Aanhef

The Parties,

Determined to implement the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution,

Aware that nitrogen oxides, sulphur, volatile organic compounds, reduced nitrogen compounds and particulate matter have been associated with adverse effects on human health and the environment,

Concerned that critical loads of acidification, critical loads of nutrient nitrogen and critical levels of ozone and particulate matter for human health and vegetation are still exceeded in many areas of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's region,

Concerned also that emitted nitrogen oxides, sulphur, volatile organic compounds, ammonia and directly emitted particulate matter, as well as secondarily formed pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter and the reaction products of ammonia, are transported in the atmosphere over long distances and may have adverse transboundary effects,

Recognizing the assessments of scientific knowledge by international organizations, such as the United Nations Environment Programme, and by the Arctic Council, about the human health and climate co-benefits of reducing black carbon and ground-level ozone, particularly in the Arctic and in the Alpine regions,

Recognizing that emissions from Parties within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's region contribute to air pollution on the hemispheric and global scales, and recognizing the potential for transport between continents and the need for further study with regard to that potential,

Recognizing also that Canada and the United States of America are bilaterally addressing cross-border air pollution under the Canada – United States Air Quality Agreement, which includes commitments by both countries to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, and that the two countries are considering the inclusion of commitments to reduce emissions of particulate matter,

Recognizing furthermore that Canada is committed to achieving reductions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter to meet the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate matter and the national objective to reduce acidification, and that the United States is committed to the implementation of programmes to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter necessary to meet national ambient air quality standards for ozone and particulate matter, to make continued progress in reducing acidification and eutrophication effects and to improve visibility in national parks and urban areas alike,

Resolved to apply a multi-effect, multi-pollutant approach to preventing or minimizing the exceedances of critical loads and levels,

Taking into account the scientific knowledge about the hemispheric transport of air pollution, the influence of the nitrogen cycle and the potential synergies with and trade-offs between air pollution and climate change,

Aware that emissions from shipping and aviation contribute significantly to adverse effects on human health and the environment and are important issues under consideration by the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization,

Resolved to take measures to anticipate, prevent or minimize emissions of these substances, taking into account the application of the precautionary approach as set forth in principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,

Reaffirming that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,

Conscious of the need for a cost-effective regional approach to combating air pollution that takes account of the variations in effects and abatement costs between countries,

Noting the important contribution of the private and non-governmental sectors to knowledge of the effects associated with these substances and available abatement techniques, and their role in assisting in the reduction of emissions to the atmosphere,

Bearing in mind that measures taken to reduce emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international competition and trade,

Taking into consideration best available scientific and technical knowledge and data on emissions, atmospheric processes and effects on human health and the environment of these substances, as well as on abatement costs, and acknowledging the need to improve this knowledge and to continue scientific and technical cooperation to further understanding of these issues,

Noting that under the Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes, adopted at Sofia on 31 October 1988, and the Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes, adopted at Geneva on 18 November 1991, there is already provision to control emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, and that the technical annexes to both those Protocols already contain technical guidance for reducing these emissions,

Noting also that under the Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions, adopted at Oslo on 14 June 1994, there is already provision to reduce sulphur emissions in order to contribute to the abatement of acid deposition by diminishing the exceedances of critical sulphur depositions, which have been derived from critical loads of acidity according to the contribution of oxidized sulphur compounds to the total acid deposition in 1990,

Noting furthermore that this Protocol is the first agreement under the Convention to deal specifically with reduced nitrogen compounds and particulate matter, including black carbon,

Noting that measures taken to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides and reduced nitrogen compounds should involve consideration of the full biogeochemical nitrogen cycle and, so far as possible, not increase emissions of reactive nitrogen, including nitrous oxide and nitrate levels in ecosystems, which could aggravate other nitrogen-related problems,

Aware that methane and carbon monoxide emitted by human activities contribute, in the presence of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, to the formation of ground-level ozone, and

Aware also of the commitments that Parties have assumed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Have agreed as follows: