ÅTGÄRDER MOT UTSLÄPP AV LUFTFÖRORENINGAR I EUROPA / The International Acid Rain Problem from a Swedish Perspective
Between 80 and 90 per cent of the deposition of acidifying air pollutants on Sweden originates in other countries. Most of it comes from western Europe, with Germany and Great Britain being the two biggest contributors. In the 1980s, European emissions of sulphur dioxide decreased by 25-30 per cent, while those of nitrogen oxides increased by about 5 per cent. Scientific data on the sensitivity of ecosystems to acid deposition, i.e. critical loads, indicate that depositions need to be reduced by at least 90 per cent, if we are to stop the acidification processes. Under the UN ECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, there are at present three binding agreements, protocols, on emission control; on sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. This year a new protocol on sulphur dioxide is being negotiated, and it will be the first international agreement to be based on the critical loads approach. “Complete abstract not presented.”