United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – Long-range transboundary air pollution (TTAP) The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution takes concerted action to combat air pollution in the regions of Europe and North America covered by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Established in 1979, the Convention is a landmark international convention that coordinates research, monitoring and emission reduction strategies for regional air pollution and its effects. It was the first international agreement to recognize both the environmental and health problems caused by the flow of air pollution across political borders and the need for regional solutions. The LRTAP has had a number of successes in recent years. In 2012, the Parties adopted amendments to the Gothenburg Protocol and the Protocol on Heavy Metals. Amendments to the Gothenburg Protocol updated targets for reducing emissions of harmful air pollutants and added measures to control particulate matter, including soot. The amended Gothenburg Protocol is the first international agreement on soot. The amendments to both protocols have also led to greater flexibility in the implementation of commitments without compromising efficiency. The United States ratified the Amended Protocol on Heavy Metals in 2015 and the amended Gothenburg Protocol in 2017. The adoption of international environmental agreements by country has accelerated over time. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships – Annex I/II (MARPOL Annex I/II)Subject: Oil, liquid noxious substances in bulkRegistered: 1978; Entry into force for the United States: 1983 (Annex I), 1987 (Annex II) MARPOL Annex I regulates the prevention of oil pollution through operational measures and unintentional releases. Annex II sets out the release criteria and measures to limit pollution by toxic liquid substances transported in bulk.

To be considered international, the treaty must be intergovernmental; bilateral agreements exist between two Governments and multilateral agreements between more than two. Description: This is the second legally binding agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Arctic Council. The objective is to strengthen cooperation, coordination and mutual assistance between the Parties in preparing for and responding to oil pollution in the Arctic. It took 16 years for the World Heritage Convention and the CITIES Conventions, first ratified in the 1970s, to be ratified by more than 100 countries. However, the Kyoto Protocol was first ratified in 1998 and took only five years to reach the same point, and the Paris Agreement (2016) received 121 ratifications in the first year. Description: The Convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Access the data at the bottom of this page on increasing participation in international environmental agreements. Signed in 1979 by 32 European countries, the United States and Canada, the agreement was originally intended to combat acid rain.

Over time, it has become a model of effective international environmental cooperation, bringing together scientists and policymakers to solve complex cross-border problems. To date, more than 51 countries have acceded to the Convention and a total of eight international protocols or agreements have been added to address a range of environmental and health problems caused by industrialization, agricultural modernization and fossil fuel consumption, including ground-level ozone, soot, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and particulate matter. These agreements are based on a scientific assessment that identifies the measures needed to improve human health and ecosystems. The three main objectives of the 7th EU Environment Action Programme (2014-2020) have a key international dimension: to protect, preserve and strengthen the Union`s natural capital, to transform the Union into a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy, and to protect EU citizens from environmental pressures and risks to health and well-being. The Convention`s intergovernmental policy cooperation and coordination has simulated broader measures to combat air pollution, including the technical and political ratification of Eastern European countries. Convention representatives have also worked with other international and regional agreements and organizations, such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, regional marine conventions such as HELCOM and OSPAR, and the Climate and Air Quality Coalition on the intersectionality of air pollution and other challenges. environmental such as climate change. and biodiversity loss. Description: In 1973, the International Maritime Organization adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, now commonly known as MARPOL, which was amended by the 1978 and 1997 Protocols and kept up to date with the relevant amendments. The MARPOL Convention deals with pollution from ships by oil; by noxious liquid substances transported in bulk; pollutants transported by sea in packaged form; wastewater; garbage; and the prevention of air pollution from ships. MARPOL has contributed significantly to a significant reduction in pollution from international shipping, accounting for 99% of the world`s commercial tonnage.

Learn more about the International Maritime Organization and the MARPOL Convention. International environmental agreements are a category of treaties whose political and economic impacts go beyond their environmental impact, but many people are unaware of their specificities. The search term „What is the Paris Agreement?” reached its peak of popularity the day after the United States announced its withdrawal from the treaty. Efforts to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides have reduced lead pollution. Lead pollution in UNECE countries was reduced by almost 80% between 1990 and 2012. The highest reduction rates occurred at the beginning of the period, reaching 15-18% per year in a number of countries (e.B Finland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Norway, etc.). This success is particularly relevant for cities. With industrialization and population growth, air pollution is worsening in many developing cities, where pollution can be four to 14 times higher than the World Health Organization`s health guidelines on air pollution.

Since non-urban sources could also contribute significantly to urban air pollution, many cities will not be able to reduce air pollution through local action alone. The Convention provides scientific tools, models, data, monitoring methods, guidance and best practices to enable cities to address air pollution holistically at the local level. The graph below compares the Group of Seven (G7) and the BRICS countries using measures such as GDP, participation in environmental agreements, CO2 emissions and the use of renewable energy. Representatives of countries can accept and sign the terms of an international agreement on behalf of their government, making their country a signatory. .