Global mercury agreement goal for UN process to start on 7 June - Andreas Carlgren to deliver opening address

"The extensive mercury pollution is perhaps the greatest challenge that the world faces when it comes to risks with chemical substances. Sweden and the other Nordic countries have long been very active in the process of drafting global rules. I am therefore both pleased and proud that we can host the historic launch of the negotiations on a mercury convention," says Mr Carlgren.

"Cooperation on mercury is an excellent example of how we in the Nordic countries can jointly and successfully actively influence global processes. We will continue to drive this issue together and pave the way for an ambitious global mercury agreement that can be signed in 2013," says Mr Carlgren.

The session brings together hundreds of decision-makers, experts and officials from governments and international organisations, as well as representatives of the environmental movement and other NGOs from around the world. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the planning of the session, while funds for financing are being supplied by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The conference will open on Monday 7 June at 10.00 with speeches by UNEP Deputy Executive Director Angela Cropper, Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren and others. The opening will be webcast live on the Government website. The media are invited to follow the opening and the subsequent press conference.

Participants:

• Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren, Sweden and the Nordic Council of Ministers
• Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP
• Jorge Patrone, Vice Minister of Environment, Uruguay.

Mercury a threat to people and environment

Mercury is one of the most dangerous environmental toxins and can be a threat to both human health and the environment. The Government banned the use of mercury in Sweden on 1 June 2009. Sweden and the EU's goal is clear: legally binding international measures are also needed.

Mercury and its compounds primarily have a negative impact on the nervous system and its development, and also on the cardiovascular system, immune system, reproductive system and the kidneys. Nervous system development disorders and toxicity to the central nervous system are the most sensitive and best documented effects.

Continued deposition over Sweden - burning coal to blame

Despite efforts to limit the use and emissions of mercury, there is still extensive deposition over Sweden. This is primarily due to long-range air transport from the rest of Europe, but also from other parts of the world.
Even though the deposition of mercury has decreased in recent decades it is not enough to prevent mercury levels in the environment from increasing. For example, the levels in the upper layer of forest land are increasing by some 0.5 per cent annually. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency estimates that deposition of mercury must be reduced by 80 per cent so that in the long term we can reach levels in fish that do not exceed the WHO/FAO limit of no more than 0.5 mg mercury/kg fish.

The biggest source of global mercury emissions into the air is burning coal. Other sources of emissions include smelting plants, crematoriums (amalgam fillings) and waste incineration (mercury in products).
Mercury is also spread directly into land and water by such means as emissions from industry, leaching from rubbish tips and through spreading sewage sludge.

Sweden´s ban

The general ban on mercury that was introduced in January 2009 means that Sweden has already taken the lead in removing mercury and protecting the environment from it. The Government´s decision meant that products containing mercury may not be placed on the Swedish market. In practice this means that alternative techniques must be used in dental care, chemical analysis and the chlor-alkali industry.

"The Swedish ban should also be seen as a contribution to the objectives of both the EU and the UN. We will actively spread our experience of the opportunities for using mercury-free technology, not least in dental care," says Mr Carlgren.

About the UNEP session

Negotiations on a global mercury convention within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will begin in Stockholm in June 2010 through a week-long session. It is the first of five planned meetings. Through the delegations presenting their proposals on how to approach the various parts of the problem, the meeting is expected to lay the foundations for the concrete negotiations on a convention text beginning with the second meeting.

In February 2009 world environment ministers agreed that negotiations should be opened on a global mercury convention covering all types of use and emissions. In autumn 2009 Sweden led the UN group in a preparatory negotiation session and Sweden also represents the EU in the steering group for the negotiations.

The Nordic countries have long been in agreement concerning the problem of mercury. Within the framework of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the countries have helped increase world involvement by producing background material and reports on such matters as the economic costs of failing to reduce emissions.