The Ministry of Environmental Protection recently announced that the Minamata Convention on Mercury will come into effect on August 16, 2017. Starting from 2021, China will gradually stop producing and using mercury-containing batteries and fluorescent lamps required by the convention. By 2032, all primary mercury mines will be closed down.
Yu Lifeng, deputy director of the Environmental Protection Foreign Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, outlined China's implementation timeline at a press conference:
From 2021, China will begin phasing out mercury-containing batteries and fluorescent lamps stipulated by the convention; mercury usage in the production of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) will be cut by half by 2021 compared to 2010 levels.
By 2032, all primary mercury mines must cease operations; for coal-fired power plants, emission controls need to be in place by 2020, key emission sources identified, and reduction targets and strategies established.
Yu mentioned that in order to comply with the convention, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, along with relevant departments, has revised several mercury-related emission standards, conducted assessments of the current state of ten major mercury-related industries, and started drafting the strategic action plan.
Looking ahead, efforts will focus on reducing mercury emissions through source control, technological advancements, and the systematic management of mercury waste and contaminated sites.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a significant global agreement within the environmental and health sector over the last decade, empowering governments to take concrete actions against anthropogenic mercury pollution.
Mercury, commonly referred to as quicksilver, is the only metal that remains liquid at room temperature and is used in a wide range of products and processes. Its production, use, and discharge can lead to serious environmental contamination, causing neurological, immune, and reproductive issues in humans and animals, particularly endangering fetuses and pregnant women. According to UNEP data, global mercury emissions reach up to 8,900 tons annually.
China leads the world in both mercury production and emissions. To combat environmental mercury pollution, mercury has been listed as one of the key heavy metals requiring attention. In fact, during the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan," mercury was identified as one of the five priority heavy metals, with a focus on addressing atmospheric mercury emission pollution.
In October 2013, under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted, with China being the first to sign the convention. In April 2016, the 12th National People's Congress ratified the convention signed in Kumamoto in October 2013 by the government of the People's Republic of China. Currently, according to the UN Environment Programme, there are 128 signatories to the convention.
The Minamata Convention includes restrictions and bans on fluorescent lamps and high-pressure mercury lamps. Lighting products covered include compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting, straight tube fluorescent lamps for general lighting, and general lighting high-pressure mercury lamps, with specific prohibition times for production, import, and export specified.
Implementing the convention is a win-win scenario for developing countries like China. It also forces the elimination of outdated production capacities and improves the technological levels of related industries.
Since the advent of the electrical lighting era, fluorescent lamps have been widely used as the most important energy-saving lighting source worldwide.
Fluorescent lamps mainly include straight tube fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (energy-saving lamps). They work by exciting mercury vapor to emit ultraviolet light, which then excites the phosphor coating inside the lamp to produce visible light. Therefore, most fluorescent lamps contain mercury. Mercury is a highly toxic volatile substance and is classified as a global pollutant by the United Nations Environment Programme.
China is currently the world's largest producer and user of fluorescent lamps. Since 2008, the government has actively promoted the "green lighting" project to save energy and accelerate the elimination of inefficient lighting products. However, this has also brought about more serious mercury pollution challenges due to discarded lamps.
In reality, a large number of mercury-containing energy-saving lamps are disposed of as regular waste after their lifespan ends, yet many people are unaware of the significant harm these lamps pose to the environment.
When fluorescent lamps are landfilled as regular waste, 11% of the mercury escapes into the air or water. Its environmental costs to water and soil may far outweigh the environmental benefits of the energy savings attributed to their "energy efficiency."
With the convention taking effect, LED lighting will gain more market opportunities and undoubtedly become the dominant technology trend.
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