In 2007, the Governing Council requested UNEP to develop a new report (decision 24/3) focused on atmospheric emissions. The information was presented as a summary report for policy makers entitled The Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport released in December 2008, and an accompanying Technical Background Report to the Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment, a fully referenced scientific report.
The technical background report, which formed the basis for statements made in the summary report and was prepared in cooperation with the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, included an updated inventory of anthropogenic emissions of mercury to the atmosphere. The inventory was based on national emissions data for the year 2005 submitted by governments, as well as estimates prepared for countries that did not provide data. The report also drew on the work of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, in particular the Mercury Air Transport and Fate Research partnership area.
