India on Legally-Binding Minamata Convention

According to a 2013 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), human activities are estimated to have released around 1,900 metric tonnes of mercury into the atmosphere and at least around 1,000 metric tonnes into the water in 2010. Burning of coal is the largest anthropogenic source of mercury air emissions, accounting for 45% of total emissions, while 18% comes from gold mining, as mercury helps separate gold from the rock and other sediments (Pirrone et al 2010)........
The problem of mercury is transboundary and global in nature. The global perils of mercury pollution were first addressed in the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm during 1972. It was not until 2001, during the 21st session, that UNEP’s governing council (GC) decided to initiate a process to undertake a global assessment of heavy metals contamination, including mercury. The UNEP secretariat was asked to prepare a report with special emphasis on its effects on human health and environment.
http://www.epw.in/commentary/legally-binding-minamata-convention.html