Objective: To control and reduce emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Summary of provisions: Article 3 specifies the basic obligations which Contracting Parties undertake. Each Party agrees to reduce and maintain the reduction of its annual emissions according to the ceilings and timescales of Annex II and, at a minimum, to control its annual emissions of pollutants (art 3.1). For stationary sources, each Party are to apply the limit values for emissions specified in Annex IV (Sulphur), Annex V (Nitrogen oxides), Annex VI (VOC) no later than the timescale specified in Annex VII for new sources and, when technically and economically feasible, for existing sources (art 3.2 and art 3.3). For new and existing boilers and process heaters, Parties must evaluate limit values no later than two years after the entry into force of the Protocol (art 3.4). Each Party should apply best available techniques to mobile and stationary sources (art 3.6). For VOCs not covered by the present Protocol, Parties agree to take appropriate measures to reduce emissions and to later adopt an annex specifying products controlled, limit values and timescales for the application of limit values (art 3.7). For ammonia, Parties are to apply at a minimum control measures specified in Annex IX and where they consider it appropriate, best available techniques (art 3.8). Parties further undertake to facilitate the exchange of information and technologies and cooperation (art 4) as well as to inform the general public inter alia about emissions, concentrations, health and environmental impacts of pollutants, strategies applied and means individuals and industries may take to reduce emissions (art 5). Finally, Parties undertake to encourage research, development, monitoring and cooperation related inter alia, to calculation methods, assessment of impacts, monitoring techniques as well as the long-term fate and impact of pollutants (art 8).
Institutional mechanisms: Article 7 outlines the Parties reporting obligations under this Protocol. An Implementation Committee reviews compliance by each Party with its obligations (art 9), and Parties review reports and other data at the sessions of the Executive Body (art 10). Article 11 determines a procedure for the settlement of disputes.
(Source: IUCN ELC, 08.2005)