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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Konvencija

o onesnaževanju zraka na velike razdalje prek meja

POGODBENICE TE KONVENCIJE, KI

SO ODLOČENE spodbujati odnose in sodelovanje na področju varstva okolja,

SE ZAVEDAJO pomena dejavnosti Ekonomske komisije OZN za Evropo pri krepitvi teh odnosov in sodelovanja, zlasti na področju onesnaževanja zraka, vključno s prenosom onesnaževal zraka na velike razdalje,

PRIZNAVAJO prispevek Ekonomske komisije za Evropo k večstranskemu izvajanju ustreznih določb Sklepne listine Konference o varnosti in sodelovanju v Evropi,

SE ZAVEDAJO napotil v poglavju o okolju Sklepne listine o varnosti in sodelovanju v Evropi, ki pozivajo k sodelovanju pri nadzorovanju onesnaževanja zraka in njegovih posledic, vključno s prenosom onesnaževal zraka na velike razdalje, ter k razvoju obsežnega programa za spremljanje in ocenjevanje prenosa onesnaževal zraka na velike razdalje, sprva žveplovega dioksida z možno razširitvijo na druga onesnaževala,

UPOŠTEVAJO ustrezne določbe Deklaracije Konference Združenih narodov o človekovem okolju, in zlasti načelo 21, ki izraža skupno prepričanje, da imajo države v skladu z Ustanovno listino Združenih narodov in načeli mednarodnega prava suvereno pravico do izkoriščanja svojih virov v skladu s svojo okoljsko politiko in da so odgovorne za zagotovitev, da dejavnosti pod njihovo jurisdikcijo ali nadzorom ne škodijo okolju drugih držav ali območij izven meja njihove državne jurisdikcije,

PRIZNAVAJO obstoj možnih kratkoročnih in dolgoročnih škodljivih učinkov onesnaževanja zraka, vključno z onesnaževanjem zraka prek meja,

SO ZASKRBLJENE, da lahko višja raven emisij onesnaževal zraka v regiji, kakor je napovedana, poveča škodljive učinke,

PRIZNAVAJO, da je treba preučiti posledice prenosa onesnaževal zraka na velike razdalje in poiskati rešitve za ugotovljene probleme,

POTRJUJEJO svojo pripravljenost na krepitev aktivnega mednarodnega sodelovanja, da bi razvile primerne nacionalne politike in z izmenjavo informacij, posvetovanji, raziskovanji ter opazovanji uskladile nacionalne ukrepe za boj proti onesnaževanju zraka, vključno z onesnaževanjem zraka na velike razdalje prek meja,

SO SE DOGOVORILE naslednje:

Opredelitve

Člen 1

Za namene te konvencije:

(a) "onesnaževanje zraka" pomeni človekovo neposredno ali posredno vnašanje snovi ali energije v zrak, ki povzroča take škodljive učinke, da ogroža človekovo zdravje, škoduje živim virom, ekosistemom in materialni lastnini ter zmanjšuje ali ovira možnosti za rekreacijo in druge zakonite načine rabe okolja; izraz "onesnaževala zraka";

(b) "onesnaževanje zraka na velike razdalje prek meja" pomeni onesnaževanje zraka, ki fizično v celoti ali deloma izvira na območju pod državno jurisdikcijo ene države in ima škodljive učinke na območju pod jurisdikcijo druge države na takšni razdalji, da na splošno ni mogoče razlikovati med prispevki posameznih virov emisije ali skupin virov.

Temeljna načela

Člen 2

Pogodbenice so ob upoštevanju dejstev in s tem povezanih težav odločene zaščititi ljudi in njihovo okolje pred onesnaževanjem zraka in si prizadevajo omejiti ter, kolikor je mogoče, postopoma zmanjšati in preprečiti onesnaževanje zraka, vključno z onesnaževanjem zraka na velike razdalje prek meja.

Člen 3

Pogodbenice v okviru te konvencije z izmenjavo informacij, posvetovanji, raziskovanji in opazovanjem brez nepotrebnega odlašanja razvijejo politike in strategije, ki služijo kot sredstva za boj proti izpuščanju onesnaževal zraka, pri čemer upoštevajo že obstoječa prizadevanja na državni in mednarodni ravni.

Člen 4

Pogodbenice si izmenjajo in pretehtajo informacije o svojih politikah, znanstvenih dejavnostih in tehničnih ukrepih, namenjenih čimbolj učinkovitemu boju proti izpustu onesnaževal zraka, ki lahko imajo škodljive učinke, in s tem prispevajo k zmanjšanju onesnaževanja zraka, vključno z onesnaževanjem zraka na velike razdalje prek meja.

Člen 5

Posvetovanja potekajo na zahtevo v zgodnji fazi med pogodbenicami, ki so dejansko prizadete ali izpostavljene precejšnjemu tveganju zaradi onesnaževanja zraka na velike razdalje prek meja na eni strani in pogodbenicami, na ozemlju in pod jurisdikcijo katerih nastane znaten del onesnaževanja zraka na velike razdalje prek meja, ali pa bi lahko nastal tam zaradi dejavnosti, ki jih tam opravljajo ali jih tam nameravajo opravljati, na drugi strani.

Upravljanje kakovosti zraka

Člen 6

Ob upoštevanju členov od 2 do 5, raziskav, ki so v teku, izmenjave informacij, opazovanj in rezultatov vsega tega, stroškov in učinkovitosti lokalnih in drugih sredstev, ter zaradi boja proti onesnaževanju zraka, predvsem tistega, ki izvira iz novih ali obnovljenih obratov, se vsaka pogodbenica zaveže, da bo razvila najboljše politike in strategije, vključno s sistemi upravljanja kakovosti zraka ter kontrolnimi ukrepi, ki so del teh sistemov in so skladni z uravnoteženim razvojem, predvsem z uporabo najboljše tehnologije, ki je na voljo in je gospodarsko izvedljiva, ter tehnologije, pri kateri nastaja malo ali nič odpadkov.

Raziskave in razvoj

Člen 7

Pogodbenice se v skladu s svojimi potrebami lotijo raziskav in/ali razvoja ter sodelujejo pri raziskavah ali razvoju:

(a) obstoječih in predlaganih tehnologij za zmanjšanje emisij žveplovih spojin in drugih večjih onesnaževal zraka, vključno s tehnično in gospodarsko izvedljivostjo in posledicami za okolje;

(b) instrumentacije in drugih tehnik za spremljanje in merjenje stopenj emisije in koncentracij onesnaževal zraka v okolju;

(c) izboljšanih modelov za boljše razumevanje prenosa onesnaževal zraka na velike razdalje prek meja;

(d) učinkov žveplovih spojin in drugih večjih onesnaževal zraka na zdravje ljudi in okolje, vključno s kmetijstvom, gozdarstvom, materiali, vodnimi in drugimi naravnimi ekosistemi in vidljivostjo, z namenom oblikovati znanstveno podlago za razmerja med količino in učinkom, da bi zaščitili okolje;

(e) ekonomske, socialne in okoljske ocene drugačnih ukrepov za doseganje okoljskih ciljev, vključno z zmanjšanjem onesnaževanja zraka na velike razdalje prek meja;

(f) programov izobraževanja in usposabljanja v zvezi z okoljskimi vidiki onesnaževanja z žveplovimi spojinami in drugimi velikimi onesnaževali zraka.

Izmenjava informacij

Člen 8

V skupnem interesu pogodbenic je, da si v okviru izvršilnega organa iz člena 10 dvostransko izmenjajo informacije, ki so na voljo o:

(a) podatkih o emisijah dogovorjenih onesnaževal zraka v obdobjih, o katerih se je treba dogovoriti, pri čemer začnejo z žveplovim dioksidom, ki prihaja iz mrežnih enot dogovorjene velikosti, ali o tokovih dogovorjenih onesnaževal zraka, sprva žveplovega dioksida, čez državne meje na razdaljah in v obdobjih, o katerih se je treba dogovoriti;

(b) večjih spremembah v nacionalnih politikah in splošnem industrijskem razvoju, ter o možnem vplivu teh sprememb, ki bi lahko povzročile pomembne spremembe pri onesnaževanju zraka na velike razdalje prek meja;

(c) nadzornih tehnologijah za zmanjševanje onesnaževanja zraka, pomembnih za onesnaževanje zraka na velike razdalje prek meja;

(d) predvidenih stroških nadzora emisije žveplovih spojin in drugih večjih onesnaževal zraka na državni ravni;

(e) meteoroloških in fizikalno-kemijskih podatkih v zvezi s procesi med prenosom;

(f) fizikalno-kemijskih in bioloških podatkih v zvezi z učinki onesnaževanja zraka na velike razdalje prek meja in o obsegu škode [1], za katero ti podatki kažejo, da jo je mogoče pripisati onesnaževanju zraka na velike razdalje prek meja;

(g) nacionalnih, podregijskih in regijskih politikah in strategijah za nadzor žveplovih spojin in drugih večjih onesnaževal zraka.

Uresničevanje in nadaljnji razvoj skupnega programa za spremljanje in oceno onesnaževanja zraka na velike razdalje v Evropi

Člen 9

Pogodbenice poudarjajo, da je treba uresničevati obstoječi "skupni program za spremljanje in oceno onesnaževanja zraka na velike razdalje v Evropi" (v nadaljnjem besedilu "EMEP"), in se glede na nadaljnji razvoj tega programa strinjajo, da bodo poudarjale:

(a) da je zaželeno, da se pogodbenice pridružijo EMEPu, ki sprva temelji na spremljanju žveplovega dioksida in sorodnih spojin, in ga polno uresničujejo;

(b) da je treba uporabljati primerljive ali standardizirane postopke za spremljanje, kadarkoli je to mogoče;

(c) da je zaželeno, da program spremljanja temelji na okviru tako nacionalnih kot mednarodnih programov. Postavitev opazovalnih postaj in zbiranje podatkov se opravljata pod državno jurisdikcijo države, v kateri so opazovalne postaje;

(d) da je zaželeno oblikovati okvir za skupni program za spremljanje stanja okolja, ki temelji na sedanjih in prihodnjih nacionalnih, podregijskih, regijskih in drugih mednarodnih programih, in jih upošteva;

(e) potrebo po izmenjavi podatkov o emisijah dogovorjenih onesnaževal zraka v obdobjih, o katerih se je treba dogovoriti, pri čemer začnejo z žveplovim dioksidom, ki prihaja iz mrežnih enot dogovorjene velikosti; ali o tokovih dogovorjenih onesnaževal zraka, sprva žveplovega dioksida, čez državne meje na razdaljah in v obdobjih, o katerih se je treba dogovoriti. Način za ugotavljanje tokov, vključno z modelom, kakor tudi način za ugotavljanje onesnaževanja zraka, ki temelji na emisijah na mrežno enoto, vključno z modelom, se dajo na voljo in se občasno preverijo, da bi izboljšali načine in modele;

(f) svojo pripravljenost nadaljevati z izmenjavo in rednim posodabljanjem nacionalnih podatkov o skupnih emisijah dogovorjenih onesnaževal zraka, sprva žveplovega dioksida;

(g) potrebo po zagotavljanju meteoroloških in fizikalno-kemijskih podatkov v zvezi s procesi med prenosom;

(h) potrebo po spremljanju kemijskih spojin v drugih medijih, kot so voda, prst in rastlinje, kakor tudi po podobnem programu za spremljanje, ki bi zabeležil vplive na zdravje in okolje;

(i) zaželenost razširitve nacionalnih mrež EMEP, da bi se lahko usposabljale za kontrolo in nadzor.

Izvršilni organ

Člen 10

1. Predstavniki pogodbenic v okviru višjih svetovalcev o okoljskih vprašanjih za vlade Ekonomske komisije za Evropo sestavljajo izvršilni organ te konvencije in se v tej funkciji sestajajo vsaj enkrat na leto.

2. Izvršilni organ:

(a) preverja uresničevanje te konvencije;

(b) ustanovi, če je to primerno, delovne skupine, ki obravnavajo zadeve v zvezi z uresničevanjem in razvojem te konvencije in v ta namen pripravijo ustrezne študije in drugo dokumentacijo ter predložijo priporočila, ki jih obravnava izvršilni organ;

(c) opravlja druge funkcije, ki so lahko ustrezne v skladu z določbami te konvencije.

3. Izvršilni organ uporabi usmerjevalni organ EMEP-a, tako da ima ta vlogo sestavnega dela pri izvajanju te konvencije, predvsem v zvezi z zbiranjem podatkov in znanstvenim sodelovanjem.

4. Izvršilni organ pri opravljanju svojih nalog uporabi tudi informacije drugih zadevnih mednarodnih organizacij, kadar meni, da je to primerno.

Sekretariat

Člen 11

Izvršilni sekretar Ekonomske komisije za Evropo opravlja za izvršilni organ naslednje naloge sekretariata:

(a) sklicuje in pripravlja sestanke izvršilnega organa;

(b) pogodbenicam pošilja poročila in druge podatke, ki jih je prejel v skladu z določbami te konvencije;

(c) opravlja naloge, za katere ga zadolži izvršni organ.

Spremembe Konvencije

Člen 12

1. Vsaka pogodbenica lahko predlaga spremembe te konvencije.

2. Besedilo o predlaganih spremembah se pisno predloži izvršnemu sekretarju Ekonomske komisije za Evropo, ki ga sporoči vsem pogodbenicam. Izvršilni organ na svojem naslednjem letnem sestanku razpravlja o predlaganih spremembah, če jih je izvršni sekretar Ekonomske komisije za Evropo razposlal pogodbenicam vsaj 90 dni vnaprej.

3. Spremembo te konvencije soglasno sprejmejo predstavniki pogodbenic in začne veljati za pogodbenice, ki so jo sprejele, devetdeseti dan po dnevu, ko dve tretjini pogodbenic pri depozitarju deponirata listine o sprejetju. Kasneje začne za vsako drugo pogodbenico veljati sprememba devetdeseti dan po dnevu, ko ta pogodbenica deponira svojo listino o sprejetju spremembe.

Reševanje sporov

Člen 13

Če pride med dvema ali več pogodbenicami te konvencije do spora glede razlage ali uporabe te konvencije, ga poskušajo rešiti s pogajanji ali s kakršnim koli drugim načinom reševanja sporov, sprejemljivim za stranke v sporu.

Podpis

Člen 14

1. Ta konvencija je na voljo za podpis na uradu Združenih narodov v Ženevi od 13. do 16. novembra 1979 ob sestanku na visoki ravni v okviru Ekonomske komisije za Evropo o varstvu okolja, tako za države članice Ekonomske komisije za Evropo kot za države, ki imajo pri Ekonomski komisiji za Evropo posvetovalni status, v skladu z odstavkom 8 Resolucije 36(IV) Ekonomsko-socialnega sveta z dne 28. marca 1947, in za regionalne organizacije za gospodarsko povezovanje, ki so jih ustanovile suverene države članice Ekonomske komisije za Evropo, ki so pristojne za pogajanje, sklepanje in izvajanje mednarodnih sporazumov o zadevah, ki jih zajema ta konvencija.

2. Takšne organizacije za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje v zvezi z zadevami v njihovi pristojnosti v svojem imenu uveljavljajo pravice in izpolnjujejo obveznosti, ki jih ta konvencija nalaga njihovim državam članicam. V takšnih primerih države članice navedenih organizacij nimajo pravice do samostojnega uveljavljanja teh pravic.

Ratifikacija, sprejetje, odobritev in pristop

Člen 15

1. Ta konvencija se ratificira, sprejme ali potrdi.

2. K tej konvenciji lahko države in organizacije iz člena 14(1) pristopijo od 17. novembra 1979 dalje.

3. Listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu se deponirajo pri generalnem sekretarju Združenih narodov, ki bo opravljal naloge depozitarja.

Začetek veljavnosti

Člen 16

1. Ta konvencija začne veljati devetdeseti dan po datumu deponiranja 24. listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu.

2. Za vsako pogodbenico, ki ratificira, sprejme ali odobri to konvencijo ali k njej pristopi po deponiranju 24. listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu, začne Konvencija veljati devetdeseti dan po dnevu, ko ta pogodbenica deponira svojo listino o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu.

Izstop

Člen 17

Pogodbenica lahko odpove to konvencijo s pisnim uradnim obvestilom depozitarju kadarkoli po petih letih od dneva, ko je Konvencija začela veljati za to pogodbenico. Vsaka taka odpoved začne veljati devetdeseti dan po tem, ko jo prejme depozitar.

Verodostojna besedila

Člen 18

Izvirnik te konvencije, katere besedila v angleškem, francoskem in ruskem besedilu so enako verodostojna, je deponiran pri generalnem sekretarju Združenih narodov.

[1] Ta konvencija ne vsebuje pravila o državni odgovornosti za škodo.

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RESOLUCIJA

o onesnaževanju zraka na velike razdalje prek meja

Podpisnice konvencije o onesnaževanju zraka na velike razdalje prek meja z dne 13. novembra 1979,

se odločijo, da bodo v okviru Ekonomske komisije za Evropo in višjih svetovalcev za vlade Ekonomske komisije za Evropo čimprej pričele z začasnim uresničevanjem Konvencije o onesnaževanju zraka na velike razdalje prek meja; se obvežejo, da bodo pred začetkom veljavnosti te konvencije v največji možni meri izpolnjevale obveznosti, ki izhajajo iz te konvencije;

se strinjajo, da je treba Ekonomski komisiji za Evropo in njenemu izvršnemu sekretarju dati potrebna pooblastila, da zagotovita ustrezne administrativno-tehnične storitve in ustrezna finančna sredstva v okviru obstoječe proračunske strukture;

se tudi odločijo, da bodo nemudoma razvile nadaljnje sodelovanje na težavnih področjih, na katera se nanaša Konvencija. Predvsem si bodo prizadevale zbližati svoje politike in strategije za boj proti onesnaževanju zraka, vključno z onesnaževanjem zraka na velike razdalje prek meja;

izjavljajo, da je cilj takšnih strategij in politik omejevanje in, kolikor je to mogoče, postopno zmanjševanje in preprečevanje onesnaževanja zraka, vključno z onesnaževanjem zraka na velike razdalje prek meja. Te strategije in politike se uresničujejo postopoma, uradno imenovani pristojni organ pa redno preverja napredek, dosežen na nacionalni ravni. V ta namen podpisnice pripisujejo največjo prednost dokončanju dokumentov, ki določajo strategije in politike vsake od podpisnic za zmanjševanje onesnaževanja zraka z žveplovimi spojinami.

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