CONVENTION ON LONGRANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION First meeting
CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION First meeting of the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Brussels, 1 – 3 June 2005 Keith Bull UNECE secretariat UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
THE SECRETARIAT The Executive Secretary of UNECE, under article 11 of the Convention, carries out the functions of the secretariat for the Convention’s Executive Body. UNECE staff perform the day-to-day functions to support the Convention UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION The Convention and its Protocols • The Convention was adopted in 1979 • It is a framework on which has been built eight Protocols – all now in force (since 17 May 2005) • The Protocols have aimed to increase ambition levels in a stepwise manner
INFORMATION ON THE CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDAR AIR POLLUTION • The website – www. unece. org/env/lrtap • The brochure – prepared for the 25 th anniversary • The Handbook – treaty texts, Executive Body decisions, other information • The history book – “Clearing the Air” prepared for the anniversary • The newsletter – also “Clearing the Air” started in 2005 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Executive Body Working Group on Effects ICP Forests Task Force Implementation Committee EMEP Steering Body Working Group on Strategies and Review Programme Coordinating Centre Task Force on Emission Inventories and Projections ICP Integrated Monitoring Task Force Programme Centre Task Force on Measurement and Modelling Task Force on Heavy Metals ICP Modelling and Mapping Task Force Coordination Center for Effects Chemical Coordinating Centre Network of Experts on Benefits and Economic Instruments ICP Materials Task Force Main Research Centre ICP Vegetation Task Force Programme Centre ICP Waters Task Force Programme Centre Task Force Health Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-West Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East Task Force on Integrated Assessment Modelling Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Expert Group on Ammonia Abatement Expert Group on Techno-economic Issues Task Force on POPs Expert Group on Particulate Matter
CONVENTION THE CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION 49 49 Parties in Parties Europe, in Europe, North America and Central and Asia Central Asia Kara Sea Barents Sea Artic Ocean Canada Iceland Pacific Ocean of America Finland North Sea Atlantic Ocean Norway Sweden Russian Federation Estonia Latvia Lithuania Denmark Ireland United Kingdom Belarus Poland Netherlands Belgium Germany Luxembourg France Atlantic Ocean Switzerland Monaco Ukraine Slovakia Austria Hungary Moldova Liechtenstein Slovenia Romania Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina Yugoslavia Black Sea Bulgaria F. Y. R. of Italy Albania Macedonia Kazakhstan Czech Rep. Spain Greece Portugal Turkey Malta Mediterranean Sea Cyprus Aral Sea Georgia Caspian Sea Armenia Azerbaijan Kyrgyzstan
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TASK FORCE ON HEMISPHERIC TRANSPORT HISTORY • Earlier workshops under the Convention (Pallisades, Bad Breisig) • Awareness that “background” concentrations of ozone have been increasing • Gothenburg workshop (2004) discussed future priorities for the Convention – identified hemispheric transport for further study • Executive Body for the Convention decided, December 2004 (decision 2004/3), to establish the Task Force UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
A NEW TYPE OF TASK FORCE………. • Covering pollutant transport within and outside the UNECE region • Additional invited participants from outside the UNECE region ……. BUT……. • Remember this is a scientific Task Force (reports to the EMEP Steering Body) and operates like other Task Forces under the Convention • It has advantages over workshops – a continuing workplan and membership UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
TF ON HEMISPHERIC TRANSPORT OF AIR POLLUTION The Task Force was established under the leadership of the United States and the European Community The lead Parties appoint Chairs of the Task Force and are principally responsible for coordinating its work, organizing meetings, communicating with experts and for activities associated with the workplan (adopted by the Executive Body) UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
TF ON HEMISPHERIC TRANSPORT OF AIR POLLUTION Experts participating are: • Nominated by Parties to the Convention; • Representatives of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs); • Representatives of other bodies and centres under the Convention; • Invited by the Co-Chairs; • Nominated by non-Parties. UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
TF ON HEMISPHERIC TRANSPORT OF AIR POLLUTION The Task Force is not a “decision-making” body it is a group of experts. It reports its conclusions and recommendations to the EMEP Steering Body, which is one of the two main scientific bodies under the Convention It reports through its Co-Chairs who, together with the secretariat, are responsible for preparing and presenting the report (NB Minority views can be reported). UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
TF ON HEMISPHERIC TRANSPORT OF AIR POLLUTION As well as reporting conclusions and recommendations the Task Force should submit a draft workplan to the EMEP Steering Body. The Steering Body submits plan (including that of the Task Force) to the Executive Body for approval. The Executive Body is the decision-making body for the Convention. It agrees the Convention’s workplan, budget, etc annually, as well as adopting decisions and, on occasions, protocols UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
THE CO-CHAIRS REPORT TO THE EMEP STEERING BODY • A short report (2000 -3000 words) consistent with the Secretary-General’s 2004 guidelines • Avoiding summaries (presentations can be placed on web site) lengthy discussions and repetition • Should be action orientated – focus on conclusions (new developments/findings) and recommendations and decisions
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