- it has been observed that adverse effects have been caused globally to man's health and ecosystem by the release of mercury to the environment for a long time. The main objective of the above Convention is to protect human health and the global environment against adverse effects of mercury by minimizing the release of mercury to air, water and land. The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy, to sign the above convention, was approved by the Cabinet.