Interview with Minister Fernando Lugris, Special Representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay for Environmental Affairs, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop a global legally binding instrument on mercury
MERCURY-FREE
We sometimes hear the term “mercury-free world” which seems a contradiction because mercury is an element. Thus, mercury always will be present. What can the inter- national community do about this?
– It is true that mercury, as an element, will always be present in our environment. Nonetheless, it is a pollutant of concern so our main aim is to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury. Over time, this will decrease the environmental load, and reduce the amount of mercury which is re-emitted.
– While there will be mercury in the environment, whether it is considered to be a supply will depend on whether there is a demand. If there are still essential uses which require mercury, there will need to be a source of mercury. The aim of the in- ternational community is to reduce uses as viable alternatives to mercury become available. Over time, this will reduce the demand for mercury, cutting the market and the interest in mercury supply. Yes, mercury will always be with us and there is significant supply in circulation today. Thus, rather than to con- tinue primary mining of mercury, we should be looking at the supply that is already in circulation for use until viable alterna- tives are found. The mercury that is obtained from decommis- sioned chlor-alkali plants and other processes or products as they are phased out and have no further use, should be moved immediately to environmentally sound disposal facilities.
6 MERCURY – TIME TO ACT
ARTISANAL AND SMALL- SCALE GOLD MINING, LIGHT BULBS, AND PLASTICS
The very good news is that all uses of mercury will con- tinue to decline. But there are exceptions, such as mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), in lighting manufacture and in the production of plastics that use vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). What can be done to reduce its use in these particular areas?
– These three areas are notable as ones where challenges still exist in terms of the availability and accessibility to viable, cost-effective and efficient alternatives. ASGM is recognized as a major challenge – but not just in regard to mercury issues. There are a broad range of environmental and health chal- lenges posed by this activity, including the role of the sector in socio-economic development. While taking into account the impacts on national development and poverty reduction, we must move to set national goals and reduction targets, and take action to eliminate the activities identified as being responsible for the greatest emissions and releases of mer- cury. Other actions should work towards formalization of the sector, which is a largely unregulated and an often unknown sector of work. This includes labour laws, which may serve to protect workers.