International environmental initiatives are uniquely impactful when a community of experts joins together to leverage their research and experience around collective amelioration that can lead to major improvements in human health and change environmental policy on local and global scales. Emitting an estimated 43% of global mercury emissions annually, Asia is the largest regional contributor to the global mercury problem. The Asia-Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network (APMMN) brings together mercury monitoring experts from more than 15 countries to build a harmonized network of ambient and rainwater mercury monitors in the Asian region. As a direct result of APMMN’s efforts, mercury analysis laboratories have been constructed in Asia, 7 countries are monitoring mercury in rainwater, and 10 countries are monitoring mercury in air. Every year, APMMN draws in new partners due to international commitments to address the mercury issue and the network’s focus on technical training and content. APMMN is a model epistemic community that should be replicated by organizations focused on other scientific issue areas.