At #MinamataCOP4, one of the main discussions is artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Mercury is a naturally occurring element and is typically released through the weathering of rock that contains mercury ore. But increasing, mercury is being released due to human activities, most especially, ASGM.

ASGM is essentially gold mining conducted by individuals or small enterprises with limited capital investment and production, and mercury is used to extract gold from ore or sediments. The mixture of mercury and gold, known as amalgam, is heated so that the mercury is vapourised, leaving the gold behind. The vapour is toxic, and it is estimated that ASGM releases 2000 tonnes of mercury into the environment annually.

But ASGM is also an important form of employment and development. There are more than 15 million miners working in the ASGM sector, of which 4-5 million are women and children, spread across 80 countries. They account for up to 20% of all the world’s gold production, with an estimated value of $28 billion.

This poses a complex development issue. ASGM is a critical livelihood for millions of people (mostly poor), is largely informal and unregulated, and with few income generating alternatives available, it cannot simply be eliminated. Rather, efforts is needed to encourage gold extraction techniques without mercury, and that have less negative environmental and social impacts.

To put this into motion, signatories of the #MinamataConvention, and those most affected by ASGM, have to explain how they are going to address this within their own country, developing national action plans complete with objectives and targets, detailing their activities and strategies to reduce the use of mercury.

That’s one of the things discussed at COP4 – the details of how to manage this issue, how to monitor and evaluate the national action plans, and how to set better practices in motion. It’s a complex issue but for more information, check out our ENB coverage: https://enb.iisd.org/Minamata-Convention-Mercury-COP4-2/22Mar22

#MakeMercuryHistory #mercury #chemicalsmanagement #ASGM #mining #gold #development #bali #onassignment #stories #livingfiercely