1 INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AIR PROTECTIONAIR PROTECTION PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE AIR POLLUTION Acid rains and other pollution Ozone layer depletion Global climate change CONVENTION ON LONG - RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION (Geneva 1979) LRTAP Aim: - to reduce air pollution - cooperation in research, development and monitoring - to develop strategies to reduce emissions of pollutants 2 CONVENTION ON LONG - RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION (Geneva 1979) LRTAP Protocol 1984 (EMEP) on the Long Term Financing of the Co-operative Programmes for Monitoring and Evaluating the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (Geneva) CONVENTION ON LONG - RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION (Geneva 1979) LRTAP Protocol 1985 on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at Least 30 Per Cent (Helsinki) •Acid deposition •1980 - baseline •1993 - deadline CONVENTION ON LONGCONVENTION ON LONG -- RANGE TRANSBOUNDARYRANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTIONAIR POLLUTION ((GenevaGeneva 1979) LRTAP1979) LRTAP Protocol 1994 on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions (Oslo) 1980 – baseline 2010 – deadline Obligation to reduce emissions so that their influence on the nature and ecosystems would not exceed „critical loads“ (72% reductions for the CR) Emission limitations for new sources of pollution 3 CONVENTION ON LONGCONVENTION ON LONG -- RANGERANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTIONTRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION ((GenevaGeneva 1979) LRTAP1979) LRTAP Protocol 1988 Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes (Sofia) 1987 – baseline 1994 – deadline Acid deposition and tropospheric ozone CONVENTION ON LONGCONVENTION ON LONG -- RANGE TRANSBOUNDARYRANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTIONAIR POLLUTION ((GenevaGeneva 1979) LRTAP1979) LRTAP Protocol 1991 on the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds and their Transboundary Fluxes (Geneva) 30% reductions of VOC emissions or introduction of new technologies Baseline 1984-1990 Deadline 1999 CONVENTION ON LONGCONVENTION ON LONG -- RANGE TRANSBOUNDARYRANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTIONAIR POLLUTION ((GenevaGeneva 1979) LRTAP1979) LRTAP Protocol 1998 on Heavy Metals (Aarhus) To reduce emissions of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury Baseline 1985 – 1995 Reductions are set by states individually according their conditions 2 sets of limitations a) emission limits for heavy metals b) emission limits for solid particles Reductions of lead content in leaded gasoline; its elimination till 1.1.2005 Reductions of mercury content in batteries 4 CONVENTION ON LONG - RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION (Geneva 1979) LRTAP Protocol 1998 on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Aarhus) POPs – aldrin, chlordan, DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor, mirex, … To reduce or eliminate emissions and leakages of POPs To halt the production and use of substances at the list I. To manage environmentally sound disposal of POP products and wastes Dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibezofurans emission limits for large stationary sources (Appendix IV and V) CONVENTION ON LONGCONVENTION ON LONG -- RANGE TRANSBOUNDARYRANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTIONAIR POLLUTION ((GenevaGeneva 1979) LRTAP1979) LRTAP Protocol 1999 to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone (Gothenburg) To reduce anthropogenic emissions of sulphur, NOx, Ammoniac, VOCs National ceillings to be met in 2010 ConventionConvention forfor thethe ProtectionProtection ofof thethe OzoneOzone LayerLayer ((ViennaVienna 1985)1985) •Framework convention •Cooperation in research and information exchange 5 ConventionConvention forfor thethe ProtectionProtection ofof thethe OzoneOzone LayerLayer ((ViennaVienna 1985)1985) Protocol 1987 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) Aim: to reduce CFCs production and use Tools: division of substances into groups according to their ozone-depletion potential phase-out of CFCs production and use regulation of trade with non-parties multilateral fund (to finance projects in developing countries data reporting (the amount of production and consumption) ConventionConvention forfor thethe ProtectionProtection ofof thethe OzoneOzone LayerLayer ((ViennaVienna 1985)1985) Adjustments and Amendments to the 1987 Montreal Protocol : London 1990 Copenhagen 1992, Montreal 1997, Beijing 1999 The extension of CFCs list Acceleration of reductions Licence system to control import and export of CFCs The end of exemptions for developing countries (1997) ConventionConvention onon ClimateClimate ChangeChange ((RioRio dede JaneiroJaneiro 1992)1992) Aim: the stabilization of greenhouse gasses concentrations in the atmosphere at the level that would prevent climate change Tools: national inventories of greenhouse gasses sources and sinks national action programs Obligations: development of ecosystems as GG sinks support technologies for emission reduction monitoring, research, cooperation, info-exchange 6 ConventionConvention onon ClimateClimate ChangeChange ((RioRio dede JaneiroJaneiro 1992)1992) Protocol 1997 (Kyoto) Quantitative aims for GG emission reduction including their sinks Commitment of Annex I parties to quantified reduction targets and a timetable for their achievement Different obligations (CR – 8% reductions of GG concentrations during 2008 - 2012 comparing to the 1990) Six gasses are covered by the emission reductions commitments (CO2, NOx, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) ConventionConvention onon ClimateClimate ChangeChange ((RioRio dede JaneiroJaneiro 1992)1992) Protocol 1998 Buenos Aires Protocol 2001 Bonn 2 ways to fulfill obligations: a) joint implementation of emission reductions commitments b) emissions trading – any part may transfer to or acquire from any other party of Annex I emission reduction credits resulting from the projects CASE LAW Trail Smelter case – 1935 …. Under the principles of international law …. no state has the right to use or permit the use of its territory in such a manner as to cause injury by fumes in or to the territory of another or the properties or persons therein, when the case is of serious consequence and the injury is established by clear and convincing evidence. Establishment of the concept of state liability for environmental harm