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.

Read IPEN's press release and ZMWG's press release

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of more than 500 organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. Visit the HCWH website for more information.