Heavy metals treaty updated

In December, countries in Europe and North America ended three years of negotiations by agreeing updated emission control requirements for particulate matter and the three heavy metals cadmium, lead and mercury, by adopting amendments to the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

To meet the emission limit values in the protocol, countries must apply the best available techniques to existing and new stationary emission sources such as combustion, manufacturing and other production plants.

To encourage and enable countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia to join the amended protocol in the coming years, considerable flexibilities in the obligations for these countries were introduced into the text.

The 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals entered into force in 2003 and currently has 31 parties.

Source: UN ECE press release, 19 December 2012.

In this issue

Small chimneys – big emissions

The Danish Government and the European Commission have separately presented proposals for emission standards for new boilers and stoves. But to achieve noticeable near-term air pollution reductions it is essential to combine such standards with measures for existing installations.

Editorial: Unacceptable to wait another forty years

It is now 2013, the year declared by environment commissioner Potočnik as the year of air, and in a speech at the EEB air quality conference on 8 January, he said that poor air quality was the cause of 420,000 premature deaths in the EU in 2010 ..

EU citizens: we want stronger air quality policy

Almost four out of five Europeans believe that the EU should propose additional measures to address air pollution.

Running out of time – the LCPD bites at last

EU SO₂ emissions have been cut by 80 per cent and NOx emissions halved between 1990 and 2010. Things are going to get even better, thanks to the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD), introduced in 1988.

Progress too slow

Emission levels of carbon dioxide from the transport sector have levelled off, after the sharp reductions that followed the economic crisis in 2008. However there is still a notable absence of structural changes, such as modal shifts.

Revising EU air pollution policy

Significant additional emission reductions and accompanying environmental improvements can be achieved in the EU over the next 10-15 years. Health benefits alone far outweigh the extra costs for emission control.

WHO experts call for stronger EU air pollution policies

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) can trigger atherosclerosis, adverse birth outcomes and childhood respiratory diseases, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) review released on 31 January.

Nitrogen overload still harms ecosystems

Two-thirds of EU ecosystems are currently exposed to more nitrogen deposition than they can cope with and one-tenth is receiving too much acid fallout. Significant additional reductions in the emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide ...

Scope for reducing ammonia emissions

By applying already known techniques and agricultural practices, the EU could reduce agricultural emissions of ammonia by more than 30 per cent, figures show in a new report from the International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA).

Global mercury deal

On 19 January, after four years of deliberation, more than 140 countries agreed on the first global treaty to cut mercury pollution. It contains a mixture of mandatory and voluntary elements intended to control the growing global mercury crisis.

Emissions reallocated to end-users

Industries and homes together account for more than half of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, when emissions are aggregated at end-user level.

Road charges for lorries could cut air pollution

Introducing road charges for heavy goods vehicles that reflect the varied health effects of traffic pollution in different European countries would mean charges should be much higher in some countries compared to others.

Tailwind for wind

Wind power is coming of age. It supplies one-fortieth of the world’s electricity, and has grown tenfold in 10 years. There is room for much more. China and the US now lead the world.

Main menu

Heavy metals treaty updated

In this issue

Small chimneys – big emissions

Editorial: Unacceptable to wait another forty years

EU citizens: we want stronger air quality policy

Running out of time – the LCPD bites at last

Progress too slow

Revising EU air pollution policy

WHO experts call for stronger EU air pollution policies

Nitrogen overload still harms ecosystems

Scope for reducing ammonia emissions

Global mercury deal

Emissions reallocated to end-users

Road charges for lorries could cut air pollution

Tailwind for wind

Publications

SINK OR SOURCE? Northern Forests at a crossroads

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Protecting Northern Forests crucial for biodiversity, the climate and indigenous rights

The 100 largest industry emitters in EU-27

Road to Nowhere

Bioenergy CCS – too little, too expensive, and not net negative

Direct air carbon capture and storage - A waste of time and energy

Carbon emissions from the cement industry can be reduced without CCS

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

Do Your Bit!