The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution

and EMEP (The Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe)

Henning WuesterSecretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap (for information on the Convention)

http://www.emep.int (for scientific work of EMEP)

The coverage of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (48 Parties)

EE

LV

LT

BYPL

UA

ROHU

BG

TRGRAZ

GE

AMKG

FI

CY

SENO

DK

DENL

IE

ESPT

IT

CHAT

GB

HR

BA

AL MK

FR

BECZ

MD

SK

SI

YU

L

RU

KZ

TMUZ

TJ

U

Artic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

CA

US

EE

LV

LT

BYPL

UA

ROHU

BG

TRGRAZ

GE

AMKG

FI

CY

SENO

DK

DENL

IE

ESPT

IT

CHAT

GB

HR

BA

AL MK

FR

BECZ

MD

SK

SI

YU

LU.KZ

RU

TMUZ

TJ

Artic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

CA

US

The 38 Parties to the EMEP Protocol of 1984

The geographic scope of EMEP

1985 Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions by at least 30 per cent, 22 Parties

1988 Protocol on the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides, 28 Parties

1991 Protocol on the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds, 20 Parties

1994 Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions, 23 Parties

The Protocols in force:

The new Protocols (not yet in force):

1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals, 36 Signatories, 9 ratifications

1998 Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 36 Signatories, 6 ratifications

1999 Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone, 31 Signatories

The main priorities for the Convention

Review and extension of existing protocols; Implementation of and compliance with

existing agreements. These two policy-related tasks should be based on

sound scientific support from three core activities: Atmospheric measurements and modelling; Effects; and Integrated assessment, including modelling

and economic benefit evaluation.

P rog ram m eC oord ina t ing C entre

P rog ram m eC entre

C oo rd ina t ion C entrefo r E ffec ts

M a in R esea rchC entre

P rog ram m eC entre

P rog ram m eC entre

Im p lem en ta tion C om m ittee

IC PF ores ts

Task F orce

IC PIn teg ra ted M on ito rin g

Task F orce

IC PM ap p in g

Task F orce

IC PM ateria ls

Task F orce

IC PV eg eta tionTask F orce

IC PW aters

Task F orce

Task F orceH ea lth

W ork in g G rou p onE ffec ts

Task F orceE m iss ion s In ven tories

an d P ro jec tion s

Task F orceM easu rem en tan d M od e llin g

C h em ica lC oord in a tin g

C en tre

M eteoro log ica lS yn th es iz in gC en tre-W es t

M eteoro log ica lS yn th es iz in gC en tre-E as t

Task F orceIn teg ra ted

A ssessm en t M od e llin g

C en treIn teg ra ted

A ssessm en t M od e llin g

E M E PS teerin g B od y

A d h ocexp ert g rou pon am m on ia

A d h ocexp ert g rou p

on P O P s

N etwork o f E xp ertson B en efits an d

E con om ic In s tru m en ts

Task F orceB y-p rod u c ts

H M s an d P O P s

W ork in g G rou p onS tra teg ies an d R eview

Executive Body

Intergovernmental bodies, expert groups and scientific centres under the Convention

EMEP: some history

The Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) was initiated in 1974.

In 1977 EMEP was adopted as a special programme under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Operated under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution since the Convention entered into force in 1983.

EMEP: the vision

EMEP will continue to be the main science-based and policy-driven instrument for international cooperation in:

atmospheric monitoring and modelling; emission inventories and projections; and integrated assessment

to help solve transboundary air pollution problems

EMEP Strategy 2000-2009

EMEP: 5 principles (1)

SCIENCE - EMEP establishes sound scientific evidence and provides guidance to underpin, develop and evaluate environmental policies;

PARTNERSHIP - EMEP fosters international partnership to find solutions to environmental problems;

ORGANIZATION - EMEP is organized to integrate information on emissions, environmental quality, effects and abatement options, and to provide the basis for solutions;

EMEP Strategy 2000-2009

EMEP: 5 principles (2)

OPENNESS - EMEP encourages the open use of intellectual resources and products;

SHARING - EMEP is transparent and shares information and expertise with research programmes, expert institutions, national and international organizations, and environmental agreements.

EMEP Strategy 2000-2009

Recognize the differences

SO2 emissions per capita

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

Asia

Europe

USA

The emission reductions under the Gothenburg Protocol

Canada and the United States will bring in their emission reduction obligations upon ratification

Based on bilateral negotiations of an ozone annex to the 1991 Agreement

To cover SO2, NOx, and VOCs

The multi-pollutant, multi-effect approach of the Gothenburg Protocol extended by PM

Primary

PMPM pollution

Plan for preparatory work for the Gothenburg Protocol review

Broad timing: Aimed at supporting negotiations on revising the

Gothenburg Protocol in 2004 2003 reserved for testing and sensitivity

analysis Results of specialized studies and new data

should be available by 2002 2001 for preparatory work

This work also has to prepare the scientific basis for a decision on how to deal with transcontinental transport.

Summary

The Convention and EMEP have provided a useful framework for cooperation on atmospheric science and policy.

To enhance such cooperation, especially beyond Europe, is of high priority.

The ambitious tasks for the Gothenburg Protocol review can only be accomplished in cooperation, including between Europe and North America.

One of these tasks is to assess the importance of transcontinental atmospheric transport.