GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – News Direct – November 4, 2023 –
This week, at the Fifth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP5), delegates from 147 countries agreed to phase out fluorescent lighting globally by 2027.
Fluorescent lights contain mercury, a powerful neurotoxin.
The decision will accelerate the global adoption of LEDs by effectively ending the fluorescent lighting industry, with the limited exception of special uses like certain transportation applications. LEDs are on average 40% more energy efficient than fluorescents.
COP5 decisions focused primarily on linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs), the largest contributor to global lighting-related mercury pollution, ubiquitous in offices, stores and other commercial and institutional environments. LFLs are also a major source of energy-related CO2 emissions. These decisions bring full circle to ongoing efforts to stop the manufacturing, export and import of mercury used in lighting around the world.
Global markets are turning to LED.
The benefits of fully transitioning to LEDs by 2027 are enormous. The Appliance Efficiency Expert Group
CLASP estimates that this decision will have the following benefits (cumulative from the phase-out dates to 2050):
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Avoid 2.7 gigatons of CO2 emissions
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Eliminate 158 tons of mercury pollution, both from the light bulbs themselves and from avoided mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants
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Save $1.13 Trillion on Electric Bills
“The Africa region, working closely with colleagues around the world, is proud to have made significant progress in making mercury history,” said David Kapindula, Minamata COP3 President and Africa region expert. . “The decision to phase out mercury-based fluorescent lighting will have unprecedented benefits in tackling the triple planetary crises of climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss. Such actions would not have been possible without the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by the Parties during this COP5 in Minamata.
This week’s decision complements decisions taken at COP4 in Minamata in March 2022 to phase out compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), lamps commonly found in homes, by 2025. Proposals aimed at to phase out fluorescent lamps at COP4 and COP5 were presented by delegates from Africa.
“I was pleased to see a great spirit of collaboration between the Parties regarding issues concerning mercury lighting,” said Itsuki Kuroda, co-chair of the work of COP5 and delegate from Japan. “The parties were able to align on phase-out dates for all fluorescent categories, representing a positive example of successful diplomacy on the global stage. »
Fluorescent lighting contains mercury, a toxic chemical that threatens the health of people and the planet. Most fluorescent lamps are inappropriately disposed of in general waste streams; Broken light bulbs pollute land and water and increase health risks for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant people and garbage collectors.
“The mercury-free lighting community has come together to achieve a significant achievement in the fight against mercury-added products. Ending all lighting-related mercury pollution will have far-reaching benefits for our communities, our ecosystems and for generations to come. We congratulate governments and are happy to join them in saying ‘Goodbye to fluorescents’,” said Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, International Coordinator of the
Zero Mercury Task Force.
LED lamps quickly pay for themselves in energy savings.
Recent global analysis indicates that payback times for LED alternatives to LFL are improving, from an average of 6.3 months in 2022 to 2.4 months in 2023.
LED sales and manufacturing rates are increasing year over year, while fluorescent lamp manufacturing and sales are plummeting. In addition to premium, specialized components, LEDs can be manufactured and assembled anywhere, unlike fluorescent lamps, which are produced by only a few companies in a handful of countries. Supporters say the transition to all-LED will boost local economic growth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to the affordability and availability of lamps and increased clean energy jobs.
Contact details
Alexia Ross
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Company Website
http://www.clasp.ngo/
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