MINSK, 12 December (BelTA) – Belarus is set to join three last protocols of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, BelTA learned from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
Belarus became party to the convention in 1980 and has already joined three of its protocols. These are the Protocol on Long-Term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe; the Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 per cents; and the Protocol Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes.
Belarus is now considering joining the Protocol on Heavy Metals, the Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone.
This year the Convention will mark is 40th anniversary. Solemn anniversary events are taking place in Palais des Nations in Geneva on 11-12 December. Taking part in them is a Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Aleksandr Korbut.
Addressing the attendees he reaffirmed Belarus' commitment to reducing and preventing air pollution and promoting cooperation with other countries in this field. “Belarus is fully aware of the importance of air pollutant emission reduction and is consistently working on it. Belarus committed to reducing air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources by 2.7% by 2020 over 2015. In accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement, Belarus committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030. We are determined to take further action to reduce and prevent emissions of air pollutants and are ready to collaborate with other countries in this field,” he said.
