Mercury: international actions

Nations from around the world are becoming more aware of the impact of mercury on the environment and on human health. Due to its ability to cross borders through pathways such as long-range atmospheric transportation and product import/export, measures are being taken on an international scale to ensure that anthropogenic mercury emissions decrease.

Canada continues to play a leadership role in the development and implementation of international mercury management initiatives including the Aarhus (Heavy Metals) Protocol under the UN ECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, the Arctic Council, the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, the North American Regional Action Plan on Mercury and various national and bilateral monitoring programs.

Use the links below to find out about International Actions of interest.

Related Links

The Arctic Council

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)

• AMAP Assessment Report: Arctic Pollution Issues
• Arctic Pollution 2002

Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

• Eastern Canadian Premiers
• New England Governors' Conference
• Mercury Program

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN), U.S. Department of Energy

Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)

• ECOS Mercury Activities

European Union Strategy on Mercury

Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS)

• GLBTS Mercury Workgroup - United States Environmetal Protection Agency

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN)

Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN), US EPA & Environment Canada

International Joint Commission

• Protection of Great Lakes Water Quality from Atmospheric Contaminant Deposition

Mercury Policy Project, The Tides Center

North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation

• North American Regional Action Plan on Mercury
• Mechanisms for Tracking Mercury Imports and Exports for Use and Disposal in Canada, Mexico and the United States

Northeast Waste Management Officials Association Mercury Program

Northeastern Ecosystem Research Cooperative (NERC) Mercury Research Group

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development

• Risk Reduction Monograph No. 4: Mercury Background and National Experience with Reducing Risk

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE)

• United Nations Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

United Nations Environment Program, Global Mercury Assessment

United National Environment Program, Negotiations on Mercury

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

• Mercury Site
• EPA's Roadmap for Mercury
• Mercury Study Report to Congress
• Mercury Study Report to Congress: Whitepaper

U.S. Geological Survey Mercury Studies Team

World Health Organization

• Elemental Mercury and Inorganic Mercury Compounds: Human Health Aspects