Press Releases 1998

[Index]

NEW SULPHUR PROTOCOL ENTERS INTO FORCE

11 August 1998

Sulphur has long been known to wreak havoc with our environment. During combustion, the sulphur from the fuels reacts with oxygen and forms sulphur dioxide, which transforms into sulphuric acid in the atmosphere. These acidic compounds come down as acid rain or dry deposition and cause acidification of lakes, which can then no longer support fish life. They damage forests and reduce the lifespan of building materials. They diminish visibility and have an impact on our health. Large combustion plants, such as coal-fired power stations and other industrial boilers, are the main culprits. Each year all emitters together spew some 80 million tonnes of sulphur into the air worldwide.

A new Protocol to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution came into force on 5 August 1998. The Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions is the sixth in a series of specific international agreements negotiated within the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) to combat air pollution. The Protocol was initially signed by 28 countries, and has so far been ratified by 18 of them (Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the European Community) -- more than the 16 required for it to come into effect.

The Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions adopts a novel approach in that it sets individual emission ceilings and reduction targets for each Party. These ceilings and targets are based on the environment's vulnerability, which differs from country to country. The aim is to find the most cost-effective solutions for reducing the >exceedances' (when the actual acidic deposition exceeds the capacity of the environment to absorb it) throughout the UN/ECE region. As a result, a handful of Parties need to make only modest reductions in their emissions (e.g. Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain), whilst many have to cut theirs by 70 to 80 per cent by the year 2000 compared to their 1980 levels (e.g. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden).

To meet their targets, the Parties will take measures to increase energy efficiency and promote the use of renewable energy. They will also reduce the sulphur content of some fuels and use best available technology at stationary sources. Strict emissions limit values will apply to large stationary combustion plants.

Once implemented, the Protocol will enable acidified lakes to recover. The stress on our forests will ease. There will be less air pollution causing corrosive damage to materials, buildings and monuments, and some threats to human health will subside.

Even when the Protocol is fully implemented, however, there will still be areas in Europe where the emissions will exceed the environment's ability to cope.

The Executive Body for the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution is negotiating an additional multi-pollutant protocol on acidification, eutrophication and photo-chemical pollution, focusing on emissions of NO_x, ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It will be based on the same effect-oriented approach as the Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions. It is expected that these negotiations will be rounded off next year and that the new protocol will lead to further significant improvements in our environment.

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