On July 20, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that the Minamata Convention on Mercury would come into effect on August 16, 2017. Starting in 2021, China will begin phasing out the production and use of mercury-containing batteries and fluorescent lamps as required by the Convention. By 2032, all primary mercury mines will be shut down.
Yu Lifeng, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Foreign Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, outlined China's implementation timeline during a press conference. From 2021, China will stop producing and using mercury-containing batteries and fluorescent lamps. Additionally, the amount of mercury used in the production of VCM (vinyl chloride) will be reduced by 50% compared to 2010 levels.
By 2032, all primary mercury mines must cease operations. For coal-fired power plants, emission reduction preparations should be completed by 2020, with key sources of pollution identified, and specific emission reduction goals and strategies established.
To comply with the Convention, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, along with other relevant departments, has revised several mercury-related emission standards. They’ve also conducted assessments of the current state of ten major mercury-related industries and started drafting a strategic action plan.
In the future, we will work together to reduce mercury pollution by managing sources, decreasing usage, and developing alternative technologies. We will also systematically address mercury waste and contaminated sites.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a significant international agreement aimed at enabling governments to take concrete steps to control anthropogenic mercury pollution. Mercury, commonly referred to as quicksilver, is the only metallic element that is liquid at room temperature. It is widely used in various products and processes, but its production, use, and discharge can lead to environmental contamination. Severe exposure can cause neurological, immune, and reproductive issues in humans and animals, particularly affecting fetuses and pregnant women. According to UNEP data, global mercury emissions reach approximately 8,900 tons annually.
China is the world's largest producer and emitter of mercury. To prevent environmental mercury pollution, mercury has been listed as one of the key heavy metals requiring attention. As early as the start of the "12th Five-Year Plan," mercury was identified as one of the top five priority heavy metals, with efforts focused on controlling atmospheric mercury emissions.
In October 2013, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted, with China being the first to sign it. In April 2016, the 12th National People's Congress ratified the Convention. Currently, there are 128 signatories to the Convention according to the UN Environment Programme.
The Minamata Convention includes restrictions on the production, import, and export of fluorescent lamps and high-pressure mercury lamps. The lighting products covered include compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting, straight tube fluorescent lamps for general lighting, and general lighting high-pressure mercury lamps.
Complying with the Convention presents a win-win scenario for developing countries like China. It will also push for the elimination of outdated production capacities and enhance the technological standards of related industries.
Since humanity entered the age of electric lighting, fluorescent lamps have become the most important energy-efficient lighting source worldwide. Fluorescent lamps mainly consist of 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. Most fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a highly toxic and volatile substance 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" initiative to save energy and accelerate the elimination of inefficient lighting products. This has led to increased mercury pollution from discarded lamps, posing serious environmental challenges.
In reality, many mercury-containing energy-saving lamps are discarded as regular trash after their lifespan ends, yet few people realize how harmful the mercury within them can be to the environment. When fluorescent lamps are landfilled as regular waste, 11% of the mercury is released into the air or water. The environmental costs associated with this release could far outweigh the environmental benefits gained from the energy savings of these so-called "energy-efficient" lamps.
With the Convention coming into effect, LED lighting will see greater opportunities for growth and is sure to become the dominant technology.
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This text provides an overview of China's commitment to reducing mercury pollution in accordance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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