Mercury Treaty Risks Failure; Clock Ticking
Punta del Este, Uruguay — The two major NGO networks lobbying for a strong global mercury treaty expressed serious concern about the direction of negotiations after the fourth of five rounds of talks concluded in Uruguay this week.
Suggesting that the treaty may legitimize increased mercury pollution and disregard public health concerns raised by developing countries, both IPEN and the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) issued press releases raising alarms.
With the lack of agreement on many major issues, the treaty process is at risk of failing to achieve a global accord that will protect public and environmental health from mercury pollution.
