OEWG.1/2 - Study on options for global control of mercury (available in ALL UN languages) here in EN , ES, CHI and Arabic
 
The report from the NGO meeting and the NGO presence at the First OEWG on mercury can be found here.
A report from IISD, Environmental Negotiations Bulletin can also be found here.

Preparations for the 24th UNEP Governing Council, 5-9 Feburary 2007, Nairobi, Kenya

In preparation for the 24 UNEP Governing Council the NGOs have drafted a one page working document with the NGOs'Proposals for a Global Mercury Strategy, November 8, 2006.
The NGO proposals are also available in PT, RU, ES, FR, D , CHI , JP

The NGOS have submitted their proposal on a Mercury Decision to UNEP GC on the 29 January 2007
NGOs submission to the 24th UNEP GC for a Global Mercury Strategy. The summary of the document is also available in SP, FR, CHI , PT, SWA , D

A special background report has also been prepared for the UNEP meeting - NGOs background report "Addressing Global Mercury Crisis at the 2007 UNEP GC" [January, 2007]
A press release was sent out on the 31 January , in view of the forthcoming UNEP GC meeting. Similar press releases where posted in different countries.

EEB, NRDC, MPP, Sierra Club, IPEN/HCWH, groundWork, ACPO, Toxics Link and GVB, represented the Zero Mercury Working Group at the 24th UNEP Governing Council, 5-9 February, 2007, Nairobi, Kenya.

A report on the activities of the NGOs in Nairobi as well as the discussions that took place during the meeting is now available.

The draft decision on mercury submitted by the Contact Group at the Plenary and finally adopted by the 24th Governing Council on the 9th February 2007 can be found here.

The NGOs reacted to the final decision with a press release on February 9, 2007. The German version of the press release can be found here.

References to the 24th UNEP GC in the news can be found here.

The final adopted text can be found at http://www.unep.org/gc/gc24/, Proceedings of the GC/GMEF at its 24th session, 24/3/IV Mercury,  p. 17-20.

Preparations for the 23rd Governing Council, 18-15 February 2005, Nairobi, Kenya

Mercury was on the agenda of the UNEP Governing Council (GC) planned for end February 2005. Activities include cooperation with NGOs all over the world ( EU, US, Developing countries) and input to UNEP towards that direction.

For better information and preparation for the meeting, EEB and Ban Hg WG represented by MPP, also had the chance to meet with Klaus Toepfer – UNEP Executive Director and Sylvie Motard – Head of the UNEP Liaison office in Brussels, on the 20-21 December 2004. (see also section 1)

In February 2005, NRDC, EEB, Greenpeace and the Ban Mercury Working Group with the support of the above mentioned NGOs, submitted to UNEP the Proposed Governing Council Decision Submitted by NGOs (also in FR), based upon a more extensive position paper which had been submitted to UNEP in July 2004.

A press release was sent to the European, US and African press on the 18 February 2005 , in view of the start of the UNEP Global Civil Society Forum and the UNEP Governing Council.

EEB, NRDC, Ban Mercury Working Group (MPP), Greenpeace, Toxics Link -India , Associação de Combate aos POPs - ACPO, groundWork, South Africa, Global Village of Beijing, China, and International Indian Treaty Council finally attended the 6th Global Civil Society Forum and the 23rd UNEP Governing Council in Nairobi, 18-25 February 2005. The report from the meetings and related interventions are available.

The 23rd UNEP Governing Council Decision on the Mercury Programme can be seen here.

A press release was also sent on the final decision of the UNEP Governing council on the 25 February 2005.

As a follow up to the 23rd UNEP Governing Council Decision, four meetings have taken place in relation to the Mercury partnerships. The Environmental NGOs attended those meetings. More relevant information and relevant documents can be found here.

In a letter to the world's governments that was also sent to the NGOs (MPP), on the 24 March 2006, the U.N. Environment Program is requesting information related to the supply, trade and demand for mercury for a report being developed for the upcoming UNEP Governing Council meeting in Nairobi next February. The request for the report came out of a decision that the UNEP Governing Council made at their prior meeting, which was put forth by Canada at the request of MPP. At that time, the UNEP Governing Council requested that UNEP Executive Director "..develop further the mercury programme...by initiating, preparing and making public a report summarizing supply, trade and demand information for mercury, including in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and, based on a consideration of life-cycle approach, to submit a document forming a basis for consideration of possible further action in those areas for consideration of the Governing Council at its twenty-fourth session..."

Responding to the above call, on the 16 May 2006, NRDC have submitted comments to UNEP (and accompanying document), after collaboration with the Chemical Registration Center (CRC) of China’s State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) to develop improved estimates of China’s mercury supply and consumption.

On the 8th October the Zero Mercury Working Group submitted comments to UNEP on the draft Trade report.