The international society says mercury pollution is a major threat to the environment and has helped place it on the agenda of environment protection bodies across the globe.

In 2009, the United Nations Environment Program's 25th council moved to formally begin a global effort in mercury pollution control, stipulating that the UNEP would host five meetings with various governments between 2010 and 2013 to formulate a global legal convention on a range of efforts to control the toxic metal.

Responding to the call, China's Ministry of Environmental Protection established a team that works exclusively on mercury-related issues and provides technological support for the mercury convention negotiations.