The world is at a crossroad concerning mercury emissions, which have been on the rise due to human activities for decades. A new study highlights alarming trends: the Global North and China, once the primary contributors to mercury emissions, have seen significant declines, but these reductions are completely offset by soaring emissions from countries in the Global South. This not only raises concerns about the effectiveness of global emission control efforts such as the Minamata Convention but also urges immediate action to remediate this shift.
According to research published by Qiu et al. (2025), global anthropogenic mercury emissions surged 330% from 1960 to 2021, reaching approximately 2477 metric tons. The study notes significant reductions observed particularly since the 1990s within developed nations and China, where concerted efforts have led to substantial cutbacks; for example, the United States reduced its mercury emissions from 123 tons to just 32 tons over four decades. Conversely, emissions from the Global South have ballooned, primarily driven by artisanal small-scale gold mining and industrial metal production, which have emerged as major sources of atmospheric mercury.
Mercury, primarily released from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes, is known to have dire consequences for both ecological and human health. Once emitted, mercury can travel long distances and transform within ecosystems, eventually entering food webs as neurotoxic methylmercury. This characteristic has earned mercury recognition as one of the top ten chemicals of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Minamata Convention, established to mitigate mercury pollution, compels participating countries to engage actively; yet, the stark imbalance of emissions suggests more targeted efforts are required to rein in emissions from the Global South.
Notably, the Global South's disproportionate contribution to global mercury emissions has become increasingly evident. By 2021, these regions produced two-thirds of all global emissions, accounting for merely one-fifth of the world’s economy. Countries such as India and Indonesia are at the forefront, with emissions skyrocketing by 1200% and 700%, respectively, over the study's duration. The rise is compounded by the lack of stringent regulatory frameworks governing gold mining and other industrial processes unable to keep pace with economic growth.
Detailed analysis from the study reveals distinct trends per region: emissions burgeoned particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia, where artisanal gold mining surged due to fluctuated gold prices. Conversely, emissions from non-ferrous metal production or waste management practices have declined or stabilized. emissions from South America have seen improvement largely due to tighter regulations, but areas like Sub-Saharan Africa lag.
“Global Hg emission hotspots have comprehensively shifted southward,” the authors state, emphasizing how the reduction efforts have failed to cover the growing gap created by increased emissions from developing regions, which threatens to negate years of progress achieved elsewhere.
The researchers stress the level of urgency to prioritize emission control measures, chiefly aimed at the Global South. They propose strategies similar to those successfully implemented by China – such as ultralow emission upgrades for industrial sectors and the enforcement of stricter emission standards – could be replicated across developing nations to curb emissions effectively. The success seen from these approaches provides valuable insights for other developing countries to mitigate their mercury output.
Despite the challenges at hand, the potential for significant reductions remains. The findings serve as not only warnings but also as calls to action. Unless immediate steps are taken to address the rapid rise of mercury emissions from the Global South, the benefits previously attained from reducing emissions at the Global North and China could soon be jeopardized. Stakeholders and policymakers are urged to collaborate internationally to secure meaningful commitments under agreements like the Minamata Convention.
Without these interventions, projected increases in mercury emissions from countries like India – where emissions currently surge due to unregulated industrial processes – could very well place these nations at the forefront of global mercury pollution, stalling collective efforts to reduce mercury levels globally.
Focusing on enhanced environmental governance and sustainable practices for sectors such as artisanal mining and fossil fuel combustion is imperative. Failure to act could lead to widespread ecological consequences, resulting not just in heightened mercury levels but also increased risks for food safety and public health around the globe.
The urgency is palpable as the fate of global mercury emissions teeters on the decisions of today.