In the spirit of International Day for Biological Diversity 2022 that was observed on Sunday, May 22, the Minamata Convention on Mercury has drawn attention to what it describes as a silent killer that is contributing to the global loss of biodiversity: mercury, a toxic metal that is said to be detrimental to all life on Earth
In a video statement, the Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Monika Stankiewicz, explained that many wildlife species, including those that are already threatened by other stressors, are being pushed even closer to extinction by mercury.
Ecosystems distant from mercury’s original source are also highly impacted, such as in the Arctic, she stated, adding that mercury disproportionately impacts Indigenous peoples who are the main guardians of biodiversity.
She described the Minamata Convention on Mercury as a global solution already in place to protect human health and the environment from mercury.
“As the world awaits the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15) in Kumming, China, we call upon all stakeholders to join hands to fight mercury pollution and its effects on biodiversity at all levels,” said Stankiewicz.
