Representatives from 120 governments gathered at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya from 30th October to 4th November for negotiations towards a global treaty on mercury. The representative of Mongolian Government and SAM Project also attended this meeting and made presentations on SDC experiences in Mongolia and Latin America. The Swiss Delegation to the Negotiations organized a Side event during the treaty negotiations and shared SDC’s vast 20 year experiences on supporting ASGM in formalization and best environmental practices in Latin America and Mongolia.  The impact of SDC’s participation was that it raised the profile of ASM amongst government representatives and the need to formalize it as part of mercury reduction strategies. 

The third of five sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC3) addressed the release of mercury into the environment from energy production and industrial processes and the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining, consumer goods and its presence in hazardous wastes, among other issues.

Mercury is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals of public health concern. Human exposure to mercury can damage the nervous system and cause behavioral disorders. When released, mercury persists in the environment where it circulates between air, water, sediments and soil. Mercury has toxic effects on humans and wildlife and can enter the food chain through contaminated fish.

Much of the discussion focused on artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and its effects on human health and the environment on the continent.

ASGM remains the largest demand sector for mercury globally; with an estimated 1300 tones set to be used in 2011.

ASGM is practiced in around 70 countries, almost half of which are in Africa. Virtually all the mercury used in small scale gold mining is released into the environment, posing long-term risks for mine workers and communities living downstream or downwind from mines. Abiola Olanipekun, INC Bureau member representing the African regional group, told the press briefing that alternative processes for gold extraction which do not use mercury now exist and that investment in such methods was essential for reducing environmental and health risks.

Ludovic Bernaudat of the UN Industrial Development Organization told journalists that the high price of gold (currently over US$1700 per ounce) is sparking a 'gold rush' in many countries, posing a timely challenge of how to reduce the use of mercury in the growing, but largely informal small-scale mining sector.

Under its Global Mercury Partnership, which brings together governments, civil society and the private sector, UNEP is assisting countries in developing national mercury inventories. As well as forming the basis of mercury reduction targets, developing comparable sets of data from different countries can serve to enhance international co-operation on mercury. Inventory projects led by the Global Mercury Partnership are currently being explored in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali, for example.

Among the key objectives for the INC negotiations are:

• Reducing the supply of mercury onto the market and enhancing capacity for environmentally-sound storage of mercury
• Reducing mercury demand for products, processes and international trade
• Reducing atmospheric emission of mercury
• Addressing mercury-containing waste and remediation of contaminated sites
• Increasing knowledge and capacity building on mercury
• Arrangements for technical and financial assistance to support implementation

There are important development and economic factors to be considered. Artisanal and small-scale gold-mining, for example, contributes an estimated US$10 billion to the global economy and employs around 10-15 million people.

However, low-mercury and mercury-free solutions are available for gold mining (such as gravity separation or concentration methods) which can reduce health and environment risks while avoiding impact on livelihoods.

News adapted from: http://allafrica.com/stories/201111040315.html

  Supporting ASGM: SDC Experiences in Latin America and Asia

  Supporting Artisanal Miners in Mongolia: SDC‘s Experiences and Lessons Learnt