Anti-Mercury UN Minimata Convention Approved in Geneva: Impact on Coal?

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http://www.juancole.com/2013/01/minimata-convention-approved.html

Anti-Mercury UN Minimata Convention Approved in Geneva: Impact on Coal?
Posted on 01/20/2013 by Juan

140 nations meeting in Geneva have concluded an accord to limit mercury emissions, which must now be ratified by individual nations. It has implications for coal-fired power plants, among the most serious contributors to mercury pollution, as well as cement factories The treaty also seeks an end to mercury use in thermometers and batteries, and limitations on the transport of gadgets containing it. It put off a decision about artisanal gold mining, where the metal is deployed in small scale operations.

But coal is the most important villain here.

Mercury is a nerve poison and causes neurological and brain problems, as well as damaging the heart and kidneys. It is far more prevalent in the human environment, especially in water and fish, than before the industrial revolution. The UN has been discussing this issue for some time. Progress had been blocked by the Bush administration (sometimes you forget for a second how evil they were), but Barack Obama’s election in 2009 allowed the negotiations to proceed.

Coal provides over a third of US electricity now, down from 42% in 2011. The Environmental Protection Agency has to its credit begun insisting on filters to prevent mercury emissions at US coal plants, imposing costs that have caused many of them to close down. They can’t compete with increasingly inexpensive natural gas and wind if they have to invest billions to avoid poisoning us.




Read the 2013 UN Global Mercury Assessment Report --> http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/GMA%20Report/GlobalMercuryAssessment2013.pdf