Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Air pollution control is an important societal mandate. In the early days of air quality policy, the focus was initially (almost exclusively) on the local and regional aspects of air pollutants. However, with the observed acidification of Scandinavian waters, the decline of associated fish stocks, and forest dieback caused by acid rain, it became clear: air pollutants know no national borders.

In response to these findings, on 13 November 1979, the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP, UNECE) was adopted under the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This convention provides a framework for political negotiations to combat transboundary air pollution. It is the first and so far only international instrument in this policy field that was joined by countries from both sides of the “Iron Curtain” during the Cold War. The parties to the convention recognized for the first time the harmful effects of air pollutants on the environment and committed to protecting humans and nature by striving to reduce emissions of certain air pollutants and by establishing a Europe-wide monitoring network (EMEP).

This year, the Air Pollution Convention celebrates its 40th anniversary and currently counts 51 Parties: most from Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, but also the USA and Canada have ratified the agreement. Based on the Convention, eight protocols have been adopted so far (one on financing and seven on air pollution control). These include specific protocols to limit sulfur (1985 and 1994), nitrogen oxides (1988), volatile organic compounds (1991), heavy metals (1998 and 2012), and persistent organic pollutants (1998 and 2009).

Air Pollutants

With the latest protocol, the Parties moved away from a pollutant-specific approach and developed a multi-pollutant protocol, the so-called Gothenburg Protocol to reduce acidification, eutrophication, and ground-level ozone (1999 and 2012). It follows a problem-oriented approach and aims to reduce five major air pollutants: Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), Ammonia (NH₃), Volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), Fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Fine particulate matter PM2.5 and its precursor substances (SO₂, NOₓ, and NH₃) reduce life expectancy and increase the risk of diseases, particularly affecting the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs.

Positive Changes

The history of the Geneva Air Pollution Convention is undoubtedly a success story: the development of air pollutant emissions has largely decoupled from economic growth, emissions of key pollutants have been reduced by 40–80 percent, forests, soils, and lakes have shown measurable recovery from acidification, and 600,000 premature (statistically estimated) deaths per year are avoided in the UNECE region.

Austria has been and continues to be very active in the Air Pollution Convention: numerous experts, including those from the Environment Agency Austria, actively participate in various scientific working groups and significantly shape their work. In the Reichraminger Hintergebirge, at the Zöbelboden site, a comprehensive ecosystem monitoring program has been running for 27 years as part of the Integrated Monitoring Programme (UNECE). Also noteworthy is the Centre on Emission Inventories and Projections (CEIP), located in Vienna at the Environment Agency, which coordinates emission-related work for the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). The environmental policy agendas of the Air Pollution Convention in Austria are primarily managed by the Federal Ministry.

The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) is 40 years old but still has much ahead. The future orientation of the Convention was adopted last December by the Executive Body in the framework of the Long-term Strategy (UNECE), with a time horizon extending to 2030 and beyond. Especially in Eastern European countries, as well as Central Caucasus and Central Asian states (the so-called EECCA states), the potential for reducing most harmful air pollutant emissions is still particularly high. Another focus is on strengthened international cooperation with other conventions, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), other UN regional commissions, and international organizations.