U.S. RATIFIES KEY TREATY TO REDUCE SMOG AND ACID RAIN

On November 22nd, 2004 the U.S. took a significant step in building a cleaner and less polluted environment by signing a treaty to reduce acid rain and smog. On the occasion of the 25-year anniversary of the Convention on Transboundary Air Pollution (through the UN Economic Commission for Europe), the U.S. ratified the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone. The protocol sets ceilings for emissions of four pollutants to be achieved by 2010: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia (NH3). These four pollutants have been attributed to ozone depletion, acidification, and excessive algae production—problems of seemingly minor proportions but with drastic after effects—including the deterioration of plant and human life.

With the U.S.’s ratification, the Protocol is two signatures away from coming into effect. The U.S. and the European Union are also pledging to start a task force to study the hemispheric movement of air pollution. The Convention hopes to extend its members to include Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

+ GO TO UNECE WEBPAGE ON THE TREATY