COAL-FIRED power plants in the US will soon be trading mercury pollution permits as part of a “cap-and-trade” system designed to cut emissions by 70 per cent.
A similar scheme introduced in 1993 successfully reduced sulphur emissions. But environmentalists say the mercury caps, announced on 15 March, are too lenient, and the scheme will increase mercury pollution in some parts of the US.
The country’s 600 coal-fired power plants emit about 48 tonnes of mercury every year. Some of this finds its way into waterways, where it is converted into highly toxic methyl mercury.
Under the cap-and-trade system, the Environmental…
