Pollution of mercury is a serious environmental problem and has caused significant impacts to human health and ecosystems. Mercury pollution has been considered as one of the most important global environmental issues and is given growing international attention. During UNEP Governing Council in February this year, it was agreed that a legally binding instrument should be developed. Release of mercury to the environment in China is considerable and the Chinese government pays great attention to the reduction of mercury pollution.
Norway is very pleased to have signed the first bilateral agreement with China focusing on mercury as early as in 2006. During the duration of the project, the Norwegian Institute of Water Research has cooperated closely with Tsinghua University. The project has been actively supported by the Ministry of Environment Protection (MEP), FECO and the Norwegian Embassy. We believe the project has provided important information for the Chinese authorities locally and nationally, as well as for the preparations of the coming international legally binding instrument on mercury. The case study area has been Guizhou province where support from the province Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) and their affiliated institutes has been crucial. Also the experts’ institutions under MEP (CRAES and CAEP) have been important and ensured the link between local and central level. At the Norwegian side, ECON and the University of Oslo has provided support to NIVA. All stakeholders have contributed to the successful implementation.