Held in Geneva in 1979 under the auspices of the United Nations, the goal of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution was to reduce air pollution and acid rain, particularly in Europe and North America. The accord went into effect in March 1983. It was signed by the United States and Canada, as well as European countries, and the signatories agreed to cooperate in researching and monitoring air pollution and to exchange information on developing technologies for air pollution control. This convention established the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluating of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe, which was first funded in 1984. The countries that signed the treaty also agreed to reduce their sulfur emissions 30% by 1993. All of the countries were able to meet this goal, with many coutries reducing more than 50–60% of their emissions.

Resources

Books

Basic Documents of International Environmental Law. Boston: Graham & Trotman, 1992.

Effectiveness of International Environmental Agreements: A Survey of Existing Legal Instruments. Cambridge, England: Grotius, 1992.