The first ever comprehensive report of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury continues to reflect the international body’s concern over the continued significant use of mercury in the gold mining sector even as it raises other searching global environmental issues.
Titled, ‘Progress Report 2020: Overview of the Minamata Convention on Mercury Activities,’ the report also provides updates on scientific and technical activities, effective evaluation, national reporting, legal and policy activity from a gender perspective, and capacity-building and technical assistance activities relating to trade, emissions, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
But it is the continued use of mercury by artisanal and small scale gold mining that is the Secretariat’s concern, mercury release into the atmosphere being the environmental preoccupation of the Minamata Convention. This is responsible for the release of 35% of all mercury pollution in the environment.