[Index]
Air Pollution Protocol
Boosted by U.S. Ratification
Executive Body wraps
up jubilee session
Geneva, 3 December
2004 - With the ratification by the
United States, the Gothenburg Protocol
to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication
and Ground-level Ozone is now only two
ratifications away from entry into force.
The US ratification was announced at a
meeting of the Executive Body of the Convention
on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva this week
to mark the Convention’s 25th anniversary.
The United States, together
with the European Community, will also
head a new task force to study the hemispheric
transport of air pollution. A new expert
group on fine particles, another priority
under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary
Air Pollution, will be directed by Germany
and the United Kingdom. Its work may lead
to either a change to the Gothenburg Protocol
or a new protocol specifically on fine
particles.
The Executive Body also
decided to review two new persistent organic
pollutants (POPs) that may be considered
for addition to the Protocol on POPs.
They are pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE)
and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS).
PBDE is a brominated flame retardant used
in upholstery and furnishings. PFOS is
a fully fluorinated anion that is used
in fire-fighting foams, semiconductors
and hydraulic fluids, and historically
also in carpets and detergents.
Another goal for the
Executive Body over the coming years is
to push eastwards. It intends to redouble
its efforts to involve East European,
Caucasian and Central Asian countries
in its work. At present all except Albania,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
are Parties to the Convention, but few
have signed up to its Protocols.
Finally, the Convention
continues its practice of “naming
and shaming” those Parties that
fail to either fully meet their obligations
under the Protocols or to report on their
compliance. Since its introduction in
1997, this practice has greatly improved
compliance. Greece, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia
and Spain fell short on their commitments
under one or more Protocols.
Several publications
were launched this week to mark the Convention’s
anniversary. Many were contributions from
Parties.
For more information
on the Convention or to obtain copies
of the new publications, please contact:
Keith BULL
Environment and Human Settlements
Division
United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations, office 346
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41(0)22 917 23 54
Fax: +41(0)22 917 06 21
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/
Ref: ECE/ENV/04/P21