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Advancing knowledge on use of best available techniques to reduce air pollution from industry

Air pollution

Best available techniques (BATs) have emerged as a key policy tool to prevent and control the emission of industrial pollutants, and thereby to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. Applying BATs to different sources is a key requirement for Parties to the latest three protocols to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, e.g. the Protocol on Heavy Metals, the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol)

To foster exchange of experience on the application of BATs among countries in the region, UNECE in cooperation with the Convention’s Task Force on Techno-Economic Issues (TFTEI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) organized a workshop on impacts of air pollution and implementation of Best Available Techniques (BATs) this week (Paris, 15-16 October 2024). 

Building on the results of similar workshops organized in 2016 and 2019, this workshop provided latest findings on environmental and health impacts of air pollution and thus made the case for effective clean air policies and reduction measures. In a second part, the workshop promoted the understanding and implementation of best available techniques (BAT) across the UNECE region with particular focus on countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.  

Over 50 experts from more than 15 countries of the UNECE region shared information on existing approaches to BAT implementation and examples of application in different sectors. Industry representatives gave practical examples of BAT implementation (e.g. process-integrated and end-of-pipe techniques) in existing plants. Participants also discussed obstacles for implementation of BATs.  

Discussions at the workshop also prepared current non-Parties to the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol) to discuss options on emission limit values based on BATs that will be discussed in the context of the ongoing revision of the Protocol.  

This project was funded by the European Union, France, Germany and the 16th tranche of the United Nations Development Account.  

The UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution was adopted in 1979. Over the years, it has been extended by eight protocols that identify specific measures to be taken by Parties to cut their emissions of air pollutants. The Convention has 51 Parties, covering North America and almost the entire European continent.