The Parties
Determined to implement the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution,
Concerned that the present emissions of air pollutants are causing widespread damage,
in exposed parts of Europe and North America, to natural resources of vital environmental
and economic importance, such as forests, soils and waters, and to materials (including
historical monuments) and, under certain circumstances, have harmful effects on human
health,
Aware of the fact that the predominant sources of air pollution contributing to the
acidification of the environment are the combustion of fossil fuels for energy production,
and the main technological processes in various industrial sectors, as well as transport,
which lead to emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants,
Considering that high priority should be given to reducing sulphur emissions, which
will have positive results environmentally, on the over-all economic situation and
on human health,
Recalling the decision of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
at its thirty-ninth session, which stresses the urgency of intensifying efforts to
arrive at co-ordinated national strategies and policies in the ECE region to reduce
sulphur emissions effectively at national levels,
Recalling the recognition by the Executive Body for the Convention at its first session of the need to decrease effectively the total annual emissions
of sulphur compounds or their transboundary fluxes by 1993-1995, using 1980 levels
as the basis for calculations of reductions,
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
that the Executive Body for the Convention, as a matter of highest priority, adopt a proposal for a specific agreement on the
reduction of annual national sulphur emissions or their transboundary fluxes by 1993
at the latest,
Noting that a number of Contracting Parties to the Convention have decided to implement reductions of their national annual sulphur emissions or
their transboundary fluxes by at least 30 per cent as soon as possible and at the
latest by 1993, using 1980 levels as the basis for calculation of reductions,
Recognizing, on the other hand, that some Contracting Parties to the Convention, while not signing the present Protocol at the time of its opening for signature,
will nevertheless contribute significantly to the reduction of transboundary air pollution,
or will continue to make efforts to control sulphur emissions, as stated in the document
annexed to the report of the Executive Body at its third session,
Have agreed as follows:
