NITROGEN AND THE UNECE CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE

TRANBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION

Johan Sliggers

Vice-Chair of the Convention’s Working Group on Strategies and

Review

Integrating Nitrogen under CLRTAP

• Revision NOx Protocol• Gothenburg Protocol• Preamble Gothenburg Protocol• Saltsjöbaden 3• EG on NH3 TF on Reactive Nitrogen

1999 Gothenburg ProtocolMulti- pollutantMulti- effectProtocol

Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground- level Ozone

23 Parties

Effects based using integrated assessment modelling. Specifies emission ceilings and controls for sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

The preamble to the Protocol ….- It is the first agreement under the

Convention to deal specifically with reduced nitrogen

- Measures taken to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia should involve consideration of the full biogeochemical nitrogen cycle

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Sector 11Sector 10Sector 9Sector 8Sector 7Sector 6Sector 5Sector 4Sector 3Sector 2Sector 1

Sector allocation of emissions

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

sesesesesesesesesesese

NOx emissions 1000 tons NO2 /year

NH3 emissions 1000 tons/year

NOx reductions mainly due to changes in combustion sectors (40%) and transport (25%)

Decreased NH3 is due to activity changes and control measures in agricultural sector

Nitrogen emissions 1980-2000

Regional differences in N emission changes are more pronounced than for sulphur emissions.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

S

CE

SE

E

N

CE

CW

NW

E

Countries NOx NH3CE = Czech Rep., Hungary, Poland and Slovak Rep.

-42% -46%

CW = Austria, Switzerland and Germany

-49% -23%

E = Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (European part)*

+21% -48%

N = Denmark Finland Iceland, Norway and Sweden

-21% -10%

NW = Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Ireland and United Kingdom

-36% -13%

S = France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain

-4% +1%

SE = Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, The FYROM Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia

-26% -12%

TOTAL EUROPE (excluding ships )

-24% -20%

% protected< 1010 - 3030 - 5050 - 7070 - 100100

Nutrient N CLs: Ecosystem area protected 1980

Dep-data: EMEP/MSC-WMNP/CCE

% protected< 1010 - 3030 - 5050 - 7070 - 100100

Nutrient N CLs: Ecosystem area protected 1990

Dep-data: EMEP/MSC-WMNP/CCE

% protected< 1010 - 3030 - 5050 - 7070 - 100100

Nutrient N CLs: Ecosystem area protected 2000

Dep-data: EMEP/MSC-WMNP/CCE

% protected< 1010 - 3030 - 5050 - 7070 - 100100

Nutrient N CLs: Ecosystem area protected 2010

Dep-data: EMEP/MSC-WMNP/CCE

WHO European Centre for Environment and HealthWHO European Centre for Environment and Health

Loss of life expectancy (in months)Due to PM2.5 from anthropogenic sources

2000 2010Source:EMEP

& IIASA

Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen

• Lead countries UK and NL• Background paper and Terms of Reference• WGSR (and WGE, EMEP-SB)

Recommendations Workshop IAM Nr to TF on Reactive Nitrogen

• Awareness raising of linkages policy processes

• Identification of timing and information requirements various policy processes

• Give practical advice on consistency effect based approaches

• Identify synergies and trade offs for policy measures

Short term (Gothenburg Protocol/IAM)

• N-cycle in GAINS, nitrate• Impacts: surface water, groundwater,

coastal waters• Synergies and trade-offs

The Convention’s Agenda

• Review Gothenburg Protocol 2005-2007• EB25: Revision 2008-2009

– Short term is 2008!

The Gothenburg Protocol

Multi-pollutant / multi-effects approach: an extended version for a future protocol Multi-pollutant / multi-effects approach: an extended version for a future protocol

Acidification

Eutrophication

Tropospheric ozone

SO2 SO2

NH3 NH3

NOx NOx

NMVOCNMVOC

Climate change

PM10 / PM2.5

Urban air quality

COCO

CH4 CH4

CO2 CO2

N 2 ON 2 O

primary particulates

primary particulates

Objectives Task Force

• Integrated approach to managing Nr (LT)• Influence strategies

– Within CLRTAP– Outside e.g. UNFCCC, CBD, EU

• Tasks TF RN• Continue work EG on NH3

NH3 work: input review/revision Gothenburg Protocol

• Guidance Document on Control Techniques for Preventing and Abating Emissions of Ammonia

• Framework Advisory Code of Good Agricultural Practice for Reducing Ammonia Emissions

• Quantify control options/techniques and resulting ammonia emissions

• Annex IX, NH3 control measures

Organisational• Reporting• Cooperation bodies under CLRTAP

– TF Integrated Assessment Modelling– TF Emission Inventories and Projections– TF Modelling and Mapping

• International links with Conventions and European initiatives

• Full report on managing Nr to WGSR in 2010 at the latest