Convention

on long-range transboundary air pollution

THE PARTIES TO THE PRESENT CONVENTION,

DETERMINED to promote relations and cooperation in the field of environmental protection,

AWARE of the significance of the activities of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in strengthening such relations and cooperation, particularly in the field of air pollution including long-range transport of air pollutants,

RECOGNIZING the contribution of the Economic Commission for Europe to the multilateral implementation of the pertinent provisions of the Final Act of the Conference on security and cooperation in Europe,

COGNIZANT of the references in the chapter on environment of the Final Act of the Conference on security and cooperation in Europe calling for cooperation to control air pollution and its effects, including long-range transport of air pollutants, and to the development through international cooperation of an extensive programme for the monitoring and evaluation of long-range transport of air pollutants, starting with sulphur dioxide and with possible extension to other pollutants,

CONSIDERING the pertinent provisions of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the human environment, and in particular principle 21, which expresses the common conviction 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 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,

RECOGNIZING the existence of possible adverse effects, in the short and long term, of air pollution including transboundary air pollution,

CONCERNED that a rise in the level of emissions of air pollutants within the region as forecast may increase such adverse effects,

RECOGNIZING the need to study the implications of the long-range transport of air pollutants and the need to seek solutions for the problems identified,

AFFIRMING their willingness to reinforce active international cooperation to develop appropriate national policies and by means of exchange of information, consultation, research and monitoring, to coordinate national action for combating air pollution including long-range transboundary air pollution,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Definitions

Article 1

For the purposes of the present Convention:

a) "air pollution" means the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the air resulting in deleterious effects of such a nature as to endanger human health, harm living resources and ecosystems and material property and impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment, and "air pollutants" shall be construed accordingly;

b) "long-range transboundary air pollution" means air pollution whose physical origin is situated wholly or in part within the area under the national jurisdiction of one State and which has adverse effects in the area under the jurisdiction of another State at such a distance that it is not generally possible to distinguish the contribution of individual emission sources or groups of sources.

Fundamental principles

Article 2

The Contracting Parties, taking due account of the facts and problems involved, are determined to protect man and his environment against air pollution and shall endeavour to limit and, as far as possible, gradually reduce and prevent air pollution including long-range transboundary air pollution.

Article 3

The Contracting Parties, within the framework of the present Convention, shall, by means of exchanges of information, consultation, research and monitoring, develop without undue delay policies and strategies which shall serve as a means of combating the discharge of air pollutants, taking into account efforts already made at national and international level.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties shall exchange information on and review their policies, scientific activities and technical measures aimed at combating, as far as possible, the discharge of air pollutants which may have adverse effects, thereby contributing to the reduction of air pollution including long-range transboundary air pollution.

Article 5

Consultations shall be held, upon request, at an early stage between, on the one hand, Contracting Parties which are actually affected by or exposed to a significant risk of long-range transboundary air pollution and, on the other hand, Contracting Parties within which and subject to whose jurisdiction a significant contribution to long-range transboundary air pollution originates, or could originate, in connexion with activities carried on or contemplated therein.

Air-quality management

Article 6

Taking into account Articles 2 to 5, the on-going research, exchange of information and monitoring and the results thereof, the cost and effectiveness of local and other remedies and in order to combat air pollution, in particular that originating from new or rebuilt installations, each Contracting Party undertakes to develop the best policies and strategies including air-quality management systems and, as part of them, control measures compatible with balanced development, in particular by using the best available technology which is economically feasible and low- and non-waste technology.

Research and development

Article 7

The Contracting Parties, as appropriate to their needs, shall initiate and cooperate in the conduct of research into and/or development of:

a) existing and proposed technologies for reducing emissions of sulphur compounds and other major air pollutants, including technical and economic feasibility, and environmental consequences;

b) instrumentation and other techniques for monitoring and measuring emission rates and ambient concentrations of air pollutants;

c) improved models for a better understanding of the transmission of long-range transboundary air pollutants;

d) the effects of sulphur compounds and other major air pollutants on human health and the environment, including agriculture, forestry, materials, aquatic and other natural ecosystems and visibility, with a view to establishing a scientific basis for dose/effect relationships designed to protect the environment;

e) the economic, social and environmental assessment of alternative measures for attaining environmental objectives, including the reduction of long-range transboundary air pollution;

f) education and training programmes related to the environmental aspects of pollution by sulphur compounds and other major air pollutants.

Exchange of information

Article 8

The Contracting Parties, within the framework of the Executive Body referred to in Article 10 and bilaterally, shall, in their common interests, exchange available information on:

a) data on emissions at periods of time to be agreed upon, of agreed air pollutants, starting with sulphur dioxide, coming from grid-units of agreed size, or on the fluxes of agreed air pollutants, starting with sulphur dioxide, across national borders, at distances and at periods of time to be agreed upon;

b) major changes in national policies and in general industrial development, and their potential impact, which would be likely to cause significant changes in long-range transboundary air pollution;

c) control technologies for reducing air pollution relevant to long-range transboundary air pollution;

d) the projected cost of the emission control of sulphur compounds and other major air pollutants on a national scale;

e) meteorological and physico-chemical data relating to the processes during transmission;

f) physico-chemical and biological data relating to the effects of long-range transboundary air pollution and the extent of the damage [1] which these data indicate can be attributed to long-range transboundary air pollution;

g) national, sub-regional and regional policies and strategies for the control of sulphur compounds and other major air pollutants.

Implementation and further development of the cooperative programme for the monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe

Article 9

The Contracting Parties stress the need for the implementation of the existing "cooperative programme for the monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe" (hereinafter referred to as EMEP) and, with regard to the further development of this programme, agree to emphasize:

a) the desirability of Contracting Parties joining in and fully implementing EMEP which, as a first step, is based on the monitoring of sulphur dioxide and related substances;

b) the need to use comparable or standardized procedures for monitoring whenever possible;

c) the desirability of basing the monitoring programme on the framework of both national and international programmes. The establishment of monitoring stations and the collection of data shall be carried out under the national jurisdiction of the country in which the monitoring stations are located;

d) the desirability of establishing a framework for a cooperative environmental monitoring programme, based on and taking into account present and future national, sub-regional, regional and other international programmes;

e) the need to exchange data on emissions at periods of time to be agreed upon, of agreed air pollutants, starting with sulphur dioxide, coming from grid-units of agreed size; or on the fluxes of agreed air pollutants, starting with sulphur dioxide, across national borders, at distances and at periods of time to be agreed upon. The method, including the model, used to determine the fluxes, as well as the method, including the model, used to determine the transmission of air pollutants based on the emissions per grid-unit, shall be made available and periodically reviewed, in order to improve the methods and the models;

f) their willingness to continue the exchange and periodic updating of national data on total emissions of agreed air pollutants, starting with sulphur dioxide;

g) the need to provide meteorological and physico-chemical data relating to processes during transmission;

h) the need to monitor chemical components in other media such as water, soil and vegetation, as well as a similar monitoring programme to record effects on health and environment;

i) the desirability of extending the national EMEP networks to make them operational for control and surveillance purposes.

Executive Body

Article 10

1. The representatives of the Contracting Parties shall, within the framework of the Senior Advisers to Economic Commission for Europe Governments on Environmental Problems, constitute the Executive Body of the present Convention, and shall meet at least annually in that capacity.

2. The Executive Body shall:

a) review the implementation of the present Convention;

b) establish, as appropriate, working groups to consider matters related to the implementation and development of the present Convention and to this end to prepare appropriate studies and other documentation and to submit recommendations to be considered by the Executive Body;

c) fulfil such other functions as may be appropriate under the provisions of the present Convention.

3. The Executive Body shall utilize the Steering Body for the EMEP to play an integral part in the operation of the present Convention, in particular with regard to data collection and scientific cooperation.

4. The Executive Body, in discharging its functions, shall, when it deems appropriate, also make use of information from other relevant international organizations.

Secretariat

Article 11

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe shall carry out, for the Executive Body, the following secretariat functions:

a) to convene and prepare the meetings of the Executive Body;

b) to transmit to the Contracting Parties reports and other information received in accordance with the provisions of the present Convention;

c) to discharge the functions consigned by the Executive Body.

Amendments to the Convention

Article 12

1. Any Contracting Party may propose amendments to the present Convention.

2. The text of proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, who shall communicate them to all Contracting Parties. The Executive Body shall discuss proposed amendments at its next annual meeting provided that such proposals have been circulated by the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe to the Contracting Parties at least 90 days in advance.

3. An amendment to the present Convention shall be adopted by consensus of the representatives of the Contracting Parties, and shall enter into force for the Contracting Parties which have accepted it on the 90th day after the date on which two-thirds of the Contracting Parties have deposited their instruments of acceptance with the depositary. Thereafter, the amendment shall enter into force for any other Contracting Party on the 90th day after the date on which that Contracting Party deposits its instrument of acceptance of the amendment.

Settlement of disputes

Article 13

If a dispute arises between two or more Contracting Parties to the present Convention as to the interpretation or application of the Convention, they shall seek a solution by negotiation or by any other method of dispute settlement acceptable to the Parties to the dispute.

Signature

Article 14

1. The present Convention shall be open for signature at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 13 to 16 November 1979 on the occasion of the High-Level Meeting within the framework of the Economic Commission for Europe on the Protection of the Environment, by the member States of the Economic Commission for Europe as well as States having consultative status with the Economic Commission for Europe, pursuant to paragraph 8 of Economic and Social Council Resolution 36 (IV) of 28 March 1947, and by regional economic integration organizations, constituted by sovereign States, members of the Economic Commission for Europe, which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and application of international agreements in matters covered by the present Convention.

2. In matters within their competence, such regional economic integration organizations shall, on their own behalf, exercise the rights and fulfil the responsibilities which the present Convention attributes to their member States. In such cases, the member States of these organizations shall not be entitled to exercise such rights individually.

Ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

Article 15

1. The present Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval.

2. The present Convention shall be open for accession as from 17 November 1979 by the States and organizations referred to in Article 14 (1).

3. The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who will perform the functions of the depositary.

Entry into force

Article 16

1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 24th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

2. For each Contracting Party which ratifies, accepts or approves the present Convention or accedes thereto after the deposit of the 24th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit by such Contracting Party of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

Withdrawal

Article 17

At any time after five years from the date on which the present Convention has come into force with respect to a Contracting Party, that Contracting Party may withdraw from the Convention by giving written notification to the depositary. Any such withdrawal shall take effect on the 90th day after the date of its receipt by the depositary.

Authentic texts

Article 18

The original of the present Convention, of which the English, French and Russian texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

[1] The present Convention does not contain a rule on State liability as to damage.

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RESOLUTION

on long-range transboundary air pollution

The Signatories to the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution of 13 November 1979,

Decide that they shall, within the framework of the Economic Commission for Europe and the Senior Advisers to ECE Governments on Environmental Problems, initiate, as soon as possible and on an interim basis, the provisional implementation of the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution; they undertake to carry out the obligations arising from the Convention to the maximum extent possible pending its entry into force;

Agree that the necessary authority should be given to the Economic Commission for Europe and to its Executive Secretary to provide for a sufficient secretariat and, in the framework of the existing budgetary structure, for the appropriate financial means;

Further decide to develop without delay further cooperation in problem areas within the scope of the Convention. In particular they will seek to bring closer together their policies and strategies for combating air pollution including long-range transboundary air pollution;

Declare that such strategies and policies shall be aimed at limiting, and, as far as possible, gradually reducing and preventing air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution. These shall be implemented progressively and the designated competent body shall review regularly the progress achieved at national level. To this end the signatories will attach highest priority to the completion of a document setting out the strategies and policies of each of the signatories for the abatement of air pollution caused by sulphur compounds.

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Konvenzjoni

Dwar it-tniġġiz ta' l-arja transkonfina fuq distanza kbira

IL-PARTIJIET KONTRAENTI GĦALL-KONVENZJONI PREŻENTI,

DETERMINATI li jippromwovu r-relazzjonijiet u l-kooperazzjoni fil-kamp tal-protezzjoni ta' l-ambjent,

KONXJI mis-sinifikat ta' l-attivitjiet tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti għall-Ewropa fit-tisħiħ ta' dawn ir-relazzjonijiet u din il-kooperazzjoni, b'mod partikolari fil-kamp tat-tniġġiz ta' l-arja inkluż il-ġarr għal distanza fit-tul tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja,

BILLI JAGĦRFU l-kontribut tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa rigward l-implimentazzjoni multi-laterali tad-disposizzjonijiet pertinenti ta' l-Att Finali tal-Konferenza dwar is-sigurtà u l-kooperazzjoni fl-Ewropa,

KONOXXENTI mir-riferimenti fil-kapitolu ta' l-Att Finali tal-Konferenza dwar is-sigurtà u l-kooperazzjoni fl-Ewropa li jsejħu għall-kooperazzjoni sabiex jikkontrollaw it-tniġġis ta' l-arja u l-effetti tiegħu, inkluż il-ġarr fuq distanzi twal tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja, u għalbiex jiżviluppaw permezz tal-kooperazzjoni internazzjonali programm estensiv għall-moniteraġġ u l-valutazzjoni tal-ġarr tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal, jibda mid-dijossidu sulfuriku u bl-estensjoni possibbli ta' kontaminanti oħra,

BILLI JIKKUNSIDRAW id-dispożizzjonijiet pertinenti tad-Dikjarazzjoni tal-Konferenza tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti dwar l-ambjent tal-bniedem, u b'mod partikolari l-prinċipju 21, li jesprimi l-konvinzjoni komuni illi l-Istati għandhom, skond il-Karta tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti u l-prinċipji tal-liġijiet internazzjonali, id-dritt sovran li jisfruttaw ir-riżorsi tagħhom infushom skond il-politika ambjentali tagħhom, u r-responsabblità li jiżguraw illi l-attivitajiet taħt il-ġurisdizzjoni jew il-kontroll tagħhom ma jikkawżawx ħsara lill-ambjent ta' Stati oħra jew lil żoni lil hemm mil-limiti tal-ġurisdizzjoni nazzjonali,

BILLI JAGĦRFU l-eżistenza ta' l-effetti negattivi possibbli, fuq skond qasir u skond fit-tul, tat-tniġġiz ta' l-arja inkluż it-tniġġiz li jaqsam il-fruntieri,

IMĦASSBA illi żieda fil-livell ta' l-emissjonijiet ta' tniġġiz ta' l-arja ġewwa r-reġjun kif imbassar tista' tkattar dawn l-effetti negattivi,

BILLI JAGĦRFU l-ħtieġa li jistudjaw l-implikazzjonijiet tal-ġarr fuq distanzi twal tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja u l-ħtieġa li jfittxu soluzzjonijiet għall-problemi identifikati,

BILLI JAFFERMAW ir-rieda tajba tagħhom li jirrinfurzaw il-kooperazzjoni attiva internazzjonali sabiex jiżviluppaw politika nazzjonali xierqa u, permezz ta' l-iskambju tat-tagħrif, tal-konsultazzjoni, tar-riċerka u tal-moniteraġġ, li jikkoordinaw l-azzjoni nazzjonali sabiex jissieltu t-tniġġiz ta' l-arja, inkluż il-ġarr tat-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri,

FTIEHMU dan li ġej:

Definizzjonijiet

Artikolu 1

Għall-għanijiet tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti:

(a) "Tniġġiz ta' l-arja" ifisser l-introduzzjoni mill-bniedem, direttament jew indirettament, ta' sostanzi jew ta' enerġija fl-arja li jirriżultaw f'effetti ta' ħsara ta' natura hekk illi jipperikolaw saħħet il-bniedem, jagħmlu ħsara lill organiżmi ħajjin u lill-eko-sistemi u lill-proprjetà materjali jew li jfixklu l-amenitajiet u l-użanzi leġittimi l-oħra ta' l-ambjent, u "kontaminanti ta' l-arja" għandha tinftiehem kif jixraq;

(b) "tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsmu l-fruntieri" ifisser it-tniġġiz ta' l-arja li l-oriġini tiegħu jinsab għal kollox jew f'parti minnu ġewwa żona taħt il-ġurisdizjoni ta' Stat ieħor f'distanza hekk illi ma jkunx ġeneralment possibbli li jiġi distint il-kontribut tas-sorsi individwali ta' l-emissjonijiet jew il-gruppi tas-sorsi.

Prinċipji fundamentali

Artikolu 2

Il-Partijiet Kontraenti, waqt li jqisu l-fatti u l-problemi involuti, huma determinati li jipproteġu lill-bniedem u lill-ambjent tiegħu kontra t-tniġġiz ta' l-arja u għandhom jagħmlu ħilithom sabiex jillimitaw u, safejn u sakemm ikun possibbli, inaqqsu u jipprevjienu t-tniġġiz ta' l-arja, inkluż it-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsmu l-fruntieri.

Artikolu 3

Il-Partijiet Kontraenti, ġewwa l-qafas tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti, għandhom, permezz tal-bdil tat-tagħrif, tal-konsultazzjoni, tar-tiċerka u tal-moniteraġġ, jiżviluppaw mingħajr dewmien mhux mistħoqq politika u strateġiji li għandhom iservu bħala mezz biex jikkumbattu l-ħruġ tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja, billi jqisu l-isforzi diġà magħmula fil-livell nazzjonali u internazzjonali.

Artikolu 4

Il-Partijiet Kontraenti għandhom jiskambjaw it-tagħrif u għandhom jirrevedu l-politika, l-attivitajiet xjentifiċi u l-miżuri tekniċi tagħhom immirati li jikkumbattu, safejn u sakemm ikun possibbli, l-ħruġ tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja, biex b'hekk jikkontribwixxu għat-tnaqqis tat-tniġġis ta' l-arja, inkluż it-tniġġis ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri.

Artikolu 5

Għandhom jinżammu konsultazzjonijiet, fuq talba, fi stadju bikri bejn, min-naħa l-waħda, l-Partijiet Kontraenti li taħt il-ġurisdizzjoni tagħhom u bla ħsara għaliha joriġina, jew jista' joriġina, kontribut sinifikanti għat-tniġġis ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri f'konnessjoni ma' l-attivitajiet imwettqa jew ikkontemplati fihom.

Il-ġestjoni tal-kwalità ta' l-arja

Artikolu 6

Wara li jitqiesu l-Artikoli minn 2 sa 5, ir-riċerka li tkun għaddejja, l-iskambju tat-tagħrif u l-moniteraġġ u r-riżultati ta' dawn, l-ispiża u l-effikaċja tar-rimedji lokali u oħrajn u sabiex ikun missielet it-tniġġiz ta' l-arja, b'mod partikolari dak li joriġina minn stallazzjonijiet ġodda jew mibnija mill-ġdid, kull waħda mill-Partijiet Kontraenti tidħol biex tiżviluppa l-aħjar politiki u strateġiji inkluża s-sistema tal-ġestjoni tal-kwalità ta' l-arja u, bħala parti minnhom, il-miżuri ta' kontroll kompatibbli ma' żvilupp ibbilanċjat, b'mod partikolari bl-użu ta' l-aħjar teknoloġija disponibbli li hija possibbli ekonomikament u t-teknoloġija ta' skart baxx jew ta' mingħajru.

Riċerka u żvilupp

Artikolu 7

Il-Partijiet Kontraenti għandhom kif xieraq għall-ħtiġiet tagħhom, jibdew u jikkooperaw fil-kondotta tar-riċerka fi u/jew l-iżvilupp ta':

(a) it-teknoloġiji eżistenti u proposti sabiex jitnaqqsu l-emissjonijiet tal-komposti tal-kubrit u ta' kontaminanti oħra maġġuri ta' l-arja, inkużi l-probabbiltà ta' suċċess ekonomiku u l-konsegwenzi ambjentali;

(b) l-istrumentazzjoni u metodi oħra tat-teknika sabiex ikunu sorveljati u mkejla r-rati ta' l-emissjonijiet u l-konċentrazzjonijiet tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja fl-ambjent;

(ċ) mudelli mtejba sabiex tinftiehem aħjar it-trasmissjoni tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja fuq distanza twila li jaqsmu l-fruntieri;

(d) l-effetti tal-komposti tal-kubrit u ta' kontaminanti oħra maġġuri ta' l-arja fuq is-saħħa tal-bniedem u fuq l-ambjent, inklużi l-biedja, s-selvikultura, l-materjali, l-eko-sistemi akwatiċi u oħrajn naturali u l-viżibbiltà, bil-ħsieb li tkun stabbilita bażi xjentifika għar-relazzjonijiet bejn id-doża u l-effett iddisinjati sabiex jipproteġu l-ambjent;

(e) l-istima ekonomika, soċjali u ambjentali ta' miżuri alternattivi sabiex jinkisbu l-għanijiet ambjentali, inkluż it-tnaqqis tat-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri;

(f) programmi ta' edukazzjoni u taħriġ li għandhom x'jaqsmu ma' l-aspetti ambjentali tat-tniġġiz mill-komposti tal-kubrit u kontaminanti oħra maġġuri ta' l-arja.

Bdil tat-tagħrif

Artikolu 8

Il-Partijiet Kontraenti, ġewwa l-qafas tal-Korp Eżekuttiv imsemmi fl-Artikolu 10 u b'mod bilaterali, għandhom, fl-interess komuni tagħhom, jibdlu t-tagħrif disponibbli dwar:

(a) data dwar l-emissjonijiet f'perjodi taż-żmien li jridu jiġu miftiehma dwarhom, dwar il-kontaminanti miftiehma ta' l-arja, li jibdew mid-dijossidu sulfuriku, li jkun ġej minn unitajiet ta' grilji ta' daqs miftiehem, jew dwar il-flussi ta' kontaminanti miftiehma ta' l-arja, li jibdew mid-dijossidu sulfuriku li jaqsam il-fruntieri, f'distanzi u f'perjodi taż-żmien li jridu jiġu miftiehma;

(b) il-bidliet maġġuri fil-politika nazzjonali u fl-iżvilupp industrijali ġenerali, u l-impatt potenzali tagħhom, li x'aktarx jikkawża bidliet sinifikanti fit-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri;

(ċ) it-teknoloġiji tal-kontroll sabiex jitnaqqas it-tniġġiz ta' l-arja rilevanti għat-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri;

(d) l-ispiża proġettata għall-kontroll ta' l-emisjonijiet tal-komposti tal-kubrit u kontaminanti maġġuri oħra ta' l-arja fuq skala nazzjonali;

(e) data meteoroloġika u fiżiko-kimika li għandha x'taqsam mal-proċessi matul it-trasmissjoni;

(f) data fiżiko-kimika u bijoloġika li għandha x'taqsam ma' l-effetti tat-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri u safejn u sakemm il-ħsara [1] li din l-informazzjoni tindika tista' tiġi attribwita lit-tniġġiz ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal li jaqsam il-fruntieri;

(g) il-politika u l-istrateġiji nazzjonali, sub-reġjonali u reġjonali għall-kontroll tal-komposti tal-kubrit u kontaminanti oħra maġġuri ta' l-arja.

Implimentazzjoni u aktar żvilupp tal-programm ta' kooperazzjoni għall-moniteraġġ u l-valutazzjoni tat-trasmissjoni tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja fuq distanzi twal u li jaqsam il-fruntieri fl-Ewropa

Artikolu 9

Il-Partijiet Kontraenti jenfasizzaw il-ħtieġa li jiġi implimentat il-"programm ta' kooperazzjoni sabiex jimmonitorja u jivvaluta t-trasmissjoni fuq distanzi twal tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja fl-Ewropa" eżistenti (minn issa "l quddiem imsejjaħ l-EMEP) u, rigward aktar żvilupp ta' dan il-programm, u jiftiehmu li jenfasizzaw:"

(a) kemm ikun mixtieq li l-Partijiet Kontraenti jingħaqdu fl-EMEP u jimplimentawh għal kollox li, bħala l-ewwel pass, huwa msejjes fuq il-moniteraġġ tad-dijossidu sulfuriku u s-sostanzi li għandhom x'jaqsmu miegħu;

(b) il-ħtieġa li jintużaw proċeduri paragunabbli jew standardizzati għall-moniteraġġ kull meta hu possibbli;

(ċ) kemm ikun mixtieq li l-programmi tal-moniteraġġ ikunu msejsa fuq il-qafas tal-programmi kemm nazzjonali u kemm internazzjonali. L-istabbiliment ta' l-istazzjonijiet tal-moniteraġġ u tal-ġbir ta' l-informazzjoni għandu jitwettaq taħt il-ġurisdizzjoni nazzjonali tal-pajjiż li fih ikunu jinsabu l-istazzjonijiet tal-moniteraġġ;

(d) kemm ikun mixtieq li jiġi stabbilit qafas għall-programm ta' kooperazzjoni għall-moniteraġġ ta' l-ambjent, imsejjes fuq il-programmi preżenti u ġejjiena, nazzjonali, sub-reġjonali, reġjonali u oħra internazzjonali u li jqisuhom;

(e) il-ħtieġa li tinbidel l-informazzjoni dwar l-emissjonijiet f'perjodi taż-żmien li jridu jiġu miftiehma dwarhom, dwar il-kontaminanti miftiehma ta' l-arja, li jibdew mid-dijossidu sulfuriku, li jkun ġej minn unitajiet ta' grilji ta' daqs miftiehem, li jibdew mid-dijossidu sulfuriku li jaqsam il-fruntieri, f'distanzi u f'perjodi taż-żmien li jridu jiġu miftiehma. Il-metodu, inkluż il-mudell, użat sabiex jistabbilixxi l-flussi, kif ukoll il-metodu, inkluż il-mudell, użat sabiex jistabbilixxi t-trasmissjoni tal-kontaminanti ta' l-arja msejsa fuq l-emissjonijiet għal kull unità tal-grilja, għandhom ikunu disponibbli u jkunu rivisti perjodikment, sabiex jittejbu l-metodi u l-mudelli;

(f) ir-rieda tajba tagħhom li jissoktaw jiskambjaw u jaġġornaw perjodikament l-informazzjoni nazzjonali dwar l-emissjonijiet totali tal-kontaminanti miftiehma ta' l-arja, tibda bid-dijossidu sulfuriku;

(e) il-ħtieġa li tiġi provduta l-informazzjoni meteoroloġika u kimiko-fiżika li għandha x'taqsam mal-proċessi matul it-trasmissjoni;

(h) il-ħtieġa li jiġu monitorjati l-komponenti kimiċi f'mezzi oħra bħalma huma l-ilma, l-ħamrija u l-veġetazzjoni, kif ukoll programm simili tal-moniteraġġ sabiex jirreġistra l-effetti fuq is-saħħa u fuq l-ambjent;

(i) kemm ikun mixtieq li jiġu estiżi n-networks nazzjonali ta' l-EMEP sabiex isiru operattivi għall-għanijiet tal-kontroll u s-sorveljanza.

Il-Korp Eżekuttiv

Artikolu 10

1. Ir-rappreżentanti tal-Partijiet Kontraenti għandhom, ġewwa l-qafas tal-Konsulenti Anzjani tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Gvernijiet Ewropej dwar il-Problemi Ambjentali, jikkostitwixxu l-Korp Eżekuttiv tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti, u għandhom jiltaqgħu f'din il-kapaċità mill-inqas darba fis-sena.

2. Il-Korp Eżekuttiv għandu:

(a) jagħmel rivista ta' l-implimentazzjoni tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti;

(b) jistabbilixxi korpi tax-xogħol, kif xieraq, sabiex jikkunsidraw materji li għandhom x'jaqsmu ma' l-implimentazzjoni u l-iżvilupp tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti u għal dan il-fini sabiex iħejji l-istudji xierqa u d-dokumentazzjoni l-oħra u li jissottometti rakkommandazzjonijiet biex jiġu kunsidrati mill-Korp Eżekuttiv;

(ċ) iwettaq dawk il-funzjonijiet l-oħra li jistgħu jkunu xierqa skond id-dispożizzjonijiet tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti.

3. Il-Korp Eżekuttiv għandu jutilizza lill-Korp Direttiv sabiex l-EMEP taħdem parti integrali fl-operat tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti, b'mod partikolari rigward il-ġbir ta' l-informazzjoni u l-kooperazzjoni xjentifika.

4. Fit-twettiq tax-xogħol tiegħu, il-Korp Eżekuttiv għandu, meta jidhirlu xieraq, jagħmel ukoll użu tat-tagħrif mingħand organizzazzjonijiet internazzjonali oħra rilevanti.

Segretarjat

Artikolu 11

Is-Segretarju Eżekuttiv tal-Kummisjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa għandu jwettaq, għall-Korp Eżekuttiv, il-funzjonijiet segretarjali li ġejjin:

(a) li jsejjaħ u jħejji l-laqgħat tal-Korp Eżekuttiv,

(b) li jittrasmetti lill-Partijiet Kontraenti r-rapporti u t-tagħrif l-ieħor irċevuti skond id-dispożizzjonijiet tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti;

(ċ) li jwettaq il-funzjonijiet ikkonsenjati lilu mill-Korp Eżekuttiv.

Emendi għall-Konvenzjoni

Artikolu 12

1. Kull Parti Kontraenti tista' tipproponi emendi għall-Konvenzjoni preżenti.

2. It-test ta' l-emendi proposti għandhom jiġu sottomessi bil-miktub lis-Segretarju Eżekuttiv tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa, li għandu jikkomunikahom lill-Partijiet Kontraenti kollha. Il-Korp Eżekuttiv għandu jiddiskuti l-emendi proposti fil-laqgħa annwali tiegħu li tkun tmiss sakemm dawn il-proposti jkunu ġew iċċirkolati mis-Segretarju Eżekuttiv tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa lill-Partijiet Kontraenti mill-inqas 90 jum bil-quddiem.

3. Emenda għal din il-Konvenzjoni għandha tiġi adottata bil-konsensus tar-rappreżentanti tal-Partijiet Kontraenti, u għandha tidħol fis-seħħ għall-Partijiet Kontraenti li jkunu aċċettawha fid-90 jum wara d-data li fiha żewġ terzi tal-Partijiet Kontraenti jkunu depożitaw l-istrumenti tagħhom ta' l-aċċettazzjoni għand id-depożitarju. Wara dan, l-emendi għandhom jidħlu fis-seħħ għal kull Parti Kontraenti oħra fit-90 jum wara d-data illi l-Parti Kontraenti tiddepożita l-istrument tagħha ta' aċċettazzjoni ta' l-emenda.

Soluzzjoni tal-kontroversji

Artikolu 13

Jekk tqum kontroversja bejn żewġ Partijiet Kontraenti jew aktar għall-Konvenzjoni preżenti dwar l-interpretazzjoni jew l-applikazzjoni tal-Konvenzjoni, dawn għandhom ifittxu soluzzjoni bin-negozjati jew b'kull metodu ieħor tal-qtugħ tal-kontroversji aċċettabbli għall-Partijiet fil-kontroversja.

Firma

Artikolu 14

1. Il-Konvenzjoni preżenti għandha tkun miftuħa għall-firma fl-Uffiċċju tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti f'Ġinevra mit-13 sas-16 ta' Novembru 1979 fl-okkażjoni tal-Laqgħa ta' Livell Għoli ġewwa l-qafas tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa dwar il-Protezzjoni ta' l-Ambjent, mill-Istati Membri tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa kif ukoll għall-Istati li jkollhom status konsultattiv mal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa, skond il-paragrafu 8 tar-Riżoluzzjoni tal-Kunsill Ekonomiku u Soċjali 36 (IV) tat-28 ta' Marzu 1947, u mill-organizzazzjonijiet għall-integrazzjoni ekonomika tar-reġjuni, stabbilita mill-Istati sovrani, membri tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa, li għandhom il-kompetenza rigward in-negozjati, l-konklużjoni u l-applikazzjoni tal-ftehim internazzjonali f'materji koperti bil-Konvenzjoni preżenti.

2. Dwar il-materji fil-kompetenza tagħhom, dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet ta' integrazzjoni ekonomika tar-reġjuni għandhom, f'isimhom, jeżerċitaw id-drittijiet tagħhom u jwettqu r-reponsabbiltajiet li l-Konvenzjoni preżenti tattribwixxi lill-Istati membri. F'dawn il-każijiet, l-Istati membri ta' dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet ma għandhomx ikunu intitolati għal dawn id-drittijiet individwalment.

Ir-ratifika, l-aċċettazzjoni, l-approvazzjoni u l-adeżjoni

Artikolu 15

1. Il-Konvenzjoni preżenti għandha tkun bla ħsara għar-ratifika, l-aċċettazzjoni jew l-approvazzjoni.

2. Il-Konvenzjoni preżenti għandha tkun miftuħa għall-adeżjoni mis-17 ta' Novembru 1979 għall-Istati u l-organizzazzjonijiet imsemmija fl-Artikolu 14(1).

3. L-istrumenti tar-ratifika, l-aċċettazzjoni l-approvazzjoni jew l-adeżjoni għandhom jiġu depożitati għand is-Segretarju Ġenerali tan-Nazzonijiet Uniti, li għandu jwettaq il-funzjonijiet ta' depożitarju.

Dħul fis-seħħ

Artikolu 16

1. Il-Konvenzjoni preżenti għandha tidħol fis-seħħ fid-90 jum wara d-data tad-depożitu ta' l-24 strument ta' ratifika, aċċettazzjoni, approvazzjoni jew adeżjoni.

2. Għal kull waħda mill-Partijiet Kontraenti li tirratifika, taċċetta jew tapprova l-Konvenzjoni preżenti jew taderixxi għaliha wara d-depożitu ta' l-24 strument tar-ratifika, aċċettazzjoni, approvazzjoni jew adeżjoni, l-Konvenzjoni għandha tidħol fis-seħħ fid-90 jum wara d-data tad-depożitu minn din il-Parti Kontraenti ta' l-istrumenti tagħha tar-ratifika, aċċettazzjoni, approvazzjoni jew adeżjoni.

Irtirar

Artikolu 17

F'kull waqt wara ħames snin mid-data li fiha l-Konvenzjoni preżenti tkun daħlet fis-seħħ rigward Parti Kontraenti, din il-Parti Kontraenti tista' tirtira mill-Konvenzjoni billi tagħti notifika bil-miktub lid-Depożitarju. Kull irtirar minn dan għandu jidħol fis-seħħ fid-90 jum wara d-data ta' l-irċevuta tiegħu mid-depożitarju.

Testi awtentiċi

Artikolu 18

L-oriġinal tal-Konvenzjoni preżenti, li tagħha t-testi bl-Ingliż, bil-Franċiż u bir-Russu huma awtentiċi indaqs, għandu jiġi depożitat għand is-Segretarju Ġenerali tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti.

[1] Il-Konvenzjoni preżenti ma fihiex regola dwar ir-responsabbilità ta' l-Istat rigward il-ħsara.

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RIZOLUZZJONI

dwar tniġġiz ta’ l-arja fuq distanzi twal tul il-fruntieri

Il-Firmatarji fil-Konvenzjoni dwar it-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja transkonfini fuq distanza kbira bejn il-fruntieri tat-13 ta’ Novembru 1979,

Jiddeċiedu li għandhom, fil-qafas tal-Kummissjoni Ekonomika għall-Ewropa u l-Konsulenti Anzjani tal-Gvernijiet ta’ l-ECE fuq Problemi Ambjentali, jibdew, kemm jista’ jkun malajr u fuq bażi proviżorja, l-implimentazzjoni proviżorja tal-Konvenzjoni dwar it-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja transkonfini fuq distanza kbira; jimpenjaw ruħhom li jaqdu l-obbligi tagħhom li joħorġu mill-Konvenzjoni safejn possibbli fil-pendenza tad-dħul fis-seħħ tagħha;

Jiftehmu li l-awtorità meħtieġa għandha tingħata lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea għall-Ewropa u lis-Segretarju Ezekuttiv biex jipprovdu segretarjat suffiċjenti u, fil-qafas ta’ l-istruttura eżistenti ta’ l-estimi, għall-mezzi xierqa finanzjarji;

Jiftehmu aktar li jiżviluppaw mingħajr iżjed dawmien aktar kooperazzjoni f’oqsma problematiċi fi ħdan il-Konvenzjoni. B’mod partikolari għandhom ifittxu li jqarrbu l-politika u l-istrateġiji tagħhom biex jissieltu kontra t-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja, inkluż it-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja fuq distanzi twal tul il-fruntieri;

Jiddikkjaraw li dawn l-istrateġiji u politika għandhom ikunu immirati biex jillimitaw, u, kemm jista’ jkun possibbli, jnaqqsu u jipprevjenu gradwalment it-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja, inkluż it-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja f’distanzi twal tul il-fruntieri.

Dawn għandhom ikunu implimentati progressivament u l-korp kompetenti maħtur għandu jirrevedi regolarment il-progress milħuq fil-livell nazzjonali. Għal dan il-għan il-firmatarji għandhom jagħtu l-akbar prijorità għat-tlestija ta’ dokument li jipprovdi għall-istrateġiji u l-politika ta’ kull firmatarju għat-tnaqqis tat-tniġġiz ta’ l-arja kawżat bil-komposti tal-kubrit.

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