PollutionThe 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution was established within the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Convention was the first international legally binding instrument to deal with problems of air pollution on a broad regional basis. Besides laying down the general principles of international cooperation for air pollution abatement, the Convention sets up an institutional framework bringing together research and policy.
- The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution entered into force in 1983. It has been extended by eight specific protocols.
- The 1999 Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone; 25 Parties. Entered into force on 17 May 2005.�
- The 1998 Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); 29 Parties. Entered into force on 23 October 2003.
- The 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals; 29 Parties. Entered into force on 29 December 2003.
- The 1994 Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions; 28 Parties. Entered into force 5 August 1998.
- The 1991 Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes; 23 Parties. Entered into force 29 September 1997.
- The 1988 Protocol concerning the Control of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes; 33 Parties. Entered into force 14 February 1991.
- The 1985 Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 per cent; 24 Parties. Entered into force 2 September 1987.
- The 1984 Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP); 42 Parties. Entered into force 28 January 1988.
The Gothenburg Protocol considers the linked impacts of NOx, NH3, SO2 and VOCs in relation to the issues of acidification, eutrophication and photochemical oxidants. These linkages are shown in the figure below taken from Grennfelt et al. (1994).
The Gothenburg protocol is a natural continuation of the earlier protocols under the Convention. As a modern, "second-generation" protocol, it takes full account of the interdependence of various environmental problems and the related pollutants.
The emission ceilings were negotiated on the basis of scientific assessments of pollution effects and abatement options. Parties whose emissions have a more severe environmental or health impact and whose emissions are relatively cheap to reduce will have to make the biggest cuts. Once the Protocol is fully implemented, Europe's sulphur emissions should be cut by at least 63%, its NOx emissions by 41%, its VOC emissions by 40% and its ammonia emissions by 17% compared to 1990.
The Protocol also sets tight limit values for specific emission sources (e.g. combustion plant, electricity production, dry cleaning, cars and lorries) and requires best available techniques to be used to keep emissions down. VOC emissions from such products as paints or aerosols will also have to be cut. Finally, farmers will have to take specific measures to control ammonia emissions. Guidance documents adopted together with the Protocol provide a wide range of abatement techniques and economic instruments for the reduction of emissions in the relevant sectors, including transport and agriculture.
It has been estimated that once the Protocol is implemented, the area in Europe with excessive levels of acidification will shrink from 93 million hectares in 1990 to 15 million hectares. That with excessive levels of eutrophication will fall from 165 million hectares in 1990 to 108 million hectares. The number of days with excessive ozone levels will be halved. Consequently, it is estimated that life-years lost as a result of the chronic effects of ozone exposure will be about 2,300,000 lower in 2010 than in 1990, and there will be approximately 47,500 fewer premature deaths resulting from ozone and particulate matter in the air. The exposure of vegetation to excessive ozone levels will be 44% down on 1990.
The Gothenburg Protocol is currently being revised.