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Chisso corporation builds first factory in Minmata Bay, one of the most advanced factories in Japan.
Initially producing fertilisers, the factory followed the nationwide expansion of Japan's chemical industry. Any waste produced is dumped into the waters of the Minmata Bay. -
Chisso Factory releases Mercury into Minmata Bay
Minmata is a small factory town in Japan, which is dominated by the one factory of Chisso Factory. They make petro-chemical based substances from fertilizer to plastics. Waste water from this process containg methylmercury was released into the bay from 1932 to 1968. Approximately 24 tonnes of it was released and in the 1950s people locally suffered from its effects. Methylmercury is easily absorbed into small organisms and some can even make it from elemental mercury. -
Massive demand for Television, Washing Machines and Refrigerators
After the second world war, Japan began with massive economic growth. As demand increased for these three Symbolic Products; Television, Washing Machine and Refrigerators, so did the production. This massive production in turn produces chemical waste. -
Cause of Minamata Disease is found: Poisoning from Methylmercury in seafood
In the fall of 1957, consumption of fish and shellfish from Minamata bay was banned. This discovery was after a long period of theories about where this disease could come from. At first, manganese was thought to be the causal substance due to the high concentrations found in fish and the organs of the deceased. Thallium, selenium, were also proposed. In March 1958, British neurologist Douglas McAlpine suggested that Minamata symptoms resembled those of organic mercury poisoning, focus changed. -
Minamata Disease (methylmercury poisoning) linked to Chemical Industry
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Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' was published
This book brought environmental concerns to the American public. Silent Spring was met with fierce opposition by chemical companies, but it spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy, led to a nationwide ban on DDT for agricultural uses, and inspired an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation and public officials of accepting the industry's marketing claims unquestioningly. -
Chisso Corp. is forced to stop dumping methylmercury, Japan is 2nd highest GNP.
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EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) creation
The EIA was created in 1969 due to rising environmental awareness as part of a new law in the US called the National Government Policy Act (NEPA). This made it a priority for federal agencies to consider the natural environment in any land use planning. Within 20 years of its creation as it became law in the US, many other countries also included EIA as part of their planning policy. This also became more common than-- and vastly overtook the rigorous EIS (Environmental Impact Statement). -
DDT and Malarial Mosquitoes
In 1970 the WHO banned the use of DDT (a persistent organochlorine insecticide). It is normally used for spraying inside because if it was sprayed outside it could mean mosquitoes that survived could breed and develop a population of resistant mosquitoes. It is believed that DDT prevented millions of deaths. Rachel Carson theorized that it caused thinning eggshells of birds. It was banned worldwide in MEDC countries but not in LEDC where it is an endemic. -
USA DDT Ban
In 1972, the manufacture and use of DDT was banned in the US. This was done on the advice of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Most of this was because of Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, where she discusses the effect of DDT on Birds of Prey in thinning their eggshells and reducing their population numbers. But some said that the evidence was slight for bird egg shell thinning and that DDT is an effective insecticide against the malarial mosquito. -
The Montreal Protocol
Montreal Protocol organised by the UN Environmental Program (UNEP). Over 30 countries agree to cut CFC emissions by half by 2000. -
Strengthening of Montreal Protocol
London Amendment to strengthen Montreal Protocol: phase-out dates and rates inadequate so Montreal Protocol amended. Industrialized countries would eliminate CFC production by 2000 and developing countries by 2010. -
Water in Minamata Bay is clean
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Kyoto Protocol Formation
Only entered into force on 16 February 2005. Detailed rules for implementation were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh, Morocco in 2001, referred to as the 'Marrakesh Accords'.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. The Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations. Its first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. -
1st UNEP in 2002: Import issues related to Mercury
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Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were established in 2005 at the UN Summit in New York. A document with 3 chapters was published. Freedom from Want (the chapter that had the 8 MDGs), Freedom from Fear, Freedom to Live in Dignity (based on the four freedom's identified by former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt). -
Minamata Convention is established, 50+ countries sign
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. -
Sustainable Development Goals was reformed from the Millenium Goals
2015 UN Summit in New York redesigned the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) into the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), document published is called Agenda for Sustainable Development, target 2030 (document often referred to as Agenda 2030) -
UN Climate Change Conference COP 1(2017)/ COP 2(2018)
COP 1 has 100+ partners and is supported by WHO. COP 1 agreed on several things like guidance on trade in mercury, stocks and sources of supply of mercury, exemptions, artisanal and small-scale gold mining and emissions. It also adopted decisions relating to work, particularly on effectiveness evaluation, interim storage of mercury other than waste mercury, mercury wastes and contaminated sites. -
Target year for emissions of greenhouse gasses
Second commitment period from 1 January 2013 to 31st December 2020. For their part, the EU countries (together with Iceland) have agreed to meet – jointly – a 20% reduction target compared to 1990 (in line with the EU's own target of 20% by 2020). They are on track to do so.
