Air pollution protocol boosted by U.S. ratification - Executive Body wraps up jubilee session

Geneva

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: keith.bull@unece.org

Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/

Ref: ECE/ENV/04/P21