Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol)
Done at: Gothenburg
Date enacted: 1999-11-30
In force: 2005-05-17
The Parties,
Determined to implement the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution,
Aware that nitrogen oxides, sulphur, volatile organic compounds and reduced nitrogen compounds have been associated with adverse effects on human health and the environment,
Concerned that critical loads of acidification, critical loads of nutrient nitrogen and critical levels of ozone for human health and vegetation are still exceeded in many areas of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's region,
Concerned also that emitted nitrogen oxides, sulphur and volatile organic compounds, as well as secondary pollutants such as ozone and the reaction products of ammonia, are transported in the atmosphere over long distances and may have adverse transboundary effects,
Recognizing that emissions from Parties within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's region contribute to air pollution on the hemispheric and global scales, and recognizing the potential for transport between continents and the need for further study with regard to that potential,
Recognizing also that Canada and the United States of America are bilaterally negotiating reductions of emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds to address the transboundary ozone effect,
Recognizing furthermore that Canada will undertake further reductions of emissions of sulphur by 2010 through the implementation of the Canada-wide Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000, and that the United States is committed to the implementation of a nitrogen oxides reduction programme in the eastern United States and to the reduction in emissions necessary to meet its national ambient air quality standards for particulate matter,
Resolved to apply a multi-effect, multi-pollutant approach to preventing or minimizing the exceedances of critical loads and levels,
Taking into account the emissions from certain existing activities and installations responsible for present air pollution levels and the development of future activities and installations,
Aware that techniques and management practices are available to reduce emissions of these substances,
Resolved to take measures to anticipate, prevent or minimize emissions of these substances, taking into account the application of the precautionary approach as set forth in principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,
Reaffirming that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,
Conscious of the need for a cost-effective regional approach to combating air pollution that takes account of the variations in effects and abatement costs between countries,
Noting the important contribution of the private and non-governmental sectors to knowledge of the effects associated with these substances and available abatement techniques, and their role in assisting in the reduction of emissions to the atmosphere,
Bearing in mind that measures taken to reduce emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international competition and trade,
Taking into consideration best available scientific and technical knowledge and data on emissions, atmospheric processes and effects on human health and the environment of these substances, as well as on abatement costs, and acknowledging the need to improve this knowledge and to continue scientific and technical cooperation to further understanding of these issues,
Noting that under the Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes, adopted at Sofia on 31 October 1988, and the Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes, adopted at Geneva on 18 November 1991, there is already provision to control emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, and that the technical annexes to both those Protocols already contain technical guidance for reducing these emissions,
Noting also that under the Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions, adopted at Oslo on 14 June 1994, there is already provision to reduce sulphur emissions in order to contribute to the abatement of acid deposition by diminishing the exceedances of critical sulphur depositions, which have been derived from critical loads of acidity according to the contribution of oxidized sulphur compounds to the total acid deposition in 1990,
Noting furthermore that this Protocol is the first agreement under the Convention to deal specifically with reduced nitrogen compounds,
Bearing in mind that reducing the emissions of these substances may provide additional benefits for the control of other pollutants, including in particular transboundary secondary particulate aerosols, which contribute to human health effects associated with exposure to airborne particulates,
Bearing in mind also the need to avoid, in so far as possible, taking measures for the achievement of the objectives of this Protocol that aggravate other health and environment-related problems,
Noting that measures taken to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia should involve consideration of the full biogeochemical nitrogen cycle and, so far as possible, not increase emissions of reactive nitrogen including nitrous oxide which could aggravate other nitrogen-related problems,
Aware that methane and carbon monoxide emitted by human activities contribute, in the presence of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, to the formation of tropospheric ozone, and
Aware also of the commitments that Parties have assumed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Definitions
For the purposes of the present Protocol,
1. |
"Convention" means the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, adopted at Geneva on 13 November 1979; |
2. |
"EMEP" means the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe; |
3. |
"Executive Body" means the Executive Body for the Convention constituted under article 10, paragraph 1, of the Convention; |
4. |
"Commission" means the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; |
5. |
"Parties" means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Parties to the present Protocol; |
6. |
"Geographical scope of EMEP" means the area defined in article 1, paragraph 4, of the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP), adopted at Geneva on 28 September 1984; |
7. |
"Emission" means the release of a substance from a point or diffuse source into the atmosphere; |
8. |
"Nitrogen oxides" means nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, expressed as nitrogen dioxide (NO2); |
9. |
"Reduced nitrogen compounds" means ammonia and its reaction products; |
10. |
"Sulphur" means all sulphur compounds, expressed as sulphur dioxide (SO2); |
11. |
"Volatile organic compounds", or "VOCs", means, unless otherwise specified, all organic compounds of an anthropogenic nature, other than methane, that are capable of producing photochemical oxidants by reaction with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight; |
12. |
"Critical load" means a quantitative estimate of an exposure to one or more pollutants below which significant harmful effects on specified sensitive elements of the environment do not occur, according to present knowledge; |
13. |
"Critical levels" means concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere above which direct adverse effects on receptors, such as human beings, plants, ecosystems or materials, may occur, according to present knowledge; |
14. |
"Pollutant emissions management area", or "PEMA", means an area designated in annex III under the conditions laid down in article 3, paragraph 9; |
15. |
"Stationary source" means any fixed building, structure, facility, installation or equipment that emits or may emit sulphur, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds or ammonia directly or indirectly into the atmosphere; |
16. |
"New stationary source" means any stationary source of which the construction or substantial modification is commenced after the expiry of one year from the date of entry into force of the present Protocol. It shall be a matter for the competent national authorities to decide whether a modification is substantial or not, taking into account such factors as the environmental benefits of the modification. |
Article 2
Objetive
The objective of the present Protocol is to control and reduce emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds that are caused by anthropogenic activities and are likely to cause adverse effects on human health, natural ecosystems, materials and crops, due to acidification, eutrophication or ground-level ozone as a result of long-range transboundary atmospheric transport, and to ensure, as far as possible, that in the long term and in a stepwise approach, taking into account advances in scientific knowledge, atmospheric depositions or concentrations do not exceed:
a. |
For Parties within the geographical scope of EMEP and Canada, the critical loads of acidity, as described in annex I; |
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b. |
For Parties within the geographical scope of EMEP, the critical loads of nutrient nitrogen, as described in annex I; and |
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c. |
For ozone:
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Article 3
Basic obligations
1. |
Each Party having an emission ceiling in any table in annex II shall reduce and maintain the reduction in its annual emissions in accordance with that ceiling and the timescales specified in that annex. Each Party shall, as a minimum, control its annual emissions of polluting compounds in accordance with the obligations in annex II. |
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2. |
Each Party shall apply the limit values specified in annexes IV, V and VI to each new stationary source within a stationary source category as identified in those annexes, no later than the timescales specified in annex VII. As an alternative, a Party may apply different emission reduction strategies that achieve equivalent overall emission levels for all source categories together. |
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3. |
Each Party shall, in so far as it is technically and economically feasible and taking into consideration the costs and advantages, apply the limit values specified in annexes IV, V and VI to each existing stationary source within a stationary source category as identified in those annexes, no later than the timescales specified in annex VII. As an alternative, a Party may apply different emission reduction strategies that achieve equivalent overall emission levels for all source categories together or, for Parties outside the geographical scope of EMEP, that are necessary to achieve national or regional goals for acidification abatement and to meet national air quality standards. |
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4. |
Limit values for new and existing boilers and process heaters with a rated thermal input exceeding 50 MWth and new heavy-duty vehicles shall be evaluated by the Parties at a session of the Executive Body with a view to amending annexes IV, V and VIII no later than two years after the date of entry into force of the present Protocol. |
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5. |
Each Party shall apply the limit values for the fuels and new mobile sources identified in annex VIII, no later than the timescales specified in annex VII. |
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6. |
Each Party should apply best available techniques to mobile sources and to each new or existing stationary source, taking into account guidance documents I to V adopted by the Executive Body at its seventeenth session (decision 1999/1) and any amendments thereto. |
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7. |
Each Party shall take appropriate measures based, inter alia, on scientific and economic criteria to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds associated with the use of products not included in annex VI or VIII. The Parties shall, no later than at the second session of the Executive Body after the entry into force of the present Protocol, consider with a view to adopting an annex on products, including criteria for the selection of such products, limit values for the volatile organic compound content of products not included in annex VI or VIII, as well as timescales for the application of the limit values. |
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8. |
Each Party shall, subject to paragraph 10:
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9. |
Paragraph 10 shall apply to any Party:
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10. |
A Party to which this paragraph applies shall:
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11. |
Canada and the United States of America shall, upon their ratification, acceptance or approval of, or accession to, the present Protocol, submit to the Executive Body their respective emission reduction commitments with respect to sulphur, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds for automatic incorporation into annex II. |
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12. |
The Parties shall, subject to the outcome of the first review provided for under article 10, paragraph 2, and no later than one year after completion of that review, commence negotiations on further obligations to reduce emissions. |
Article 4
Exchange for information and technology
1. |
Each Party shall, in a manner consistent with its laws, regulations and practices and in accordance with its obligations in the present Protocol, create favourable conditions to facilitate the exchange of information, technologies and techniques, with the aim of reducing emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds by promoting inter alia:
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2. |
In promoting the activities specified in paragraph 1, each Party shall create favourable conditions for the facilitation of contacts and cooperation among appropriate organizations and individuals in the private and public sectors that are capable of providing technology, design and engineering services, equipment or finance. |
Article 5
Public awareness
1. |
Each Party shall, in a manner consistent with its laws, regulations and practices, promote the provision of information to the general public, including information on:
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2. |
Furthermore, each Party may make information widely available to the public with a view to minimizing emissions, including information on:
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Article 6
Strategies, policies, programmes, measures and information
1. |
Each Party shall, as necessary and on the basis of sound scientific and economic criteria, in order to facilitate the implementation of its obligations under article 3:
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2. |
Each Party shall collect and maintain information on:
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3. |
Any Party may take more stringent measures than those required by the present Protocol. |
Article 7
Reporting
1. |
Subject to its laws and regulations and in accordance with its obligations under the present Protocol:
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2. |
The information to be reported in accordance with paragraph 1 (a) shall be in conformity with a decision regarding format and content to be adopted by the Parties at a session of the Executive Body. The terms of this decision shall be reviewed as necessary to identify any additional elements regarding the format or the content of the information that is to be included in the reports. |
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3. |
In good time before each annual session of the Executive Body, EMEP shall provide information on:
Parties in areas outside the geographical scope of EMEP shall make available similar information if requested to do so by the Executive Body. |
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4. |
The Executive Body shall, in accordance with article 10, paragraph 2 (b), of the Convention, arrange for the preparation of information on the effects of depositions of sulphur and nitrogen compounds and concentrations of ozone. |
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5. |
The Parties shall, at sessions of the Executive Body, arrange for the preparation, at regular intervals, of revised information on calculated and internationally optimized allocations of emission reductions for the States within the geographical scope of EMEP, using integrated assessment models, including atmospheric transport models, with a view to reducing further, for the purposes of article 3, paragraph 1, the difference between actual depositions of sulphur and nitrogen compounds and critical load values as well as the difference between actual ozone concentrations and the critical levels of ozone specified in annex I, or such alternative assessment methods as approved by the Parties at a session of the Executive Body. |
Article 8
Research, development and monitoring
The Parties shall encourage research, development, monitoring and cooperation related to:
a. |
The international harmonization of methods for the calculation and assessment of the adverse effects associated with the substances addressed by the present Protocol for use in establishing critical loads and critical levels and, as appropriate, the elaboration of procedures for such harmonization; |
b. |
The improvement of emission databases, in particular those on ammonia and volatile organic compounds; |
c. |
The improvement of monitoring techniques and systems and of the modelling of transport, concentrations and depositions of sulphur, nitrogen compounds and volatile organic compounds, as well as of the formation of ozone and secondary particulate matter; |
d. |
The improvement of the scientific understanding of the long-term fate of emissions and their impact on the hemispheric background concentrations of sulphur, nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, ozone and particulate matter, focusing, in particular, on the chemistry of the free troposphere and the potential for intercontinental flow of pollutants; |
e. |
The further elaboration of an overall strategy to reduce the adverse effects of acidification, eutrophication and photochemical pollution, including synergisms and combined effects; |
f. |
Strategies for the further reduction of emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds based on critical loads and critical levels as well as on technical developments, and the improvement of integrated assessment modelling to calculate internationally optimized allocations of emission reductions taking into account the need to avoid excessive costs for any Party. Special emphasis should be given to emissions from agriculture and transport; |
g. |
The identification of trends over time and the scientific understanding of the wider effects of sulphur, nitrogen and volatile organic compounds and photochemical pollution on human health, including their contribution to concentrations of particulate matter, the environment, in particular acidification and eutrophication, and materials, especially historic and cultural monuments, taking into account the relationship between sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, volatile organic compounds and tropospheric ozone; |
h. |
Emission abatement technologies, and technologies and techniques to improve energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable energy; |
i. |
The efficacy of ammonia control techniques for farms and their impact on local and regional deposition; |
j. |
The management of transport demand and the development and promotion of less polluting modes of transport; |
k. |
The quantification and, where possible, economic evaluation of benefits for the environment and human health resulting from the reduction of emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds; and |
l. |
The development of tools for making the methods and results of this work widely applicable and available. |
Article 9
Compliance
Compliance by each Party with its obligations under the present Protocol shall be reviewed regularly. The Implementation Committee established by decision 1997/2 of the Executive Body at its fifteenth session shall carry out such reviews and report to the Parties at a session of the Executive Body in accordance with the terms of the annex to that decision, including any amendments thereto.
Article 10
Reviews by the Parties at Sessions of the Executive Body
1. |
The Parties shall, at sessions of the Executive Body, pursuant to article 10, paragraph 2 (a), of the Convention, review the information supplied by the Parties, EMEP and subsidiary bodies of the Executive Body, the data on the effects of concentrations and depositions of sulphur and nitrogen compounds and of photochemical pollution as well as the reports of the Implementation Committee referred to in article 9 above. |
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Article 11
Settlement of disputes
1. |
In the event of a dispute between any two or more Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the present Protocol, the parties concerned shall seek a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice. The parties to the dispute shall inform the Executive Body of their dispute. |
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2. |
When ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the present Protocol, or at any time thereafter, a Party which is not a regional economic integration organization may declare in a written instrument submitted to the Depositary that, in respect of any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Protocol, it recognizes one or both of the following means of dispute settlement as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation:
A Party which is a regional economic integration organization may make a declaration with like effect in relation to arbitration in accordance with the procedures referred to in subparagraph (b). |
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3. |
A declaration made under paragraph 2 shall remain in force until it expires in accordance with its terms or until three months after written notice of its revocation has been deposited with the Depositary. |
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4. |
A new declaration, a notice of revocation or the expiry of a declaration shall not in any way affect proceedings pending before the International Court of Justice or the arbitral tribunal, unless the parties to the dispute agree otherwise. |
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5. |
Except in a case where the parties to a dispute have accepted the same means of dispute settlement under paragraph 2, if after twelve months following notification by one party to another that a dispute exists between them, the parties concerned have not been able to settle their dispute through the means mentioned in paragraph 1, the dispute shall be submitted, at the request of any of the parties to the dispute, to conciliation. |
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6. |
For the purpose of paragraph 5, a conciliation commission shall be created. The commission shall be composed of an equal number of members appointed by each party concerned or, where parties in conciliation share the same interest, by the group sharing that interest, and a chairperson chosen jointly by the members so appointed. The commission shall render a recommendatory award, which the parties to the dispute shall consider in good faith. |
Article 12
Annexes
The annexes to the present Protocol shall form an integral part of the Protocol.
Article 13
Amendments and adjustments
1. |
Any Party may propose amendments to the present Protocol. Any Party to the Convention may propose an adjustment to annex II to the present Protocol to add to it its name, together with emission levels, emission ceilings and percentage emission reductions. |
2. |
roposed amendments and adjustments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Secretary of the Commission, who shall communicate them to all Parties. The Parties shall discuss the proposed amendments and adjustments at the next session of the Executive Body, provided that those proposals have been circulated by the Executive Secretary to the Parties at least ninety days in advance. |
3. |
Amendments to the present Protocol, including amendments to annexes II to IX, shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body, and shall enter into force for the Parties which have accepted them on the ninetieth day after the date on which two thirds of the Parties have deposited with the Depositary their instruments of acceptance thereof. Amendments shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party has deposited its instrument of acceptance thereof. |
4. |
Amendments to the annexes to the present Protocol, other than to the annexes referred to in paragraph 3, shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body. On the expiry of ninety days from the date of its communication to all Parties by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, an amendment to any such annex shall become effective for those Parties which have not submitted to the Depositary a notification in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5, provided that at least sixteen Parties have not submitted such a notification. |
5. |
Any Party that is unable to approve an amendment to an annex, other than to an annex referred to in paragraph 3, shall so notify the Depositary in writing within ninety days from the date of the communication of its adoption. The Depositary shall without delay notify all Parties of any such notification received. A Party may at any time substitute an acceptance for its previous notification and, upon deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Depositary, the amendment to such an annex shall become effective for that Party. |
6. |
Adjustments to annex II shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body and shall become effective for all Parties to the present Protocol on the ninetieth day following the date on which the Executive Secretary of the Commission notifies those Parties in writing of the adoption of the adjustment. |
Article 14
Signature
1. |
The present Protocol shall be open for signature at Gothenburg (Sweden) on 30 November and 1 December 1999, then at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 30 May 2000, by States members of the Commission as well as States having consultative status with the Commission, pursuant to paragraph 8 of Economic and Social Council resolution 36 (IV) of 28 March 1947, and by regional economic integration organizations, constituted by sovereign States members of the Commission, which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and application of international agreements in matters covered by the Protocol, provided that the States and organizations concerned are Parties to the Convention and are listed in annex II. |
2. |
In matters within their competence, such regional economic integration organizations shall, on their own behalf, exercise the rights and fulfil the responsibilities which the present Protocol attributes to their member States. In such cases, the member States of these organizations shall not be entitled to exercise such rights individually. |
Article 15
Ratification, acceptance, approval and accession
1. |
The present Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by Signatories. |
2. |
The present Protocol shall be open for accession as from 31 May 2000 by the States and organizations that meet the requirements of article 14, paragraph 1. |
3. |
The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary. |
Article 16
Depositary
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary.
Article 17
Entry into force
1. |
The present Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date on which the sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited with the Depositary. |
2. |
For each State and organization that meets the requirements of article 14, paragraph 1, which ratifies, accepts or approves the present Protocol or accedes thereto after the deposit of the sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit by such Party of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. |
Article 18
Withdrawal
At any time after five years from the date on which the present Protocol has come into force with respect to a Party, that Party may withdraw from it by giving written notification to the Depositary. Any such withdrawal shall take effect on the ninetieth day following the date of its receipt by the Depositary, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of the withdrawal.
Article 19
Authentic texts
The original of the present Protocol, of which the English, French and Russian texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed the present Protocol.
Done at Gothenburg (Sweden), this thirtieth day of November one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.
Annex I
Critical loads and levels
I - Critical loads of acidity
A - For Parties within the geographical scope of EMEP
1. |
Critical loads (as defined in article 1) of acidity for ecosystems are determined in accordance with the Convention's Manual on methodologies and criteria for mapping critical levels/loads and geographical areas where they are exceeded. They are the maximum amount of acidifying deposition an ecosystem can tolerate in the long term without being damaged. Critical loads of acidity in terms of nitrogen take account of within-ecosystem nitrogen removal processes (e.g. uptake by plants). Critical loads of acidity in terms of sulphur do not. A combined sulphur and nitrogen critical load of acidity considers nitrogen only when the nitrogen deposition is greater than the ecosystem nitrogen removal processes. All critical loads reported by Parties are summarized for use in the integrated assessment modelling employed to provide guidance for setting the emission ceilings in annex II. |
B - For Parties in North America
2. |
For eastern Canada, critical sulphur plus nitrogen loads for forested ecosystems have been determined with scientific methodologies and criteria (1997 Canadian Acid Rain Assessment) similar to those in the Convention's Manual on methodologies and criteria for mapping critical levels/loads and geographical areas where they are exceeded. Eastern Canada critical load values (as defined in article 1) of acidity are for sulphate in precipitation expressed in kg/ha/year. Alberta in western Canada, where deposition levels are currently below the environmental limits, has adopted the generic critical load classification systems used for soils in Europe for potential acidity. Potential acidity is defined by subtracting the total (both wet and dry) deposition of base cations from that of sulphur and nitrogen. In addition to critical loads for potential acidity, Alberta has established target and monitoring loads for managing acidifying emissions. |
3. |
For the United States of America, the effects of acidification are evaluated through an assessment of the sensitivity of ecosystems, the total loading within ecosystems of acidifying compounds, and the uncertainty associated with nitrogen removal processes within ecosystems. |
4. |
These loads and effects are used in integrated assessment modelling and provide guidance for setting the emission ceilings and/or reductions for Canada and the United States of America in annex II. |
II. Critical loads of nutrient nitrogen
For Parties within the geographical scope of EMEP
5. |
Critical loads (as defined in article 1) of nutrient nitrogen (eutrophication) for ecosystems are determined in accordance with the Convention's Manual on methodologies and criteria for mapping critical levels/loads and geographical areas where they are exceeded. They are the maximum amount of eutrophying nitrogen deposition an ecosystem can tolerate in the long term without being damaged. All critical loads reported by Parties are summarized for use in the integrated assessment modelling employed to provide guidance for setting the emission ceilings in annex II. |
III. Critical levels of ozone
A. For Parties within the geographical scope of EMEP
6. |
Critical levels (as defined in article 1) of ozone are determined to protect plants in accordance with the Convention's Manual on methodologies and criteria for mapping critical levels/loads and geographical areas where they are exceeded. They are expressed as a cumulative exposure over a threshold ozone concentration of 40 ppb (parts per billion by volume). This exposure index is referred to as AOT40 (accumulated exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb). The AOT40 is calculated as the sum of the differences between the hourly concentration (in ppb) and 40 ppb for each hour when the concentration exceeds 40 ppb. |
7. |
The long-term critical level of ozone for crops of an AOT40 of 3000 ppb.hours for May-July (used as a typical growing season) and for daylight hours was used to define areas at risk where the critical level is exceeded. A specific reduction of exceedances was targeted in the integrated assessment modelling undertaken for the present Protocol to provide guidance for setting the emission ceilings in annex II. The long-term critical level of ozone for crops is considered also to protect other plants such as trees and natural vegetation. Further scientific work is under way to develop a more differentiated interpretation of exceedances of critical levels of ozone for vegetation. |
8. |
A critical level of ozone for human health is represented by the WHO Air Quality Guideline level for ozone of 120 μg/m3 as an 8-hour average. In collaboration with the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe (WHO/EURO), a critical level expressed as an AOT60 (accumulated exposure over a threshold of 60 ppb), i.e. 120 μg/m3, calculated over one year, was adopted as a surrogate for the WHO Air Quality Guideline for the purpose of integrated assessment modelling. This was used to define areas at risk where the critical level is exceeded. A specific reduction of these exceedances was targeted in the integrated assessment modelling undertaken for the present Protocol to provide guidance for setting the emission ceilings in annex II. B. For Parties in North America |
9. |
For Canada, critical levels of ozone are determined to protect human health and the environment and are used to establish a Canada-wide Standard for ozone. The emission ceilings in annex II are defined according to the ambition level required to achieve the Canada-wide Standard for ozone. |
10. |
For the United States of America, critical levels of ozone are determined to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, to protect public welfare from any known or expected adverse effects, and are used to establish a national ambient air quality standard. Integrated assessment modelling and the air quality standard are used in providing guidance for setting the emission ceilings and/or reductions for the United States of America in annex II. |
Annex II
Emission ceilings
The emission ceilings listed in the tables below relate to the provisions of article 3, paragraphs 1 and 10, of the present Protocol. The 1980 and 1990 emission levels and the percentage emission reductions listed are given for information purposes only.
Table 1. Emission ceilings for sulphur (thousands of tonnes of SO2 per year)
[Omitted]
Table 2. Emission ceilings for nitrogen oxides (thousands of tonnes of NO2 per year)
[Omitted]
Table 3. Emission ceilings for ammonia (thousands of tonnes of NH3 per year)
[Omitted]
Table 4. Emission ceilings for volatile organic compounds (thousands of tonnes of VOC per year)
[Omittted]
Annex III
Designated Pollutant Emissions Management Area (PEMA)
The following PEMA is listed for the purpose of the present Protocol:
Russian Federation PEMA
This is the area of Murmansk oblast, the Republic of Karelia, Leningrad oblast (including St. Petersburg), Pskov oblast, Novgorod oblast and Kaliningrad oblast. The boundary of the PEMA coincides with the State and administrative boundaries of these constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
Annex IV
Limit values for emissions of sulphur from stationary sources
1. |
Section A applies to Parties other than Canada and the United States of America, section B applies to Canada and section C applies to the United States of America. |
A. Parties other than Canada and the United States of America
2. |
For the purpose of section A, except table 2 and paragraphs 11 and 12, limit value means the quantity of a gaseous substance contained in the waste gases from an installation that is not to be exceeded. Unless otherwise specified, it shall be calculated in terms of mass of pollutant per volume of the waste gases (expressed as mg/m3), assuming standard conditions for temperature and pressure for dry gas (volume at 273.15 K, 101.3 kPa). With regard to the oxygen content of the exhaust gas, the values given in the tables below for each source category shall apply. Dilution for the purpose of lowering concentrations of pollutants in waste gases is not permitted. Start-up, shutdown and maintenance of equipment are excluded. |
3. |
Emissions shall be monitored 1/in all cases. Compliance with limit values shall be verified. The methods of verification can include continuous or discontinuous measurements, type approval, or any other technically sound method. |
4. |
Sampling and analysis of pollutants, as well as reference measurement methods to calibrate any measurement system, shall be carried out in accordance with the standards laid down by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) or by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). While awaiting the development of CEN or ISO standards, national standards shall apply. |
5. |
Measurements of emissions should be carried out continuously when emissions of SO2 exceed 75 kg/h. |
6. |
In the case of continuous measurement for new plant, compliance with the emission standards is achieved if the calculated daily mean values do not exceed the limit value and if no hourly value exceeds the limit value by 100%. |
7. |
In the case of continuous measurements for existing plant, compliance with the emission standards is achieved if (a) none of the monthly mean values exceeds the limit values; and (b) 97% of all the 48-hour mean values do not exceed 110% of the limit values. |
8. |
In the case of discontinuous measurements, as a minimum requirement, compliance with the emission standards is achieved if the mean value based on an appropriate number of measurements under representative conditions does not exceed the value of the emission standard. |
9. |
Boilers and process heaters with a rated thermal input exceeding 50 MWth: Table 1. Limit values for SOx emissions released from boilers [Omitted] |
10. |
Gas oil Table 2. Limit values for the sulphur content of gas oil [Omitted] |
11. |
Claus plant: for plant that produces more than 50 Mg of sulphur a day: (a) Sulphur recovery 99.5% for new plant; (b) Sulphur recovery 97% for existing plant. |
12. |
Titanium dioxide production: in new and existing installations, discharges arising from digestion and calcination steps in the manufacture of titanium dioxide shall be reduced to a value of not more than 10 kg of SO2 equivalent per Mg of titanium dioxide produced. |
B. Canada
13. |
Limit values for controlling emissions of sulphur dioxide from new stationary sources in the following stationary source category will be determined on the basis of available information on control technology and levels including limit values applied in other countries and the following document: Canada Gazette, Part I. Department of the Environment. Thermal Power Generation Emissions - National Guidelines for New Stationary Sources. May 15, 1993. pp. 1633-1638. |
C. United States of America
Limit values for controlling emissions of sulphur dioxide from new stationary sources in the following stationary source categories are specified in the following documents:
[List omitted]
Annex V
Values for emissions of nitrogen oxides from stationary sources
1. |
Section A applies to Parties other than Canada and the United States of America, section B applies to Canada and section C applies to the United States of America. |
A. Parties other than Canada and the United States of America
2. |
For the purpose of section A, limit value means the quantity of a gaseous substance contained in the waste gases from an installation that is not to be exceeded. Unless otherwise specified, it shall be calculated in terms of mass of pollutant per volume of the waste gases (expressed as mg/m3), assuming standard conditions for temperature and pressure for dry gas (volume at 273.15 K, 101.3 kPa). With regard to the oxygen content of exhaust gas, the values given in the tables below for each source category shall apply. Dilution for the purpose of lowering concentrations of pollutants in waste gases is not permitted. Limit values generally address NO together with NO2, commonly named NOx, expressed as NO2. Start-up, shutdown and maintenance of equipment are excluded. |
3. |
Emissions shall be monitored 1/ in all cases. Compliance with limit values shall be verified. The methods of verification can include continuous or discontinuous measurements, type approval, or any other technically sound method. |
4. |
Sampling and analysis of pollutants, as well as reference measurement methods to calibrate any measurement system, shall be carried out in accordance with the standards laid down by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) or by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). While awaiting the development of CEN or ISO standards, national standards shall apply. |
5. |
Measurements of emissions should be carried out continuously when emissions of NOx exceed 75 kg/h. |
6. |
In the case of continuous measurements, except for existing combustion plant covered in table 1, compliance with the emission standards is achieved if the calculated daily mean values do not exceed the limit value and if no hourly value exceeds the limit value by 100%. |
7. |
In the case of continuous measurements for existing combustion plant covered in table 1, compliance with the emission standards is achieved if (a) none of the monthly mean values exceeds the emission limit values; and (b) 95% of all the 48-hour mean values do not exceed 110% of the emission limit values. |
8. |
In the case of discontinuous measurements, as a minimum requirement, compliance with the emission standards is achieved if the mean value based on an appropriate number of measurements under representative conditions does not exceed the value of the emission standard. |
9. |
Boilers and process heaters with a rated thermal input exceeding 50 MWth: Table 1. Limit values for NOx emissions released from boilers [Omitted] |
10. |
Onshore combustion turbines with a rated thermal input exceeding 50MWth: the NOx limit values expressed in mg/Nm3 (with an O2 content of 15%) are to be applied to a single turbine. The limit values in table 2 apply only above 70% load. Table 2. Limit values for NOx emissions released from onshore combustion turbines [Omitted] |
11. |
Cement production: Table 3. Limit values for NOx emissions released from cement production [Omitted] |
12. |
Stationary engines: Table 4. Limit values for NOx emissions released from new stationary engines [Omitted] |
13. |
Production and processing of metals: Table 5. Limit values for NOx emissions released from primary iron and steel a/ production [Omitted] |
14. |
Nitric acid production: Table 6. Limit values for NOx emissions released from nitric acid production excluding acid concentration units [Omitted] |
B. Canada
15. |
Limit values for controlling emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from new stationary sources in the following stationary source categories will be determined on the basis of available information on control technology and levels including limit values applied in other countries and the following documents: [List omitted] |
C. United States of America
16. |
Limit values for controlling emissions of NOx from new stationary sources in the following stationary source categories are specified in the following documents: [List omitted] |
Annex VI
Limit values for emissions of volatile organic compounds from stationary sources
1. |
Section A applies to Parties other than Canada and the United States of America, section B applies to Canada and section C applies to the United States of America. |
A. Parties other than Canada and the United States of America
2. |
This section of the present annex covers the stationary sources of non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) emissions listed in paragraphs 8 to 21 below. Installations or parts of installations for research, development and testing of new products and processes are not covered. Threshold values are given in the sector-specific tables below. They generally refer to solvent consumption or emission mass flow. Where one operator carries out several activities falling under the same subheading at the same installation on the same site, the solvent consumption or emission mass flow of such activities are added together. If no threshold value is indicated, the given limit value applies to all the installations concerned. |
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3. |
For the purpose of section A of the present annex:
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4. |
The following requirements shall be satisfied:
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5. |
The following limit values should be applied for waste gases, unless stated otherwise below:
|
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6. |
For the source categories listed in paragraphs 9 to 21 below, the following revisions are relevant:
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7. |
The limit values for VOC emissions for the source categories defined in paragraph 3 shall be as specified in paragraphs 8 to 21 below. |
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8. |
Storage and distribution of petrol: Table 1. Limit values for VOC emissions released from the storage and distribution of petrol, excluding the loading of seagoing ships [Omitted] |
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9. |
Adhesive coating: Table 2. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from adhesive coating [Omitted] |
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10. |
Wood and plastic lamination: Table 3. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from wood and plastic lamination [Omitted] |
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11. |
Coating processes (metal and plastic surfaces in passenger cars, truck cabins, trucks, buses, wooden surfaces): Table 4. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from coating processes in the car industry [Omitted] Table 5. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from coating processes in various industrial sectors [Omitted] |
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12. |
Coil coating: Table 6. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from coil coating [Omitted] |
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13. |
Dry cleaning: Table 7. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from dry cleaning [Omitted] |
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14. |
Manufacturing of coatings, varnishes, inks and adhesives: Table 8. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from manufacturing of coatings, varnishes, inks and adhesives [Omitted] |
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15. |
Printing (flexography, heat set web offset, publication rotogravure etc.): Table 9. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from printing processes [Omitted] |
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16. |
Manufacturing of pharmaceutical products: Table 10. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from manufacturing of pharmaceutical products [Omitted] |
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17. |
Conversion of natural or synthetic rubber: Table 11. Limit values for NMVOC emission released from conversion of natural or synthetic rubber [Omitted] |
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18. |
Surface cleaning: Table 12. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from surface cleaning [Omitted] |
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19. |
Vegetable oil and animal fat extraction and vegetable oil refining processes: Table 13. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from extraction of vegetable and animal fat and refining of vegetable oil [Omitted] |
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20. |
Vehicle refinishing: Table 14. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from vehicle refinishing [Omitted] |
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21. |
Impregnation of wooden surfaces: Table 15. Limit values for NMVOC emissions released from impregnation of wooden surfaces [Omitted] |
B. Canada
22. |
Limit values for controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new stationary sources in the following stationary source categories will be determined on the basis of available information on control technology and levels, including limit values applied in other countries, and the following documents: [List omitted] |
C. United States of America
23. |
Limit values for controlling emissions of VOCs from new stationary sources in the following stationary source categories are specified in the following documents: [List omitted] |
Appendix
Solvent management plan
[Omitted]
Links
- http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/status/99multi_st.htm
- Annex I - Critical Loads and Levels
- Annex II - Emission Ceilings
- Annex III - Designated Pollutant Emissions Management Area (Pema)
- Annex IV - Limit Values For Emissions Of Sulphur From Stationary Sources
- Annex V - Limit Values For Emissions Of Nitrogen Oxides From Stationary Sources
- Annex VI - Limit Values For Emissions Of Volatile Organic Compounds From Stationary Sources
- Appendix I - Solvent Management Plan
- Appendix I - Solvent Management Plan
- Appendix II - Reduction Scheme
- Annex VII - Timescales Under Article 3
- Annex VII - Timescales Under Article 3
- Annex VIII - Limit Values For Fuels And New Mobile Sources