The New Mercury Treaty: Three Things That Need to Happen Now

"The mercury treaty is a victory because it represents a global consensus that mercury pollution presents a serious threat to human health and the environment," said Joe DiGangi, IPEN's Senior Science and Technical Adviser. "Some treaty provisions are legally-binding obligations and others require governments to "endeavor" to take action. This means that each government has a moral, if not a legal commitment to fully implement all treaty provisions."

DiGangi urged nations to take three key actions immediately:

1. Sign and ratify the mercury treaty: Fifty countries must ratify the treaty for its provisions to begin. Rapid ratification means addressing mercury pollution sooner.
2. Identify mercury sources and make a plan: Actions to reduce mercury pollution require knowledge of mercury sources and a plan to address them. Key large mercury sources include coal-fired power plants and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
3. Act immediately to curb mercury poisoning and address contaminated sites. . Mercury, even in small doses, reduces children's ability to learn and its impacts are irreversible
4. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-new-mercury-treaty-three-things-that-need-to-happen-now-227303741.html