Scientists meet to address mercury global emissions

Scientists from around the world recently gathered in Cape Town for the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2024), which was held on the African continent for the first time.

The week-long conference was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

At the conference, many environmental pollutants were highlighted as posing a severe threat to the environment and human health. Lecturer at the Chemistry Department, Prof Vernon Somerset, said mercury (Hg) has been identified as a highly toxic heavy metal and is considered a global pollutant since it can undergo long-range transport in the atmosphere. “Furthermore, mercury can also be deposited in aquatic and marine ecosystems and bio-accumulate in the aquatic nutrition chain.

“Therefore, this global pollutant is now managed with the Minamata Convention since 2013 to protect human health and the global environment,” Somerset noted. He added that together with other conventions such as the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and the Minamata provide a comprehensive international regime for the sound management of chemicals and waste. South Africa is a signatory to the former conventions and ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell said: “This conference will, among other critical issues, focus on how countries are implementing the Minamata Convention on Mercury.” He highlighted that at the Western Cape provincial level, there is a “commitment and proactive approach to environmental management”.

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, highlighted the work done by his department on mercury issues to protect citizens. Singh said: “Due to South Africa's primary reliance on coal for energy generation, there has been considerable international interest in the country’s mercury emissions.”

Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention, Monika Stankiewicz provided a global perspective on mercury issues and reminded delegates that “it was science that lit the way for community members, photographers, communicators, and policymakers so that Minamata Disease became understood globally, a warning to all”. “Science that laid the groundwork for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee process that culminated in the Minamata Convention.”

The co-chairs of the conference were Somerset, Dr Lynwill Martin, Senior Scientist, South African Weather Services, and Dr Joy Leaner, Director of Air Quality Management in the Western Cape Government.

The focus was on the conference theme: “From Minamata to Africa and Beyond: Addressing Mercury Challenges in Global Environmental Change.” The scientific programme consisted of 400 abstracts, 34 sessions, nine pre-conference workshops, 126 posters, and nine special sessions.

The next International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant will be held in Hyderabad, India, from 4 to 10 October 2026.

Written by CPUT News

Email: news@cput.ac.za