The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury just wrapped up in Bali, Indonesia. COP meetings aren’t just about climate: The Minamata Convention is “a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, a bio-accumulative neurotoxin.
One major success at the conference was the ban of mercury satellite propellants used in electric rocket engines after a motion from Canada, the European Union, and Norway. According to the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which has been fighting to prevent mercury from being used as propellants since 2018.
