UN reports good progress on air pollution

Europe is well on track to meet air pollution reduction targets set for 2010 under the Gothenburg protocol, a meeting of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (Unece) long-range transboundary air pollution convention (CLRTAP) was told last week.  But the continent's overall good progress to the targets masks significant variation in individual countries' performances.

Targets for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia were set for 34 European countries by the protocol in 1999 (EED 02/09/99 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/5941).  The protocol entered force last year (EED 04/03/05 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/18343).  For EU countries the targets are in most cases equal to or weaker than similar goals set under the national emission ceilings directive five years ago (EED 02/10/01 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/10728).

Last week Unece presented emissions data for 2004.  Total SO2 emissions were estimated at less than 15m tonnes - a 65 per cent decrease from the 1990 baseline. This means Europe has reached its overall target under protocol, though around half of countries have yet to meet their individual targets.

European NOx emissions also fell to less than 18m tonnes. Although this is 30 per cent below 1990 levels, a further 15 per cent cut from 2004 levels is needed to reach the Gothenburg target.  More than half of the protocol's signatories have yet to meet their individual targets.

VOC emissions have fallen by 38 per cent, close to the 40 per cent overall target under the protocol.  Two-thirds of signatories have met targets to cut ammonia levels, and as a whole Europe has cut emissions by 25 per cent, almost meeting the protocol target.

New, more ambitious targets for all four pollutants could be set further down the line. The convention secretariat is carrying out a first review of the Gothenburg protocol to "determine whether its provisions are effective, and whether further action is necessary and possible".  Recommendations are due end-2007.

Follow-up: Unece http://www.unece.org/, tel: +41 22 917 2370, plus press release

http://www.unece.org/press/pr2006/06env_p10e.htm.

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