Marie Franchesca Bobadilla Joanna Maria Malitao Julius Bryneil Esmilla Benedicto Parrocha Jr.

Christopher Dimagmaliw OM3B

Submitted to: Mr. Aldrin T. Sacristan

I. Background
a. Historical development of the issue
In AD 61 Roman philosopher Seneca thus on conditions in Rome: As soon as I had gotten out of the heavy air of Rome and from the stink of the smoky chimneys thereof, which, being stirred, poured forth whatever pestilential vapors and soot they had enclosed in them, I felt an alteration of my disposition. Coal burning caused air pollution in England under King Henry II. Coal burning prohibited in 1306. In 1661 John Evelyn submitted the brochure Fumifumigumi or the Inconvenience of the Aer, and Smoake of London Dissipated ( together with some remedies humbly proposed to King Charles II and the Parliament. ) Next stage of heavy air pollution resulted after the Industrial Revolution. Predominant air pollution in the 19th century resulted from smoke and ash from coal burning or oil in oiler furnaces of stationary power plant s, locomotives and marine vessels and in home heating fireplaces. Smoke and ash abatement in Great Britain was confirmed by the first Public Health Act of 1848. In the US smoke abatement was considered a municipal responsibility. In the 1880's the first municipal ordinances and regulations were directed towards industrial, locomotive and marine rather than domestic sources. In the 20th century, the period 1900-1925 steam locomotives were replaced by electric driven thus transferring the air pollution from railroad to the electric generating station. Rapid increase in automobiles, however negated the improvement in air pollution form locomotives and furnaces. Principal technological advances in terms of air pollution control appeared during this appeared during this time. Electrostatic precipitators were designed and built through the involvement of chemical engineers in process design and modification. In the period 1925-50, air pollution problems in major cities became an issue. Air Pollution research got a start in CA. Toxicology came of age. The scientific and technological explosion in air pollution control took off. 1950-80 - Major air pollution disaster in 1952 in London lead to the Clean Air Act in Great Britain. Similar legislations and research efforts appeared in France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Japan. In the US the first federal air pollution legislation enacted in 1955. Responsibility for administering it was with US PHS. In 1970 US EPA was created. The legislators were amended and extended several times. 1980s- Major efforts to revamp the EPA. State DEQs were created and responsibility was shared between federal and state agencies. Global problems like greenhouse effects, ozone hole depletion, chlorofluorocarbon issues, acid rain etc. became topics of concern.

1990s - Clean air act amendments in Nov 1990. Other problems such as global climate changes. stratospheric ozone depletion etc. became more prominent issues.

b. Current state of condition of the issue

According to statistics calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency the world is in much better shape today than they were several years ago. Man have reduced toxic releases by more than 50 million tons since 1970. If that many tons were deposited in dump trucks, the trucks would stretch from Baltimore to Dallas (all the way around the world) if lined up bumper-to-bumper. Currently, it would take 20 of today's new automobiles to release the same number of emissions as a 1960s model. Carbon monoxide emissions (CO) have decreased by 33 percent. Forty-one fewer tons are being produced per year as a result of current efforts. Much of these emissions are from cars, trucks, buses, lawn and construction equipment. Large utility and industrial boilers and other mechanical devices are producing 12 percent less nitrogen oxide emissions. This is 3.3 million tons fewer each year. Nitrogen oxide is a contributing factor to ozone formation. Sulfur dioxide emissions have reduced by 38 percent or 13 million tons per year. These emissions are typically associated with large boilers. Acid rain has been a product of these emissions in the past. Dropping 14 million tons per year, volatile organic compound emissions have decreased by 42 percent. VOC emissions are a factor in the formation of the ozone layer. Particulate matter emissions reduced by 9 million tons per year, or a 75 percent reduction. Decreased by 98 percent, lead emissions have reduced by 217 thousand tons per year. The EPA statistics indicate that the decrease in emissions is about 48 percent across the board, reducing pollution by 109 million tons of toxic fumes. Acid and gaseous hydrocarbons (petroleum and natural gas). These fuels typically have a lower concentration of sulfur, so the presence of sulfur dioxide has declined in many urban areas. However, the widespread use of liquid fuels in automobiles has meant increased production of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Primary pollutants such as sulfur dioxide or smoke are the direct emission products of the combustion process. Today, many of the key pollutants in the urban atmospheres are secondary pollutants, produced by processes initiated through photochemical reactions. The Los Angeles, California-type, photochemical smog is now characteristic of urban atmospheres dominated by secondary pollutants. Although the automobile is the main source of air pollution in contemporary cities, there are other equally significant sources. Stationary sources are still important and the oil-burning furnaces that have replaced the older coal-burning ones are still responsible for a range of gaseous emissions and fly ash. Incineration is also an important source of complex combustion products, especially where this incineration burns a wide range of refuse. These emissions can include chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dioxin. When plastics, which often contain chlorine, are incinerated, hydrochloric acid is found in the

waste gas stream. Metals, especially since they are volatile at high temperatures, can migrate to smaller, respirable particles. The accumulation of toxic metals, such as cadmium, on fly ash gives rise to concern over harmful effects from incinerator emissions. In specialized incinerators designed to destroy toxic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), many questions have been raised about the completeness of this destruction process. Even under optimum conditions when the furnace operation has been properly maintained, great care needs to be taken to control leaks and losses during transfer operations (fugitive emissions). The enormous range of compounds used in modern manufacturing processes has also meant that there is an ever-widening range of emissions from both the industrial processes and the combustion of their wastes. Although the amounts of these toxic compounds are often rather small, they add to the complex range of compounds found in the urban atmosphere. Again, it is not only the deliberate loss of effluents through discharge from pipes and chimneys that needs attention. Fugitive emissions of volatile substances that leak from valves and seals often warrant careful control. Air pollution control procedures are increasingly an important part of civic administration, although their goals are far from easy to achieve. It is also noticeable that although many urban concentrations of primary pollutants, for example, smoke and sulfur dioxide, are on the decline in developed countries, this is not always true in developing countries. Here the desire for rapid industrial growth has often lowered urban air quality. Secondary air pollutants are generally proving a more difficult problem to eliminate than primary pollutants like smoke.

c. Factors contributing to the issue

There are a lot of factors that contribute to air pollution but one of the main pollutants are what we greenhouse gases Here are some greenhouse gases that contribute to the huge problem of air pollution. Carbon dioxide is one the main pollutants that causes air pollution. This is because, although living beings do exhale carbon dioxide, this gas is harmful when emitted from other sources, which are caused due to human activity. An additional release of carbon dioxide happens due to various such activities. Carbon dioxide gas is used in various industries such as the oil industry and the chemical industry. The manufacturing process of most products would require the use of this gas. There are various human activities that add to the increased proportions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The combustion of fossil fuels and the harmful effects of deforestation have all contributed towards the same. show that amongst the various gasses emitted during a volcanic eruption, carbon dioxide remains to be at least 40% of the emission. Scientists have now therefore identified carbon dioxide as one of those elements that have contributed to global warming. Causes of air pollution are not limited to this. The combustion of fuels in automobiles, jet planes etc all cause the release of several primary pollutants into the air. The burning of fossil fuels in big cities which is seen at most factories, offices and even a large number of homes, it is no wonder that air pollution is

increasing at an alarming rate. The release of other harmful gases all adds to the state that we see today. Although carbon dioxide plays an important role in various other processes like photosynthesis, breathing an excess of the same also causes harmful effects towards one s health. The various causes of air pollution that releases harmful gases into the atmosphere are caused due to the increasing number of power plants and manufacturing units or industries that mostly have activities related to the burning of fuels. Besides, as mentioned earlier, most automobiles, marine vessels, activities that involve the burning of wood, fumes that are released from aerosol sprays, military activities that involve the use of nuclear weapons, all are the numerous causes of air pollution. Carbon monoxide is another such gas which, although was present in the atmosphere earlier, is now considered to be a major pollutant. An excess of the same has a harmful effect on our system. There are many reasons why carbon monoxide can be released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities. This is also produced due to any fuel burning appliance and appliances such as gas water heaters, fireplaces, woodstoves, gas stoves, gas dryers, yard equipments as well as automobiles, which add to the increased proportion of this gas into the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide is yet another harmful pollutant that causes air pollution. Sulfur dioxide is emitted largely to the excessive burning of fossil fuels, petroleum refineries, chemical and coal burning power plants etc. Nitrogen dioxide when combined with sulfur dioxide can even cause a harmful reaction in the atmosphere that can cause acid rain. Nitrogen dioxide is one more gas that is emitted into the atmosphere as a result of various human activities. An excess of nitrogen dioxide mainly happens due to most power plants seen in major cities, the burning of fuels due to various motor vehicles and other such sources, whether industrial or commercial that cause the increase in the levels of nitrogen dioxide. Besides greenhouse gases, researchers also considered a number sources that contribute to the pollution of air which they categorized as stationary and mobile sources, natural sources and waste depositions. Stationary Sources of air pollution are industrial factories, power plants and furnaces. These sources emit into the atmosphere large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). Even though CO2 is a natural component of the earth's atmosphere, increased levels of it is one of the major causes of global warming. Mobile Sources of air pollution include automobiles and aircraft. Vehicle exhausts are considered to be one of the most common sources of air pollution, accounting for about 40 percent of all the sources of air pollution worldwide. Vehicles generally emit large amounts of carbon monoxide (CO), which can lead to serious health problems such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. Natural Sources are forest fires, volcanic eruptions, dust and gases emitted from animal excreta are major causes of air pollution. Forest fires and volcanic eruptions generally emit large amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, disturbing its ecological balance.

Another common cause of air pollution is the disposal of wastes in landfills. Waste depositions emit methane gas. Despite the fact that methane is not harmful in nature by itself, it combines with other gases in the atmosphere and converts into harmful free radicals which can contribute to breathing problems and infection. Various other factors such as wind erosion, pollen dispersal, burning of fossil fuels and gases emitted from radioactive decay from inside the earth's crust also contribute to air pollution.

d. Global Significance
It has been known that air pollution is a global problem that what was addressed by each of every country involved. Air Pollution affects us and the environment in many ways. We will be discussing the effects of such in plants, animals, humans and the environment itself. These were problems of some countries that they have battled against air pollution. SMOG Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to form photochemical smog. Smog is also caused by large amounts of coal burning in an area caused by a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide. ACID RAIN When acidic air pollutants combine with water droplets in clouds, the water becomes acidic. When those droplets fall to the ground, the acid rain can damage the environment. Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms animals, fish, and other wildlife. Acid rain can destroy the leaves of plants like in the picture at the left. When acid rain soaks into the ground, it can make the soil an unfit habitat for many living things. Acid rain also changes the chemistry of the water in lakes and streams, harming fish and other aquatic life. YELLOW DUST Yellow dust is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia sporadically during the springtime months. The dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia, northern China and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China, North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air quality as far east as the United States.

In the last decade or so, it has become a serious problem due to the increase of industrial pollutants contained in the dust and intensified desertification in China causing longer and more frequent occurrences, as well as in the last few decades when the Aral Sea of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan started drying up due to the diversion of the Amu and Syr rivers following a Soviet agricultural program to irrigate Central Asian deserts, mainly for cotton plantations. Dust deposition in Beijing during the 2006 season. Areas affected by the dust experience decreased visibility and the dust is known to cause a variety of health problems, not limited to sore throat and asthma in otherwise healthy people. Often, people are advised to avoid or minimize outdoor activities, depending on severity of storms. For those already with asthma or respiratory infections, it can be fatal. The dust has been shown to increase the daily mortality rate in one affected region by 1.7%. Although sand itself is not necessarily harmful to soil, due to sulphur emissions and the resulting acid rain, the storms also destroy farmland by degrading the soil, and deposits of ash and soot and heavy metals as well as potentially dangerous biomatter blanket the ground with contaminants including croplands, aquifers, etc. The dust storms also affect wildlife particularly hard, destroying crops, habitat, and toxic metals interfering with reproduction. Coral are hit particularly hard. Toxic metals propagate up the food chain, i.e. from fish to higher mammals. Air visibility is reduced, including canceled flights, ground travel, outdoor activities, and can be correlated to significant loss of economic activity. Japan has reported washed clothes stained yellow. THINNING OF THE OZONE LAYER Air pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons (or CFCs) have destroyed parts of the ozone layer.The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere layer of Earth's atmosphere, shields our planet from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. The areas of thin ozone are called ozone holes. Ultraviolet radiation causes skin cancer and damages plants and wildlife. TROPOSPHERIC OZONE Ozone molecules wind up near the Earth's surface as a part of air pollution. Ozone molecules near the ground damages lung tissues of animals and prevent plant respiration by blocking the openings in leaves where respiration occurs. Without respiration, a plant is not able to photosynthesize at a high rate and so it will not be able to grow. GREENHOUSE EFFECT The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions. Since part of this re-radiation is back towards the surface, energy is transferred to the surface and the lower atmosphere. As a result, the temperature there is higher than it would be if direct heating by solar radiation were the only warming mechanism.

GLOBAL WARMING Our planet is currently warming much more rapidly than expected because additional greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere from air pollution. When fuels are burned, some of the pollutants released are greenhouses gases. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and use the carbon to grow larger. However, the amount of carbon dioxide released by burning fuels is much more than plants can convert. Global warming is causing changes to the places where plants and animals live around the world. For example: o o o Near the poles, ice and frozen ground are melting. This causes changes in the habitat and resources for plants and animals living there. Ocean warming, rising sea levels, runoff, and coral diseases are causing change in shallow marine environments such as coral reefs. Global warming is causing less rain to fall in the middle of continents. This makes these areas very dry and limits water resources for plants and animals.

HEALTH PROBLEMS The three most diseases according to WHO that we can get from air pollution are the ff: o o o Asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Cystic Fibrosis

Besides the diseases discussed above, air pollution also contributes to other health problems. People who suffer from chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes have a higher risk of complications and death when living in areas with higher concentrations of air pollution.

II. UN Actions
a. UN initial action to combat the issue ******
Preventing Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Analysis of recent scientific data has confirmed the growing concern about the continuing depletion of the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer by reactive chlorine and bromine from man-made CFCs, halons and related substances. While the 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (as amended in London in 1990) were important steps in international action, the total chlorine loading of the atmosphere of ozone-depleting substances has continued to rise. This can be changed through compliance with the control measures identified within the Protocol. The objectives of this program area are: o To realize the objectives defined in the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol and its 1990 amendments, including the consideration in those instruments of the special needs and conditions of the developing countries and the availability to them of alternatives to substances that deplete the ozone layer. Technologies and natural products that reduce demand for these substances should be encouraged; To develop strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface as a consequence of depletion and modification of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Governments at the appropriate level, with the cooperation of the relevant United Nations bodies and, as appropriate, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, should: o Ratify, accept or approve the Montreal Protocol and its 1990 amendments; pay their contributions towards the Vienna/Montreal trust funds and the interim multilateral ozone fund promptly; and contribute, as appropriate, towards ongoing efforts under the Montreal Protocol and its implementing mechanisms, including making available substitutes for CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances and facilitating the transfer of the corresponding technologies to developing countries in order to enable them to comply with the obligations of the Protocol; Support further expansion of the Global Ozone Observing System by facilitating - through bilateral and multilateral funding - the establishment and operation of additional systematic observation stations, especially in the tropical belt in the southern hemisphere; Participate actively in the continuous assessment of scientific information and the health and environmental effects, as well as of the technological/economic implications of stratospheric ozone depletion; and consider further actions that prove warranted and feasible on the basis of these assessments;

Based on the results of research on the effects of the additional ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface, consider taking appropriate remedial measures in the fields of human health, agriculture and marine environment; Replace CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances, consistent with the Montreal Protocol, recognizing that a replacement's suitability should be evaluated holistically and not simply based on its contribution to solving one atmospheric or environmental proble.

Transboundary Air Pollution Transboundary air pollution has adverse health impacts on humans and other detrimental environmental impacts, such as tree and forest loss and the acidification of water bodies. The geographical distribution of atmospheric pollution monitoring networks is uneven, with the developing countries severely underrepresented. The lack of reliable emissions data outside Europe and North America is a major constraint to measuring transboundary air pollution. There is also insufficient information on the environmental and health effects of air pollution in other regions. The 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, and its protocols, have established a regional regime in Europe and North America, based on a review process and cooperative programmes for systematic observation of air pollution, assessment and information exchange. These programmes need to be continued and enhanced, and their experience needs to be shared with other regions of the world. The objectives of this program area are: o To develop and apply pollution control and measurement technologies for stationary and mobile sources of air pollution and to develop alternative environmentally sound technologies; To observe and assess systematically the sources and extent of transboundary air pollution resulting from natural processes and anthropogenic activities; To strengthen the capabilities, particularly of developing countries, to measure, model and assess the fate and impacts of transboundary air pollution, through, inter alia, exchange of information and training of experts; To develop capabilities to assess and mitigate transboundary air pollution resulting from industrial and nuclear accidents, natural disasters and the deliberate and/or accidental destruction of natural resources; To encourage the establishment of new and the implementation of existing regional agreements for limiting transboundary air pollution; To develop strategies aiming at the reduction of emissions causing transboundary air pollution and their effects.

Governments at the appropriate level, with the cooperation of the relevant United Nations bodies and, as appropriate, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and financial institutions, should: o Establish and/or strengthen regional agreements for transboundary air pollution control and cooperate, particularly with developing countries, in the areas of systematic observation and assessment, modelling and the development and exchange of emission control technologies for mobile and stationary sources of air pollution. In this context, greater emphasis should be put on addressing the extent, causes, health and socio-economic impacts of ultraviolet radiation, acidification of the environment and photo-oxidant damage to forests and other vegetation; Establish or strengthen early warning systems and response mechanisms for transboundary air pollution resulting from industrial accidents and natural disasters and the deliberate and/or accidental destruction of natural resources; Facilitate training opportunities and exchange of data, information and national and/or regional experiences; Cooperate on regional, multilateral and bilateral bases to assess transboundary air pollution, and elaborate and implement programmes identifying specific actions to reduce atmospheric emissions and to address their environmental, economic, social and other effects.

b. Enacted resolutions
UN have enacted a number of resolutions pertaining to air pollution. Here are some with the parts that tackles about the preservation of the atmosphere. United Nations General Assembly 19th Special Session New York, 23-27 June 1997 Resolution Adopted By the General Assembly for the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 Atmosphere Insuring that the global climate and atmosphere are not further damaged, with irreversible consequences for future generations, requires political will and concerted efforts by the international community in accordance with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Under the Convention, some first steps have been taken to deal with the global problem of climate change. Despite the adoption of the Convention, the emission and concentration of greenhouse gases continue to rise, even as scientific evidence assembled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other relevant bodies continues to diminish the uncertainties and points ever more strongly to the severe risk of global climate change. So far, insufficient progress has been

made by many developed countries in meeting their aim to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. It is recognized as one critical element of the Berlin Mandate 26/ that the commitments set out under article 4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b), of the Convention are inadequate and that there is therefore a need to strengthen them. It is most important that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, at its third session, to be held at Kyoto, Japan in December 1997, adopt a protocol or other legal instrument that fully encompasses the Berlin Mandate. The Geneva Ministerial Declaration, 27/ which was noted without formal adoption, but which received majority support among ministers and other heads of delegation attending the second session of the Conference of the Parties, also called for, inter alia, the acceleration of negotiations on the text of a legally binding protocol or other legal instrument. UN Commission on Sustainable Development 4th Session 18 April-3 May 1996 Protection of the Atmosphere The Commission welcomes, with reservations, the proposals contained in the report of the SecretaryGeneral on protection of the atmosphere (E/CN.17/1996/22 and Add.1). It stresses the need for broad international action to address global atmospheric problems, taking into full account principle 7, 16/ of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and paragraph 4.3, 17/ of chapter 4 of Agenda 21 (Changing consumption patterns) in developing measures to protect the atmosphere on a global scale. It furthermore stresses that atmospheric protection measures to reduce air pollution, combat climate change and prevent ozone layer depletion should be undertaken at the national, subregional, regional and international levels. The Commission notes the risk of exacerbating other environmental, as well as socio-economic, problems through actions to address an individual issue, and stresses the need to address atmosphererelated problems in an integrated and comprehensive way. It emphasizes that an essential component of measures to protect the atmosphere, environment and human health is the reduction of local emissions - especially urban air pollution - which must be dealt with at the local, regional and international levels on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities. In addition, it stresses the importance of combating all kinds of land degradation, deforestation, forest degradation and desertification, which have adverse impacts on human health and the environment, and the importance of improved land use management. In this context, the Commission refers to principle 15, 18/ of the Rio Declaration and principle 3, 19/ of article 3 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (A/AC.237/18 (Part II)/Add.1, annex I), which reflect the precautionary principle approach. The Commission recommends the application of this approach, taking into account related uncertainties and risks.

c. Role of UN organizations & NGO

The role of NGOs for pollution control activities can hardly be over-emphasized. An NGO Cell has been set up at Central Pollution Control Board to coordinate the following tasks:

o o o

o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Enlist environmental NGOs involved in activities related to pollution control with CPCB; Establish NGO network in consultation with State Pollution Control Boards/Zonal Offices of CPCB; Provide training to the NGOs and equip them with facilities, like water testing kits, analytical instruments, books, literature etc. In order to enhance their capabilities in the field of pollution control; and Organize mass awareness programmes and pollution control activities through NGOs. Implementation of the various provisions of pollution control for past more than two decades Working for participation of masses in achieving the targets committed in the Policy Statements for Abatement of Pollution Demonstration on Public interest litigations Significant pressure on polluting industries for adopting pollution control measures. Providing information on mass awareness with regard to control of pollution Conducting preliminary river and air surveys for identification of any pollution source Keeping vigil on abstraction of water/discharge of sewage trade effluent by any industry in quantity in relation to flow/volume Conducting sampling and analysis of river/well water to ascertain the quality of river/well water Providing information on poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into any stream or well or on land or in air Providing information on river stretch requires prohibition on use for disposal of polluting matters (for notification under Section 24 of the Water Act) Providing information on violation of consent such as discharges in odd hours etc Providing information on fish kill or other sudden damage to the environment

The major environmental problems brought to the notice by NGOs are vehicles and traffic jams, wastewater from road-ways, work-shops, discharges of auto garages, slaughter houses, air pollution problems, pollution of rivers and power plants, aluminium plant, caustic soda plants, chemical industries and stone crushers, Fluoride problems.

d. Meeting/ Summit conducted

KYOTO PROTOCOL The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at fighting global warming. The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."

EU-countries like Greece, Spain, Ireland and Sweden have not committed themselves to any reduction while France has committed itself not to expand its emissions (0% reduction) in the internal-EU distribution agreement. This agreement ensures a 8% reduction for the EU-region as a whole in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. Greenland has only committed itself through Denmark. However Greenland has not committed itself to a reduction towards Denmark. But might do it in the next period.

The Protocol was initially adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and entered into force on 16 February 2005. As of July 2010, 191 states have signed and ratified the protocol. Under the Protocol, 37 countries commit themselves to a reduction of four greenhouse gases and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) produced by them, and all member countries give general commitments. Annex I countries agreed to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from the 1990 level. Emission limits do not include emissions by international aviation and shipping, but are in addition to the industrial gases, chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which are dealt with under the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Kyoto is intended to cut global emissions of greenhouse gases. The objective is the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system The objective of the Kyoto climate change conference was to establish a legally binding international agreement, whereby all the participating nations commit themselves to tackling the issue of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. The target agreed upon was an average reduction of 5.2% from 1990 levels by the year 2012. According to the treaty, in 2012, Annex I countries must have fulfilled their obligations of reduction of greenhouse gases emissions established for the first commitment period (2008 2012) (see Annex B of the Protocol). The Protocol expires at the end of 2012. The five principal concepts of the Kyoto Protocol are: Commitments to the Annex-countries. The heart of the Protocol lies in establishing commitments for the reduction of greenhouse gases that are legally binding for Annex I countries. Dividing the countries in different groups is one of the key concepts in making commitments possible, where only the Annex I countries in 1997, were seen as having the economic capacity to commit themselves and their industry. Making only the few nations in the Annex 1 group committed to the protocols limitations. o Implementation. In order to meet the objectives of the Protocol, Annex I countries are required to prepare policies and measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases in their respective countries. In addition, they are required to increase the absorption of these gases and utilize all mechanisms available, such as joint implementation, the clean development mechanism and emissions trading, in order to be rewarded with credits that would allow more greenhouse gas emissions at home. Minimizing Impacts on Developing Countries by establishing an adaptation fund for climate change. Accounting, Reporting and Review in order to ensure the integrity of the Protocol. Compliance. Establishing a Compliance Committee to enforce compliance with the commitments under the Protocol.

o o o

MONTREAL PROTOCOL

The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989. Since then, it has undergone seven revisions, in 1990 (London), 1991 (Nairobi), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1993 (Bangkok), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing). It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2050. Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international co-operation, with Kofi Annan quoted as saying that "perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol".[2] It has been ratified by 196 states. Since the Montreal Protocol came into effect, the atmospheric concentrations of the most important chlorofluorocarbons and related chlorinated hydrocarbons have either leveled off or decreased. Halon concentrations have continued to increase, as the halons presently stored in fire extinguishers are released, but their rate of increase has slowed and their abundances are expected to begin to decline by about 2020. Also, the concentration of the HCFCs increased drastically at least partly because for many uses CFCs (e.g. used as solvents or refrigerating agents) were substituted with HCFCs. While there have been reports of attempts by individuals to circumvent the ban, e.g. by smuggling CFCs from undeveloped to developed nations, the overall level of compliance has been high. In consequence, the Montreal Protocol has often been called the most successful international environmental agreement to date. In a 2001 report, NASA found the ozone thinning over Antarctica had remained the same thickness for the previous three years, however in 2003 the ozone hole grew to its second largest size. The most recent (2006) scientific evaluation of the effects of the Montreal Protocol states, "The Montreal Protocol is working: There is clear evidence of a decrease in the atmospheric burden of ozone-depleting substances and some early signs of stratospheric ozone recovery." Unfortunately, the hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs, and hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, are now thought to contribute to anthropogenic global warming. On a molecule-for-molecule basis, these compounds are up to 10,000 times more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. The Montreal Protocol currently calls for a complete phase-out of HCFCs by 2030, but does not place any restriction on HFCs. Since the CFCs themselves are equally powerful as greenhouse gases, the mere substitution of HFCs for CFCs does not significantly increase the rate of anthropogenic global warming, but over time a steady increase in their use could increase the danger that human activity will change the climate. Policy experts have advocated for increased efforts to link ozone protection efforts to climate protection efforts. Policy decisions in one arena affect the costs and effectiveness of environmental improvements in the other.

III. Country Policies (Philippines)

a. How country is affected by the issue b. Groups position on the issue c. Problems resulting because of the issue d. Resolutions because of the issue