Khwaja stresses that technology to manage mercury pollution and mercury-free alternatives should be widely available.
ISLAMABAD:
Experts discussed ways to eliminate the use of mercury in industrial and agricultural processes in compliance with international standards at a panel discussion on Monday.
Pakistan, in principle, supports the elimination of all hazardous substances, including mercury, but local industry and agriculture should not be affected by international decisions, said Zaheer Ahmed Gillani, national programme manager at the Ministry of Climate Change. The discussion, “Regulating Global Mercury Uses and Releases Control: Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee Fifth Meeting (INC-5) - Issues and Concerns for Pakistan,” was held at Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
Gillani suggested that Pakistan should take the position that their compliance with obligations relating to control measures are conditional to developed nations’ compliance with obligations relating to provision of financial and technical assistance as well as technology transfer.
SDPI Senior Advisor Mahmood A Khawaja said coal and other minerals contain mercury which is released in the air mainly from thermal power plants and metal-smelting facilities. He stated that in 2009, the United Nations General Assembly on Environment decided to develop a legally binding instrument on mercury.
At the INC-5 in Geneva, participants will try to reach an agreement on limiting the use of mercury and its emissions. Khwaja stressed the need for mandatory national implementation plan.
He suggested that technology to manage mercury pollution and mercury-free alternatives should be widely available.
Efforts are underway around the world to devise effective instruments for eliminating mercury in products and processes used in industry and agriculture. “Currently the international community is engaged in extensive debate about options for improved international governance,” he added.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Director General Eng. Asif Shuja Khan stated that the government plans to launch the National Mercury Reduction Programme.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
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