Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2002)44 - Accession, on behalf of the EC to the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2002)44 - Accession, on behalf of the EC to the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2002)44  |
| date | 30-01-2002 |
Acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone are some of the most important air pollution problems affecting the environment and human health in the Community today. They are transboundary air pollution problems and can only be fully dealt with by international action.
The 15 Member States and the European Community are parties to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. On 30 November 1999 the Executive Body to the Convention adopted the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone in Gothenburg (Sweden).
The Gothenburg Protocol sets maximum permitted levels of emissions (emission ceilings) for each national Party for four pollutants: sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds and ammonia. These ceilings, which must be met by 2010 were negotiated on the basis of scientific assessments of pollution effects and abatement options. Once the Protocol is fully implemented, Europe's sulphur emissions should be cut by at least 63%, its NOx emissions by 41%, its VOC emissions by 40% and its ammonia emissions by 17% compared to 1990.
The Protocol also sets limit values for specific emission sources (e.g. combustion plant, electricity production, dry cleaning, cars and lorries) and requires best available techniques to be used to keep emissions down. VOC emissions from such products as paints or aerosols will also have to be cut. Finally, farmers will have to take specific measures to control ammonia emissions. Guidance documents adopted together with the Protocol provide a wide range of abatement techniques and economic instruments for the reduction of emissions in the relevant sectors, including transport.
It has been estimated that once the Protocol is implemented, the area with excessive levels of acidification in Europe as whole, including non-Member States, will shrink from 93 million hectares in 1990 to 15 million hectares. That with excessive levels of eutrophication will fall from 165 million hectares in 1990 to 108 million hectares. The number of days with excessive ozone levels will be halved and levels of particulate matter will also fall. It is estimated that life-years lost as a result of the chronic effects of exposure to air pollution will be about 2,300,000 lower in 2010 than in 1990 (this is an estimate of reduction in life expectancy owing to long-term exposure to pollution). It is further estimated that there will be approximately 47,500 fewer premature deaths on days with especially high levels of ozone and particulate matter in the air (affecting mainly people with pre-existing cardiac or pulmonary disease). The exposure of vegetation to excessive ozone levels will be 44% down on 1990.
All 15 Member States have signed the Protocol. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have all signed the Protocol, as have other parties including Canada, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. The European Community will benefit greatly from reductions in emissions by parties outside the present Member States. The Protocol will enter into force when 16 Parties have ratified. On September 24 2001, only Luxembourg had done so.
The European Community did not sign the Protocol before the closing date of 31 May 2000. It is still possible for the Community to accede to the Protocol. This would be a useful step towards final approval.
On 23 October 2001 the European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2001/81/EC on National Emission Ceilings and Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants. The National Emission Ceilings Directive sets legally binding emission ceilings for each Member State for each of the pollutants covered by the Gothenburg Protocol. All emission ceilings are set at a level at least equal to, and in many cases more ambitious than, those required by the Protocol. They must be met by 2010. The Large Combustion Plants Directive sets new limit values for emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen which are consistent with those listed under the Protocol.
It is therefore appropriate for the Community to accede to the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone.