Meghan Hodges
Transboundary pollution refers to pollution that originates in one country and causes damage in another by crossing borders through pathways like water or air. The concept of the global commons is important to understanding transboundary pollution, as population and production increases, so does the potential for pollution to spill from one country to another. Transboundary pollution has been a concern since at least 1969 when an international conference on marine pollution was held, leading to the development and signing of two treaties to address oil pollution in the oceans. The first multilateral agreement addressing transboundary air pollution was the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP), which created a framework for reducing transboundary air pollution and improving scientific understanding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Transboundary pollution is the pollution that originates in one country but causes damage in another country’s environment by crossing borders through pathways like water or air. |
| Examples | Marine pollution, deposition of airborne pollutants, and the Chernobyl nuclear explosion. |
| Treaties | The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, The Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, and the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. |
| Organizations | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). |
| Protocols | The 1984 Protocol on Long-Term Financing, the 1988 Sofia Protocol, the 1991 Protocol on VOCs, the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals, and the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol. |
| Goals | Reduce emissions, understand air pollution science, monitor and evaluate transboundary pollution, and address specific pollutants. |
| Challenges | Pollution can travel long distances and impact remote areas, it can be challenging to identify individual emission sources, and controlling pollution requires international cooperation. |
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What You'll Learn
The 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
Transboundary pollution refers to pollution that is not contained within a single nation-state but travels across national borders. Marine pollution, for instance, can result from on-shore industrial processes that use the ocean as a waste disposal site. An international conference on marine pollution was held in 1969, leading to the development and signing of two treaties to address oil pollution on the high seas. These treaties, however, were not fully ratified until 1975.
The LRTAP has been highly successful, contributing to a significant decline in air pollution emissions, particularly sulfur, within the region. It has effectively decoupled economic growth from air pollution trends. The United States joined the convention in 1981 and is a party to four of the protocols: the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals and the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol, as well as the amended versions of these protocols ratified in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
The Gothenburg Protocol amendments updated targets to further reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants and introduced measures to address particulate matter, specifically black carbon. These amendments marked the first international agreement to address black carbon, demonstrating continued progress and flexibility in tackling transboundary air pollution.
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Transboundary marine pollution
The history of addressing transboundary marine pollution can be traced back to the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm. This conference brought international attention to marine pollution, leading to the signing of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, commonly known as the London Convention. While the London Convention did not ban marine pollution outright, it established blacklists and grey lists of substances to be banned or regulated by national authorities. For example, cyanide and high-level radioactive waste were put on the blacklist.
In 1969, an international conference on marine pollution resulted in the development and signing of two treaties specifically addressing oil pollution on the high seas. These treaties, the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, and the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, were fully ratified in 1975. The treaties cite specific pollutants detrimental to marine environments, including organohalogenic compounds, mercury, lead, arsenic, copper, and pesticides.
In 1988, the issue of air pollution was included in the work programme of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), leading to the adoption of the IMO Assembly Resolution A.719(17) on the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships in 1991. This resolution called for the preparation of a new draft annex to the MARPOL Convention, which was finally adopted in 1997 as Annex VI. Annex VI sets limits on sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits the deliberate emission of ozone-depleting substances.
More recently, in 2011, the Honolulu Strategy was developed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) as a planning tool to reduce plastic pollution and its impacts. In 2017, UNEP launched the Clean Seas global campaign, encouraging voluntary actions to reduce plastic pollution. These efforts reflect the ongoing recognition of transboundary marine pollution as a global issue requiring international cooperation and the implementation of policies and treaties to mitigate its impacts.
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Transboundary air pollution and global commons
Transboundary pollution is not contained within a single nation-state but travels across borders. The concept of the global commons is important to understanding transboundary pollution. As the global population and production increase, the potential for pollution to spill from one country to another also increases. Transboundary pollution can be caused by catastrophic events or the gradual build-up of industrial discharge that eventually impacts adjacent countries.
The 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) was the first multilateral agreement to address transboundary air pollution. LRTAP created a regional framework for Europe, North America, Russia, and former Eastern Bloc countries to reduce transboundary air pollution and improve the understanding of air pollution science. The convention has contributed to a significant decline in air pollution emissions in the region, particularly sulfur. The United States joined the convention in 1981 and is a party to four of the protocols, including the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals and the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol. In 2012, amendments were adopted to further reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants and address particulate matter, including black carbon.
Transboundary air pollution has significant health impacts, affecting air quality and mortality. A 2017 study found that about 12% of premature deaths related to fine particulate matter were attributed to air pollutants from distant sources, and approximately 22% were associated with the production of goods and services in one region for consumption in another. For example, PM2.5 pollution produced in China in 2007 is linked to over 64,800 premature deaths in regions outside of China, including more than 3,100 in Western Europe and the USA.
To address transboundary air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States works bilaterally and multilaterally with other countries. EPA has sponsored reports and workshops to evaluate the impact of transboundary air pollution and motivate the reduction of global and international sources of air pollution. Additionally, the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution (TF HTAP), co-chaired by the EPA and the European Commission, produced the first comprehensive assessment report on intercontinental transport of air pollution across the Northern Hemisphere.
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Transboundary pollution remedies
Transboundary pollution refers to pollution that is not contained within a single nation-state but travels across national borders. This can include contaminated water or the deposition of airborne pollutants, often caused by industrial discharge or catastrophic events. As population and production increase globally, the potential for transboundary pollution also increases.
International Cooperation and Agreements:
- One approach to addressing transboundary pollution is through international cooperation and agreements. For example, the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) created a regional framework for Europe, North America, Russia, and former East Bloc countries to reduce transboundary air pollution and understand air pollution science. LRTAP has contributed to a significant decline in air pollution emissions, particularly sulfur, in these regions.
- Other agreements include the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership.
- International organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) work to reduce air pollution emissions from international aviation.
Bilateral and Multilateral Efforts:
Countries can work bilaterally and multilaterally to address transboundary pollution. For instance, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborates with Mexico and Canada to address transboundary air pollution issues through various forums and initiatives.
Public-Private Initiatives:
Public-private initiatives can also play a role in mitigating transboundary pollution. Governments can partner with private entities to develop and implement solutions, share expertise, and leverage resources to address transboundary pollution challenges.
Fines and Compliance Measures:
Fines or other compliance measures can be imposed to assure adherence to best practices and prevent transboundary pollution. However, these charges must be high enough to offset the costs of controlling and monitoring pollution sources.
Regional Compacts:
Regional compacts can be established to manage specific types of transboundary pollution, such as low-level radioactive waste materials. These compacts involve multiple states and create policies for the siting and management of facilities, transportation of materials, and long-term safe storage.
Marine Pollution Treaties:
Treaties specifically addressing marine pollution, such as the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, and The Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, help control transboundary pollution carried by ocean currents. These treaties identify specific pollutants detrimental to marine environments, demonstrating a commitment to resolving transboundary marine pollution issues.
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Transboundary pollution and the Arctic
Transboundary pollution is not contained within a single nation-state but travels across national borders. It can be caused by catastrophic events, such as the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, or by industrial discharge that eventually impacts adjacent countries. Transboundary pollution can take the form of contaminated water or the deposition of airborne pollutants.
The Arctic is particularly vulnerable to transboundary pollution due to its remote location and cold temperatures. Wind, river, and ocean currents carry pollutants from lower latitudes to the Arctic, where they are trapped and concentrated due to the cold climate. This phenomenon is known as the “Grasshopper Effect”, where Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) attach to dust particles blown north by the wind and become trapped in the Arctic environment.
The Arctic also faces the challenge of marine pollution, with ocean currents transporting contaminants to the Arctic Ocean. Additionally, river systems flowing into the Arctic Ocean carry pollutants from upstream countries, such as Russia, which may have high deposits of PCBs and other contaminants. The droppings (guano) of Arctic seabirds contribute to this issue by concentrating human-made pollutants, such as mercury and DDT, in the Arctic food web. These pollutants can have far-reaching impacts on the environment and human health in the region.
To address these issues, organizations like the Arctic Council and its Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) are working to monitor and mitigate the impacts of pollutants. The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) also plays a crucial role in assessing pollution levels and providing data for international initiatives to address sources of radionuclides and reduce emissions. Furthermore, the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) created a regional framework for Europe, North America, Russia, and former East Bloc countries to reduce transboundary air pollution and improve scientific understanding.
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Frequently asked questions
Transboundary pollution is pollution that originates in one country but causes damage in another country by crossing borders through pathways like water or air.
The issue of transboundary pollution came into prominence in 1969, with an international conference on marine pollution. Two treaties were developed and signed to address oil pollution on the high seas.
The two treaties developed at the conference were the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter and the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft. These treaties specifically targeted pollutants considered detrimental to marine environments, such as organohalogenic compounds, mercury, lead, arsenic, copper, and pesticides.
The treaties were not fully ratified until 1975.
Transboundary pollution can take various forms, such as contaminated water or the deposition of airborne pollutants across national borders. It can be caused by catastrophic events like the Chernobyl nuclear explosion or the gradual impact of industrial discharge on adjacent countries. Marine pollution, for instance, can result from on-shore industrial processes that use the ocean as a waste disposal site. Other examples include Arctic Seabirds transporting human-made pollutants and long-range transboundary air pollution.
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