Pollution treaty to be revised

A revised Gothenburg protocol is expected to include new national emission ceilings for 2020.

Preparations are ongoing under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) to update and revise the 1999 protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone, also known as the Gothenburg protocol.

The protocol sets national emission ceilings (NECs) for four major air pollutants – sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia – to be achieved by 2010 and not to be exceeded thereafter. In the EU, the 2001 national emission ceilings directive is the main instrument for implementing the treaty, complemented by a series of source-specific legislation, such as the large combustion plants directive and vehicle emission standards.

So far the protocol has been ratified by 22 European countries, and by the European Union, the United States and Canada.

Through technical annexes, the protocol also sets emission limit values for a number of specified sources, such as large combustion plants, industries and motor vehicles.

Meeting in Geneva in September, the Convention’s negotiation group (the Working Group on Strategies and Review) continued its discussions on the revision of the protocol, including the technical annexes.

A revised protocol is expected to include more stringent national emission ceilings to be achieved by 2020. The possibility of adding so-called aspirational emission reduction targets for 2050 has been discussed, although such targets would most likely be non-binding.

It is expected that emissions of particulate matter (PM) – most probably as PM_2.5 – will be added to the list of pollutants covered by a revised protocol, but it is still uncertain if overall national PM emissions will be regulated through NECs or by some form of percentage reduction targets. It appears quite clear, however, that source-specific emission limits for PM will be added to the technical annexes.

Various options to introduce a larger degree of flexibility into the protocol requirements are also on the agenda of the Working Group. This was requested by the Convention’s Executive Body, in order to promote ratifications by countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) and South-Eastern Europe (SEE). So far very few of these countries have ratified the Gothenburg protocol.

The Convention’s Executive Body is to meet in mid-December. The intention is to have a revised protocol finalised by December 2010. For more information, see the Convention’s web site: www.unece.org/env/lrtap/welcome.html

In this issue

High Noon for 2°C

The world’s nations agreed to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” (Art. 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change¹) back in 1992. Until recently, most nations had not agreed what that meant, however.

Pollution treaty to be revised

A revised Gothenburg protocol is expected to include new national emission ceilings for 2020.

Still high ozone levels despite less air pollution

Ozone levels remain largely unchanged in many European countries, even though emissions of the air pollutants involved in ozone formation have been reduced significantly.

Ministers water down pollution legislation

EU environment ministers have agreed to water down proposals for stronger industrial pollution control.

North American ECA met by approval

The process of establishing an emission control area (ECA) off the North American shores has taken a step further.

Shipping climate policy continues to drift

Once again, the IMO has failed to adopt binding measures to reduce emissions from international shipping.

Cutting ship fuel sulphur may save 45,000 lives

Lowering the sulphur content of fuel used in shipping could prevent upwards of 45,000 premature deaths a year by reducing exposure to fine particles.

Commission scrutinizes air quality derogations

The EU Commission has approved time extensions for 19 air quality zones, but raised objections to 75 other proposed exemptions.

US to cut CO2 emissions from cars and light-duty trucks

A proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road vehicles in the USA will apply for model years from 2012.

Island states demand 95 per cent emission cuts

Island states and least developed countries agree: Rich nations have caused the problem, and should cut emissions 95 per cent by 2050.

Most rich Kyoto countries off track

Many rich countries will not be able to meet their climate commitments through active policy initiatives. Only “hot air” will do the trick.

Editorial: Bring them in

In June 2009, a coalition of environmental organisations presented a benchmark Copenhagen climate treaty. The document describes the path the world must be on to avoid catastrophic climate change, recognising that global temperature increase must be kept well below 2 degrees Celsius.

Main menu

Pollution treaty to be revised

In this issue

High Noon for 2°C

Pollution treaty to be revised

Still high ozone levels despite less air pollution

Ministers water down pollution legislation

North American ECA met by approval

Shipping climate policy continues to drift

Cutting ship fuel sulphur may save 45,000 lives

Commission scrutinizes air quality derogations

US to cut CO2 emissions from cars and light-duty trucks

Island states demand 95 per cent emission cuts

Most rich Kyoto countries off track

Editorial: Bring them in

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

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