In 1998, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), together with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) drew attention to the possibility of the impacts of transboundary air pollution in South Asia. This initiative led to the adoption of the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and Its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia (Malé Declaration).The Malé Declarat...

Participants from the 14 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, representing governments, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, international organizations and academia, attended the Southern Africa Sub-Regional Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution in Lusaka, Zambia, during 5-6 March 2008 to develop the following Regional Policy Framework on Air Pollution in...

The Executive Body adopted the Gothenburg Protocol in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 30 November 1999.The Protocol establishes national emission ceilings for four pollutants—sulphur (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia (NH₃)—covering the period from 2010 to 2020. It builds on earlier protocols addressing sulphur (1985 and 1994), VOCs, and NOₓ emissions. These ceilin...

On October 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, lowering the primary and secondary ozone standard levels to 70 parts per billion (ppb). The South Coast Air Basin is classified as an “extreme” nonattainment area and the Coachella Valley is classified as a “severe-15” nonattainment area for the...

The Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement signed by Canada and the United States in 1991 to address transboundary air pollution leading to acid rain. Both countries agreed to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the primary precursors to acid rain, and to work together on acid rain-related scientific and technical cooperation.The Ozone Annex was added to the Ca...

This report provides an up-to-date overview of existing and emerging carbon pricing instruments around the world, including international, national and subnational initiatives. It also investigates trends surrounding the development and implementation of carbon pricing instruments. Specifically, this includes the use of carbon taxes, emissions trading systems and crediting mechanisms....

In 2017, Chile began applying green taxes (or pigouvians) on stationary sources emitting local (PM, NO, SO2) and global (CO2) pollutants. This mechanism was without precedent in Chile and represents a pioneering effort in the region, which expands the range of tools for environmental management. Its main purpose is to complement existing efforts to reduce local atmospheric pollution –Chile´s forem...

Context: India’s push for clean air increasingly relies on market-based mechanisms that reward verified emission reductions rather than only compliance.CEEW Analysis: By directly capping emissions, using real-time data and rewarding cost-effective emission cuts, the Emissions Trading System (ETS) offers India a uniquely scalable and locally relevant market-based mechanism to cleaner urban air.Key ...

Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, also called the new National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) — (referred to in this document as ‘the Directive’) is designed to further reduce air pollution and its associated risks to the environment and human health (Article 1). The Directive includes, for each Member State, future reduction com...

In their National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP), Member States set out how they intend to achieve emission reduction commitments of the NEC Directive.Member States must submit updated NAPCPs at least every four years. The first NAPCPs were due by 1 April 2019. All submitted NAPCPs and their English translations are available below.Member States also submit air pollutant emission projecti...