Background
The Sofia Initiatives were adopted by the Third "Environment for Europe" ministerial conference in Sofia, Bulgaria in October 1995. The aim of these initiatives is to accelerate the implementation of the Environmental Action Programme (EAP) for Central and Eastern Europe, through policy, regulation and investment measures. One of these initiatives is the general improvement of local air quality in Central and Eastern Europe with two areas of emphasis: (1) the advanced promotion of unleaded gasoline throughout the region, and (2) the significant reduction of sulphur and particulate emissions.
The Sofia Initiative on Local Air Pollution promotes cooperation among air pollution control experts at national and municipal levels in developing and implementing activities for measurable improvements in air quality in highly polluted urban areas. The initiative relies on east-east experience sharing, in cooperation with western partners and has the following objectives:
- To exchange information on local air pollution control strategies and their implementation;
- To harmonize policies, standards and regulations among the participating countries (with regard to international practices and approximation to the EU); and
- To develop and implement national or municipal strategies for least cost reduction of airborne lead, particulates and sulphur, as well as public information and participation.
The Initiative is open for all participants in the Environment for Europe process, who wish to contribute to the program's objectives and outcomes. A core Working Group from CEE countries includes representatives of the countries, which had supported the Local Air Pollution initiative prior to the Sofia conference, namely: Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Participation in the Initiative is open-ended -- both CEE and Western participants are welcome to join all or some of the activities in accordance with their interests and at any point in time. Reporting commitments are voluntary; however, participants are expected to carry out their commitments, once such commitments are made. In line with the decisions of the Sofia conference to encourage gradual shift of activities to the CEE countries, core meetings related to the Initiative take place in CEE countries.
Progress to date
A draft Program Outline for the Sofia Initiative on Local Air Pollution was distributed during the EAP Task Force meeting in Geneva in January 1996. The Program Outline, was finalized in Sofia on March 18, 1996, and endorsed by the members of the core Working Group. The program was presented and discussed at the EAP Task Force meeting on April 25-26, 1996 in Paris.
At the meeting in Sofia on March 18, 1996, Dr. Yontcho Pelovsky, Deputy Minister for Environment of Bulgaria was appointed the Chairman of the Working Group. The Chairman reviewed options for obtaining secretariat services and international technical and policy expertise and requested that the Regional Environmental Center provides these services. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Bulgaria and the Regional Environmental Center was signed on September 27, 1996. To support providing the secretariat services, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has approved a financial assistance of USD 150,000 to the Regional Environmental Center.
In accordance with the draft Program Outline, a meeting of the Working Group took place on February 12-13, 1997 in Szentendre, Hungary. The meeting was attended by members of the Working Group representing Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Western governments and international institutions were represented by Denmark, Germany, the US EPA and the World Bank. A Work Plan 1997-1998 has been developed and approved by the Working Group and endorsed by the participating representatives of Western governments and international institutions. The Working Group was suggested to start implementing the Work Plan immediately.
Future activities
Promoting unleaded gasoline in Central and Eastern Europe
All tasks to be undertaken by the Working Group on reducing local air pollution with respect to phasing out leaded gasoline in the CEE countries will be closely coordinated with the UNECE Task Force to Phase Out Leaded Fuel in Europe chaired by Denmark. Key tasks include:
- Questionnaire. In order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the situation
in the respective CEE countries with respect to phasing out leaded gasoline,
a questionnaire has been developed.
- Synthesis paper. Providing a comparison among the Working Group member
countries, the synthesis paper will contain the interpretation of results
of the questionnaires.
- Regional Workshop on unleaded gasoline. The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment
will be hosting a 3-day regional workshop on unleaded gasoline. The workshop
will take place in June in Bourgas. Two main issues will be covered in the
agenda: health aspects of phaseout and economic aspects of phaseout. It
is expected that during this workshop, the participating CEE countries will
make commitments to put up phaseout schedules and that preliminary phaseout
schedules will be proposed.
- Case studies. Examples identifying successful lead phase-out programs
and problems encountered from CEE countries that are in the process of phasing
out the leaded gasoline will be prepared for the Working Group.
- Database of available technology options and alternatives. A database
containing pertinent data on available technology options and alternatives
will be developed and made available to the Working Group.
The Working Group will support individual countries in carrying out the following tasks:
- Country analyses. Each individual country is expected to carry out detailed technical studies on available technology options and alternatives as well as the costs and the benefits of various option. The country analyses will also deal with the issue of phase-out schedules and possible scenarios based on the costs of each option. The investments needed and the amount of assistance required to implement the projects will be identified and specific projects proposed.
Reducing the level of sulphur and particulate emissions
Key tasks to be undertaken by the Working Group on reducing the level of sulphur and particulate emissions will include:
- Questionnaire. In order to obtain a comprehensive overview of the situation
in the respective CEE countries with respect to reducing emissions of sulphur
and particulates, a questionnaire has been developed.
- Synthesis paper. Providing a comparison among the Working Group member
countries, the synthesis paper will contain the interpretation of results
of the questionnaires.
- Regional Workshop on the reduction of sulphur and particulate emissions.
A selected Working Group member country (probably Poland or Slovenia) will
host a regional workshop on the reduction of sulphur and particulate emissions.
The workshop will take place in September 1997. The main goal is to exchange
experience on successful local pollution abatement programs in CEE.
- Case studies. Examples from selected CEE countries that have positive
experience in reducing levels of sulphur and particulates in urban areas
will be prepared and presented to the Working Group.
- Database of best practices. A database of best practices applied in reducing levels of sulphur and particulates in urban areas will be developed and made available to the Working Group.
The Working Group will support individual countries in carrying out the following tasks:
- Country analyses. Each individual country will be carrying out detailed
technical studies on available technology options and alternatives as well
as the costs and the benefits of various option. Based on existing experience
and state of technology an overview of various options available for reduction
of sulfur and particulates will be prepared. The pros and cons of various
options will be evaluated together with their specific cost and benefits.
- Demonstration projects. Having evaluated the technical studies, the assistance required to implement the projects will be identified and pilot projects proposed to serve as demonstration examples and source of good practices.
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