SYDNEY, Australia, Apr 29 (IPS) – It’s an invisible contaminant that has been found in fisheries, an essential part of the food chain for many Pacific Islanders. Mercury, emitted from fossil fuel power generation and other industrial processes around the world, has now entered marine ecosystems in the Pacific Islands with harmful consequences for people’s health and well-being.
But island states are supported by scientific expertise in the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (sprp), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and financed by Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world’s largest Multilateral Fund for the EnvironmentNecessary actions are being implemented. mercury free pacific The campaign is making progress to protect the islanders and their natural habitats from poisoning.
“Our communities face mercury exposure from two main sources: what we eat, fish, and what we use in our homes and workplaces,” Emelipelesa Sam Panapa, chemical management officer for the Department of the Environment in the Polynesian atoll island nation of Tuvalu, told IPS. “Fish is the most widespread and challenging risk. It is not just food; it is central to our culture, livelihoods and food security.”
Mercury The Earth has a natural element that has been released into the atmosphere over millennia through volcanic events and rock erosion. But human madeMost industrial processes have accelerated the build-up of mercury emissions. Metal processing facilities, cement works, production of vinyl monomer, and coal-fired power stations are the largest contributors to high levels of mercury in the atmosphere today.
From 2010 to 2015 alone, global anthropogenic mercury emissions increased by 20 percent, report UNEP. Coal burning processes account for about 21 percent of all emissions. And this is expected to increase if the planned 1,600 coal fired power stationMore have been built, on top of the existing 3,700 worldwide. The mercury in the atmosphere is already almost 450 percent Above natural levels, UNEP reports.
After traveling long distances, mercury emissions then deposit in the oceans. And toxicity begins when natural bacteria in the aquatic environment interact with mercury and convert it into methylmercury, which is a neurotoxin. In Calm area, methylmercury has polluted beaches, coral reefs and fisheries, including swordfish, shark, tuna and mackerel, which are commonly consumed daily. According to the report, seafood is an important source of protein for 90 percent of Pacific Islanders and contributes to cash-based livelihoods for about 50 percent. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Today Mercury One of the named top ten chemicals It is of public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the threat is particularly severe in women and children. In high doses it can damage the heart organs, kidneys and nervous system of pregnant women and later affect the organ development of the fetus.
results of a medical study The health concerns were confirmed in a survey conducted by the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI). Testing of mercury levels in 757 women aged 18-44 in developing island states in the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga and the Marshall Islands, showed that 58 per cent had body mercury levels above the safe limit of 1 ppm Hg. The researchers concluded that the most likely cause was high consumption of contaminated fish. In comparison, women who consumed the least amount of fish and seafood recorded the lowest mercury levels.
However, the islanders also face poisoning in their own homes. Mercury is used in the production of common imported goods consumer productsSuch as fluorescent light tubes, electrical switches, dental amalgam fillings and skin lightening cosmetics. But when these products reach the end of their life and are discarded, mercury is at risk of persisting in the environment indefinitely.
“The core of the problem is that mercury-containing products are not being separated from municipal solid waste, and there are no local facilities for environmentally safe disposal of mercury waste,” Sosela Tinilaau, SPREP’s hazardous waste management consultant, told IPS. Furthermore, “medical waste incineration sites are identified as potential sources of mercury emissions into the air.” And in some places, raw sewerage flows have contributed to mercury waste by causing affected products to drain into waterways and the ocean.
a challenge is waste management Systems in many Pacific Island countries are constrained by lack of capacity, technology, resources and infrastructure. “There are no local facilities for environmentally friendly disposal of mercury waste. Therefore, a system for packing, exporting and disposing of this waste in an approved facility abroad is a critical requirement,” Tinilau explained.
Several years ago, several Pacific island states joined, including Kiribati, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Minamata Convention. The first global agreement to reform mercury use practices, phase out it in industries and develop better waste management practices, among other measures, came into force in 2017.
Now governments in the region are building on the power of multilateral cooperation mercury free pacific Initiative. The broad mandate of the GEF-funded project includes conducting national surveys of mercury contamination, educating local communities about the risks, reviewing the risks of mercury-containing consumer products, improving waste management practices, and assisting governments in developing relevant legislation.
GEF is funding US$12.6 billion This is expected to generate a further US$80.5 billion in co-financing of environmental projects currently underway globally. And through this there is a long view of its commitment to the Mercury Free Pacific project GEF Islands Programme, with goals outlining at least until 2030.
Anil Bruce Sukdev, GEF Coordinator for Chemicals and Waste, explained that in the Pacific region, GEF has provided US$1.5 million to collect mapping data, analyze it and develop action and remediation plans in eleven Pacific Island countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
An additional US$2 million has been allocated to support national responses, such as crafting effective legislation, community awareness programs and improving waste management processes. “The campaign represents a long-term regional objective rather than a time-based project and requires sustained commitment and coordinated action by Pacific countries, regional institutions and partners,” he stressed.
GEF funding has empowered tuvaluThe country of nine atolls and 11,800 people in the South Pacific, to make progress in its whole-of-society response to the issue. The government has been able to strengthen its capacity and expertise, conduct media awareness campaigns, and monitor consultations with industries, communities, and civil society organizations.
“For the first time, we have a national estimate of where the mercury is coming from… We are beginning to understand the risks to our people and we have a roadmap for future action,” Panapa said, outlining the benefits of the Mercury-Free Pacific Initiative. At the same time, “these efforts represent the beginning of a long journey to build community understanding and change behavior related to mercury-containing products, waste disposal, and dietary choices.”
But the mitigation goal at the top of the list is to prevent mercury from reaching the islands. “Making marine life safe from mercury contamination is not about eliminating mercury already present in the ocean, but about preventing further contamination and managing the risk of exposure,” Tinilau said.
This means, among other measures, restricting imports of mercury-containing consumer products and motivating global action to curb mercury emissions. Global consensus on phasing out coal-fired power stations and improving industrial processes would be a start.
GEF’s Sookdeo stressed that Pacific island countries are “demonstrating political will and action with regional coherence, national ownership and sustained momentum toward reducing mercury risks to human health, the environment and food systems in the Pacific.” Now, big emitters need to focus on the urgency of reducing emissions at their source.
notes: The eighth Global Environment Facility Assembly will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from May 30 to June 6, 2026.
This feature is published with the support of GEF. IPS is solely responsible for the editorial content, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the GEF.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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