Global Mercury Summit Accused of Failing Amazon Crisis
A major United Nations mercury conference in Geneva has drawn sharp criticism from environmental organisations and Indigenous representatives for its failure to tackle the escalating crisis of mercury use in small-scale gold mining. The sixth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention concluded on Friday, 7th November 2025, with delegates agreeing to phase out mercury in dental fillings by 2034—a move hailed as a public health victory. However, activists swiftly condemned the gathering for not taking stronger measures against artisanal gold mining, which remains the world's largest source of mercury pollution.
Indigenous Communities Bear Brunt of Toxic Legacy
Indigenous delegates from Brazil, Colombia, and Peru attended the summit as observers, delivering powerful testimonies about the contamination devastating their lands. Jairo Saw Munduruku, representing Brazil's Munduruku people in the Amazon Basin, told The Associated Press that while Indigenous voices were heard, the lack of concrete action was deeply disappointing. He warned that mercury from rampant illegal mining operations is poisoning rivers and fish, causing neurological damage in children and threatening their entire way of life.
Scientific evidence presented at the conference underscores the severity of the situation. Research cited by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) revealed that nearly all Indigenous women tested in communities across Peru and Nicaragua had mercury levels several times above safe limits. The toxic metal accumulates in fish, a primary protein source for millions, and can cause severe developmental harm, particularly to unborn children.
Calls for Treaty Reform Amid Growing Environmental Threat
Lee Bell, a policy adviser for IPEN, expressed profound frustration, stating, "Unfortunately, this week the COP fiddled while Rome burned." Environmental coalitions are now demanding significant amendments to the Minamata Convention, including a complete ban on mercury use in gold mining, the closure of remaining mercury mines, and an end to the global mercury trade.
The UN special rapporteur on human rights and toxics, Marcos Orellana, reinforced these concerns, urging delegates to strengthen the treaty. He highlighted that current loopholes allow mercury use in mining to expand virtually unchecked, with devastating consequences for communities like those along Colombia's Atrato River.
With record gold prices fuelling a surge in illegal mining across the Amazon Basin, and weak law enforcement enabling organised crime, campaigners warn that without decisive international action, the world's largest rainforest risks becoming one of its most toxic environments.
