Key Benefits:
Original text
(State on 23 September 2010)
The Parties,
Resolved to give effect to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution 2 ,
Concern that current emissions of air pollutants cause widespread damage in the exposed regions of Europe and North America to natural resources of vital importance to the environment and the economy, such as Forests, soil and water, as well as materials (including historic monuments) and have in certain circumstances adverse effects on human health,
Conscious that the main sources of air pollution that contribute to the acidification of the environment are the burning of fossil fuels for energy production and the main technological processes in various Industrial sectors, as well as transport which causes the emission of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants,
Whereas a high priority should be given to the reduction of sulphur emissions which will have positive effects on the environment, the overall economic situation and human health,
Recalling the decision of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) at its thirty-ninth session, stressing the urgent need to redouble efforts to coordinate national strategies and policies in the UNECE region to effectively reduce sulphur emissions at the national level,
Recalling that the Executive Body of the Convention recognized at its first session that the total annual emissions of sulphurous compounds or their transboundary fluxes should be effectively reduced by the year 1993-1995, by taking the 1980 levels As a basis for calculation
Recalling that the Multilateral Conference on the Causes and Prevention of Damage to Forests and Water by Air Pollution in Europe (Munich, 24-27 June 1984) had requested the Executive Body of the Convention to adopt, in First priority, a proposal for a special agreement to reduce annual national emissions of sulphur or their transboundary fluxes by 1993 at the latest,
Noting that a number of Contracting Parties to the Convention have decided to reduce their annual national emissions of sulphur or their transboundary fluxes by at least 30 % as soon as possible and by no later than 1993, Taking the 1980 levels as the basis for the calculation of reductions,
Recognising, on the other hand, that certain Contracting Parties to the Convention, although they do not sign this Protocol at the time of its opening for signature, will nevertheless contribute significantly to the reduction of air pollution Further efforts to control sulphur emissions, as indicated in the annex to the report of the Executive Body at its third session,
Agreed to the following:
For the purposes of this Protocol:
The Parties shall reduce their national annual emissions of sulphur or their transboundary fluxes by at least 30 per cent as soon as possible and by no later than 1993, taking the 1980 levels as the basis for calculating reductions.
The Parties recognize the need for each Party to consider at the national level the need for further reductions, in excess of those mentioned in Art. 2, sulphur emissions or their transboundary fluxes if the environmental situation so requires.
Each Party shall annually inform the Executive Body of the level of its annual sulphur emissions and the basis on which it has been calculated.
EMEP shall provide the Executive Body, in a timely manner prior to its annual meetings, with calculations based on appropriate models of sulphur levels, transboundary fluxes and deposition of sulphur compounds corresponding to the year In the geographical area of EMEP. In regions outside the EMEP area, models appropriate to the specific circumstances are used.
The Parties shall establish without delay, within the framework of the Convention, national programmes, policies and strategies to reduce sulphur emissions or their transboundary fluxes by at least 30 per cent as soon as possible and at the latest for 1993, and report to the Executive Body on this subject and on the progress made towards that goal.
1. Any party may propose amendments to this Protocol.
2. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, who shall communicate them to all Parties. The Executive Body shall consider the proposed amendments at its earliest annual meeting as soon as the proposals have been communicated to the Parties by the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe at least ninety-five Days in advance.
3. The amendments to this Protocol shall be adopted by consensus of the representatives of the Parties; an amendment shall enter into force in respect of the Parties which accepted it on the ninetieth day from the date on which two thirds of the Parties Have deposited their instruments of acceptance of this amendment. An amendment shall enter into force in respect of any other Party on the ninetieth day from the date on which that Party deposits its instrument of acceptance of that amendment.
If a dispute arises between two or more Parties as to the interpretation or application of this Protocol, those Parties shall seek a solution by negotiation or by any other method of dispute settlement acceptable to the The parties to the dispute.
1. This Protocol shall be open for signature at Helsinki (Finland) from 8 July 1985 to 12 July 1985 inclusive, by the Member States of the Economic Commission for Europe and by the States with consultative status with the Commission Economic for Europe in accordance with par. 8 of Economic and Social Council resolution 36 (IV) of 28 March 1947, and by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States members of the Economic Commission for Europe with competence for Negotiating, concluding and implementing international agreements in the matters covered by this Protocol, provided that the States and organizations concerned are Parties to the Convention.
2. In matters falling within their competence, these regional economic integration organizations shall exercise their rights in their own right and carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol to their member States. In such cases, the Member States of these organisations may not exercise these rights individually.
(1) This Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatories.
(2) This Protocol shall be open from 13 July 1985 to the accession of the States and organizations referred to in s. 1 of the art. 9.
(3) A State or an organization which accedes to this Protocol after its entry into force shall apply Art. 2 no later than 1993. However, if accession to the Protocol occurs after 1990, s. 2 may be applied by the Party under consideration after 1993 but no later than 1995, and that Party shall apply Article 6 accordingly.
4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall act as depositary.
(1) This Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
2. For each State or organization referred to in par. 1 of the art. 9 which ratifies, accepts or approves this Protocol, or accedes thereto after the deposit of the sixteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day from the date of the Deposit by that Party of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
At any time after five years from the date on which this Protocol enters into force in respect of a Party, that Party may denounce the Protocol by a written notification addressed to the depositary. The denunciation shall take effect on the ninetieth day from the date of its receipt by the depositary.
The original of this Protocol, of which the English, French and Russian texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
In witness whereof, The undersigned, duly authorized, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Helsinki, on the eighth day of the month of July, nine hundred and ninety-five.
(Suivent signatures)
States Parties |
Ratification Accession (A) Declaration of succession (S) |
Entry into force |
||
Albania |
June 16 |
2009 A |
September 14 |
2009 |
Germany |
3 March |
1987 |
2 September |
1987 |
Austria |
4 June |
1987 |
2 September |
1987 |
Belarus |
10 September |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Belgium |
9 June |
1989 |
7 September |
1989 |
Bulgaria |
26 September |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Canada |
4 December |
1985 |
2 September |
1987 |
Denmark |
29 April |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Estonia |
7 March |
2000 A |
5 June |
2000 |
Finland |
24 June |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
France |
13 March |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Hungary |
11 September |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Italy |
5 February |
1990 |
6 May |
1990 |
Liechtenstein |
13 February |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Lithuania |
15 March |
2007 A |
13 June |
2007 |
Luxembourg |
August 24 |
1987 |
22 November |
1987 |
Macedonia |
10 March |
2010 A |
8 June |
2010 |
Norway |
4 November |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Netherlands A |
April 30 |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Czech Republic |
September 30 |
1993 S |
1 Er January |
1993 |
Russia |
10 September |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Slovakia |
28 May |
1993 S |
1 Er January |
1993 |
Sweden |
March 31 |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
Switzerland |
21 September |
1987 |
20 December |
1987 |
Ukraine |
2 October |
1986 |
2 September |
1987 |
A For the Kingdom in Europe.
1 RO 1988 284
2 RS 0.814.32
3 RO 1988 290, 2005 1677 and 2010 4475. A version of the updated scope of application is published on the DFAE website (http://www.dfae.admin.ch/traites).