LRTAP Lecture

February 2, 2009 Session

The International Flow of Air Pollutants: Can They be Stopped?

The History of Air Pollution

                 Great London Smog

The nature of acid "rain"

sulfur dioxide

nitrous oxides

volatile organic compounds  (VOCs)

Areas with transboundary air pollution problems

• Europe   (map)    

              Oden's "insidious chemical warfare  (1960s)        

•          North America    (map)   

•         China       (map)

"Pollution from China Casts a Global Shadow,"  New York Times, June 11, 2006

•         Asia Generally     

                      "Smoke, Soot Dims China, India Climate Prospects,"  Reuters, Feb 20, 2008 

•         Arctic haze   (map)

Evolution of the LRTAP Regime    

• Stockholm Conference (1972)

• Helsinki Accord (1975)

• Brezhnev Initiative

• Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution  (LRTAP) adopted (1979)

(ratifications of the the LRTAP Treaty and Protocols--go to bottom)

Digression on Treaties  

       Treaty  (also known as conventions) is a formal negotiated agreements between nations

       Protocol - a treaty that supplements on an earlier treaty known as a framework convention

       Steps in the adoption of a treaty ---

             -negotiation

             -signature

             -ratification

             -entry into force

             -implementation

(For further information on treaties, see United Nations, Treaty Reference Guide)

LRTAP Protocols

• Sulfur Protocol (1985)

  • 30% reduction in sulfur emissions by 1993 (from 1980 levels)

• Nitrogen Protocol (1988)

  • Nitrogen oxide emissions returned to 1987 levels by 1994

• VOC Protocol (1991)

  • 30% reduction by 1999

•  

• Revised Sulfur Protocol (1994)

  • critical load (enter site and click on "acid rain" and then on "critical load") - amount of acid deposition a specific region can absorb without serious environmental damage (map of critical loads in Europe)

  • Excessive Deposition- amount of acid deposition in a region beyond its critical load

  • Selected Specific Commitments:

    • Germany (-83%)

    • Austria (-80%)

    • France (-74%)

    • United Kingdom (-50%)

    • Russia (-38%)

    • Greece (+49%)

Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication, and Ground Level Ozone (1999)              

Reductions achieved thus far among the European countries

                   Sulfur dioxide -  (down 72 % since 1980)

                   Nitrogen Oxides  (down 31% since 1980)

                   Volatile organic compounds (down 41% since 1980)

Global Emmision Trends