News from the Convention Executive Body 27th Meeting Dec 2009 WGSR Meeting April 2010

Concerning EMEP activity EB approved the draft strategy for EMEP for 2010–2019 as adopted by the EMEP SB at its last session, noting that it could be subject to further amendments, as needed, following the expected adoption by the Executive Body of the Long-Term Strategy for the Convention; EB approved the draft revised monitoring strategy adopted by the EMEP SB at its thirty-third session (ECE/EB.AIR/GE.1/2009/15) and called upon Parties to ensure that resources should be available for its implementation at the national level; EB endorsed the revised and substantially updated EMEP/EEA Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Guidebook–2009 adopted by the EMEP Steering Body at its thirty-third session;

Working group on Effects Conclusion from the Working group on effect : Nitrogen remained a problem and its emissions needed to be further abated, particularly ammonia emissions in agricultural activities. In addition, particulate matter emissions from biomass burning were subject to transboundary transport, The situation regarding mercury remained alarming, with no reduction over the past 20 years and increasing concentrations along the food chain. Revised long-term strategy of the Working Group on Effects for the period 2010–2020, in 2009 to take into consideration new aspects related to interlinkages of air pollution and biodiversity, and climate change as a confounding factor on air pollution effects. The new strategy had also shown the need for close cooperation with EMEP.

POPs issues Examination of the dossiers of 5 new substances : endosulfan, -> OK trifluralin, -> OK but the dossier still on-going pentachlorophenol, dicofol -> OK hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD),-> OK Possibilities for harmonization and coordination between the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Amended protocol by adopting EB’s decisions 2009/1-3: amend text of and annexes I, II, III, IV, VI and VIII; list short- chain chlorinated paraffins and polychlorinated napthalenes in annexes I and II; amend annexes V and VII.

Heavy metal protocole On-going track A review and launching the track B review of the European Union’s proposal to add mercury-containing products to annex VI to the Protocol Reinforce the exchange of information with the UNEP secretariat, to make available relevant work undertaken by the TF on Heavy metals, EMEP and the Working Group on Effects and to explore possible options for collaboration. EB mandated WGSR to: increase ratifications; potentially revise text of the Protocol and Annexes I to V: make it more adaptable possibly produce guidance document on BAT

Gothenburg Protocole Adopted decision establishing an ad hoc expert group led by Norway and the United States to explore the issue of black carbon in close cooperation with other relevant bodies within and outside the Convention, to report to the twenty-eighth Executive Body session in 2010 in order to inform the process of revising the Gothenburg Protocol; delegations have to nominate experts. Agreed baseline scenario of CIAM and its data Draft annex updates: I (effects), IX (ammonia) and technical ones

TFMM workplan for 2010 Build up the appropriate framework and support for the implementation of the updated EMEP monitoring strategy. Contribute to the analysis and promotion of the EMEP field measurement campaigns and their results in collaboration with CCC; Identify gaps and topics that should be covered by the future EMEP field campaigns; and establish a strategy towards this end; Design one or two key studies that would bring together the know-how for policy support from emission, measurement and modelling communities; Conceive a “Eurodelta follow-up” modelling exercise that fits the integrated measurement modelling needs and takes account of the lessons learned from the previous model intercomparison projects and for new available observation data; Contribute to the ongoing European Union (EU) modelling initiatives Organize a workshop back to back with its eleventh meeting (May 2010), jointly with the TFEIP and the TFIAM , focusing on emissions, measurement and modelling interaction in view of integrated assessment modelling; Hold its eleventh meeting in May 2010 in Cyprus and report on its outcomes tot he EMEP Steering Body at its thirty-fourth session in 2010.

Aknowledgement of the high and relevant contribution of the Parties and their experts to the Convention Many thanks for that !