Gothenburg protocol

A Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone was adopted by the countries of UNECE in Gothenburg (Sweden) on 30 November 1999.

• This protocol is also known as Muti-effect protocol.
• The Protocol sets emission ceilings for 2010 for four pollutants: Sulphur, NOx, VOCs and ammonia.
• These ceilings were negotiated on the basis of scientific assessments of pollution effects and abatement options.
• Parties whose emissions have a more severe environmental or health impact and whose emissions are relatively cheap to reduce will have to make the biggest cuts. It was predicted that the implementation of the Protocol in Europe will reduce sulphur emissions there by at least 63%, NOx emissions by 41%, VOC emissions by 40% and ammonia emissions by 17% compared to levels in 1990. Currently, the protocol is under negotiation for a revised protocol.