IEDS led a training course on diplomatic ways of approach treaties involving hazardous chemicals at the Global Mercury Conference, held in Halifax Canada this summer. This is the largest gathering of scientists and policy-makers to discuss ways of regulating the neurotoxic element which has been used for thousands of years for various industrial uses. There is an effort underway by the United Nations Environment Programme (EPA) to have a global treaty on mercury by 2013. In attendance at the course were key scientists and policy-makers from UNEP as well as from US EPA and interested professionals from civil society.
