The Zero Mercury Working Group and the Clean Lighting Coalition applaud a proposed amendment by the African Region to phase out most fluorescent lamps at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. All fluorescent lights contain mercury. Broken or discarded bulbs haphazardly release this toxic substance mainly into the air, where it can bioaccumulate up the food chain, posing a risk to human health, wildlife and the environment.