Aligning global mercury mitigation with climate action

Chengjun Li, Mengjie Wu, Wenli Tang, Ben Yu, Alfonso Saiz-Lopez, Alexandre Poulain, Michael S. Bank, Qinghua Zhou, Paul L. E. Bodelier, Zhen Yan, Beat Frey, Haiyan Hu, Jiaxing Chen, Yuelu Jiang and Huan Zhong ()
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Chengjun Li: Ministry of Ecology and Environment
Mengjie Wu: Nanjing University
Wenli Tang: Nanjing University
Ben Yu: National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement
Alfonso Saiz-Lopez: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Alexandre Poulain: University of Ottawa
Michael S. Bank: Institute of Marine Research
Qinghua Zhou: Nanjing University
Paul L. E. Bodelier: Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)
Zhen Yan: Shandong University
Beat Frey: Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Haiyan Hu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiaxing Chen: Guangzhou University
Yuelu Jiang: Tsinghua University
Huan Zhong: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Environmental mercury (Hg) pollution affects microbial community structure and functions. Yet, whether and how this influence cascades through microbe-mediated cycling of major greenhouse gases (GHGs) remains poorly understood. This Perspective synthesizes emerging evidence on the Hg-microbe-GHG nexus, exploring the possibility that global Hg emission reductions, while critical for human and planetary health, may cause alterations to microbe-mediated GHG fluxes. Significant knowledge gaps persist, however, regarding the Hg-microbe-GHG nexus, particularly concerning the magnitude and direction of the nexus’s net impact on climate and global environmental change. To bridge these gaps, we propose a three-step roadmap aimed at disentangling the potential impacts of global Hg emission mitigation strategies on microbial communities, associated GHG emissions, and subsequent climate change. Collectively, these joint efforts from scientists, industry, community stakeholders, and policymakers are critical to harmonizing global Hg mitigation efforts with climate action and to ensuring a sustainable future for Earth systems and their inhabitants.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62176-0

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